Post # 1
Member
94 posts
Worker bee
Hi Ladies,
My SO and I rescued a puppy in September, and everything has gone swimmingly so far. Except, when we first got him he had a little tiny belly button that was soft, but over time grew into a small, firm lump. SO would joke that he had an “outie”, but I had never seen this before and it made me uncomfortable. I like to think of it as women’s intuition.
Fast forward a few weeks, and I asked the vet about it during some routine vaccinations. She felt it, said that it was normal and not to worry. I then said that it sort of felt like a hernia, but my little man can’t talk so there’s no way to tell if he’s in pain (although now that I think about it, he’s been a whiner since day one). She reiterated that it was normal, and he was fine.
Well, he got neutered last week and it still isn’t going away. I was reading online, and I SWEAR it looks like an umbilical hernia. All the advice says that it can be fixed at the same time they get neutered, but we just DID that! He’s still got the cone collar on for crying out loud! So I’m wondering, do I bring this up to the vet again and see what they can do? I go to Banfield, which is the vet at Petsmart that gives you insurance so that it is cheaper – but that makes me question the quality of their veternarians. But we signed a contract with them, so they will be his vet for the next year (its for the insurance).
Do I bite the bullet and take him to a pricey specialist, or just take him to our normal vet and insist they look at it again? Any advice or knowledge about umbilical hernias is appreciated. Thanks!
Post # 3
Member
9 posts
Newbee
I adopted a puppy that seemed to have the same issue. I was told it was a herniated belly button (umbilical cord). I was told that it wasn’t an issue and that they would fix it when she was neutered. I would ask Banfield Vet’s why they didn’t remove it when the puppy was being neutered, especially if you had already talked to them about the issue previously. I am wondering if they didn’t do the procedure while your pup was being neutered since neutering is covered by the pet insurance. Maybe they wanted you to have to pay twice. Regardless, I would talk to vet again and if they require you to pay for it and have a second procedure, I might call around for another vet.
Post # 4
Member
2086 posts
Buzzing bee
- Wedding: June 2012 - Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards
I have heard more complaints about Banfield than compliments. I would seek out a vet with an estblished, private practice.
My golden had a different kind of hernia as a puppy. He had emergency surgery at a vet trauma center for it. He was basically suffocating very, very slowly. It was horrible. The first vet I saw blew it off. The second took an xray, realized he was dying, and got us a bed at the trauma center.
I don’t know how dangerous the more comonn hernia is, the one your pup has, but I would get a 2nd opinion right away.
Post # 5
Member
124 posts
Blushing bee
My pup had an umbilical hernia as well from birth. When she was spayed, they removed it as it was along the same incision line and they only had to make it slightly longer. If your pup is a male and was neutered, I cannot see how this would be the same operation as it would need two seperate incisions, but I could be wrong.
Post # 6
Member
94 posts
Worker bee
@owlandpebble: I know, that’s what I was thinking too! If I already pointed it out, and they’re in the middle of the neuter surgery, why wouldn’t they fix it? I just feel horrible that he’ll probably need two surgeries before he reaches six months. This cone is making him miserable already 🙁
@mink: That is so scary! From what I’ve read online it is not life-threatening, but still a cause for concern that should be addressed imediately. Why wait for it to become an emergency? I’m so glad your golden is okay – good thing you got that second opinion! Per your advice, I’m about to do the same thing. I’m seriously considering just dropping Banfield now, since they have been unprofessional and seemingly ignorant from the get-go. I suppose you get what you pay for..
Post # 7
Member
94 posts
Worker bee
@futuremrsv: I know, I’m not sure about it either, but everyone online says that they fix it at the sane time. Probably just a longer incision, like you said.
Post # 8
Member
216 posts
Helper bee
With a neuter, it would most likely be a separate incision (vs a spay where it’s the same), but the surgery is generally very simple to fix. I’m a vet and I always fix them when I have them anesthetized for their spay or neuter. You should talk to your vet at Banfield and they should fix it for you; I’m not sure why they wouldn’t do it under the same anesthesia as the neuter surgery, that makes no sense whatsoever.
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