Hernias: Umbilical, Inguinal and Diaphragmatic
Hernias are very common in human medicine, especially in males. Hernias in general are a weakness or opening within a muscle mass that allows other tissues to pass through. In men, they are usually inguinal hernias which are found in the groin area where there is a tiny natural opening within a band of muscle. When a hernia occurs here, the opening enlarges and the intestines from the abdominal area pass through it, producing a swelling immediately under the skin.
Types of hernias in dogs
In dogs, there are also hernias involving the muscles that surround
the abdomen and they are commonly found at two locations. The
first site would be in the groin area on the inner surface of
the rear leg - an inguinal hernia. The second site would be the
"belly button" where the umbilical cord had connected
the puppy to its mother. A hernia at this location is called an
umbilical hernia. In both cases, abdominal organs such as the
intestines or fat pass through the opening and lie just beneath
the skin.
Another common hernia site in dogs involves the internal muscle that separates the abdomen and chest. That muscle is called the diaphragm, so the hernia is therefore referred to as a diaphragmatic hernia. The intestines and other abdominal organs (such as liver and stomach) are able to pass through the opening within the diaphragm into the chest cavity. There they take up a portion of the space normally occupied by the lungs.
A hernia is, therefore, usually nothing more than an abnormal opening in a muscle through which other tissues of the body pass.
Consequences of hernias
The idea that a section of intestine or other structure might
slip through one of these openings and move under the skin or
into a different body cavity (such as the chest) doesn't seem
like a big problem. However, in many cases, a hernia that goes
untreated can have a fatal outcome. Usually, the problems that
occur are not caused by the intestines or other organs being in
an abnormal position or from the displacement of other tissues
that are supposed to be there. Rather, in most instances, a problem
arises when the blood supply of the herniated tissues is affected.
Symptoms
The symptoms associated with a hernia like the one pictured in
Figure 1 and 2 may initially relate to the inability of food to
pass through this constricted section of intestine. Muscles within
the wall of the intestine are responsible for moving food and
water through the organ. Waves of contractions called peristalsis
propel the contents along the length of the intestine. When an
obstruction is encountered like the one described, the peristaltic
waves reverse direction and move the food backward through the
entire digestive tract. This results in food and water being vomited.
After this portion of the tract has emptied, the animal usually
goes off food and refuses to eat. They may still drink water because
liquids might be able to pass through the restricted section of
the intestine or be absorbed prior to that point.
Once the blood vessels are affected, however, the clinical signs change drastically. The area will become swollen and painful. Without adequate oxygen and nutrients, the intestinal tissues initially develop cramps just like your leg does when you cross it and it "goes to sleep". And if the flow of blood is completely lost, cell death occurs. The pain then becomes severe. The animal will probably develop a fever, become lethargic, and go completely off food and water. As these tissues break down, the toxins from bacteria that normally live in the intestine make their way into the rest of the animal’s body. As the tissue dies, the affected area turns into an abscess and many different harmful metabolic waste products are flushed throughout the animal’s body. All of these substances (bacterial toxins and metabolic waste products) seriously affect the various organ systems of the body. Liver and/or kidney failure are quite common in these situations. Without treatment, the animal will usually die within 24 to 48 hours.
As an owner, do not take a hernia in your pet lightly. In many cases, they are disasters just waiting to happen. Do not buy a puppy that has a hernia unless you have a veterinarian examine it so you will understand what treatment is necessary and the potential cost. Some hernias found in young dogs can wait for repair until the time they are spayed or neutered. In older dogs, we generally repair a hernia as soon as possible once they are discovered.
Treatment
Hernias are repaired by replacing the herniated (displaced) structures
back into their correct position and then suturing closed the
abnormal openings. This often requires the use of specialized
techniques and long-lasting suture material.
Hereditary potential
As a note, umbilical hernias in puppies are a genetic or congenital
defect in over 90% of the cases. The disorder is passed from generation
to generation just like the color of the coat or the animal’s
overall size. Very, very rarely are they caused by trauma or excessive
pressures during whelping. Animals that have a hernia or had a
surgical repair of a hernia should never be used for breeding.
Additionally, those adults that produce puppies with this condition
should not be bred again.
The information on this page was obtained from the site www.peteducation.com