continued . . . .
15. Puppies and dogs are severly stressed by change of environment. Make sure you are prepared for the responsibility. Minor and common problems such as diarrhea, cocidiosis, demodex, worms, fleas, mites, injuries, etc must be treated. They are like children in that they are susceptible to pneumonia and other infections due to drafts and cold temperatures.
16. Hernias are very common in puppies and their repair is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures. An inguinal hernia is the result of abdominal organs, fat or tissue protruding
through the inguinal ring. Inguinal hernias are presented as skin-covered bulges
in the groin. They can be bilateral, involving both sides, or unilateral, involving only
one side.
Inguinal hernias are more common in females than males, but do occur in both
sexes.
As with umbilical hernias most inguinal hernias will shrink and disappear as the
puppy grows, although you must keep an eye on the size of the hernia(s).
Inguinal hernias can also occur in unspayed, middle-aged female dogs. This may
occur as the result of stretching of abdominal tissue due to pregnancy, or atrophy
of abdominal tissue and musculature due to advanced age.
Regarding Hernias: Hernias have not been proven to be 100% genetic, and
hernia repairs do not warratn replacement, as it is not usually life threatening and
in no way interferes with quality of life for the puppy. If need be, they can be
repaired simply by your veterinarian.
DELAYED CLOSURE / HERNIAS
A hernia is usually nothing more than an abnormal opening in a muscle through which other tissues of the body pass.
In dogs, there are hernias involving the muscles that surround the abdomen. For use of a better word,"delayed closures", where a small bit of omentum slips out of the area before the umbilicus closes. . The site would be the 'belly button' where the umbilical cord had connected the puppy to his mother In 13 years of dealing with breeding and reproduction, we do not have any evidence that "delayed closures" are inheritable."Delayed closures" are just that. There is an area in the abdominal wall where the great vessels of the umbilical cord exit the body of the fetus to derive nutrition and oxygen from the placenta. After birth, these vessels close and shrink up. There is left behind a small area in the midline where the vessels formerly escaped the body. The nature of this structure is a linear slit in the midline, lined with normal connective tissue. These may not be present at birth, but may have been acquired as a result of the umbilical cord being severed too close to the abdominal wall by the mother. Sometimes the mother pulls on the umbilical cord too roughly when the puppies are being whelped.In most cases umbilical hernias are small and reduce as the puppy grows. Generally, by the time the pup is six months old the umbilical hernia will shrink and disappear on its own.
Some hernias found in young dogs can wait for repair until the time they are spayed or neutered.
Treatment
Hernias are repaired by replacing the herniated (displaced) structures back into their correct position and then suturing closed the abnormal openings
