If you notice a soft and squishy bulge near your puppy’s belly button, they may have an umbilical hernia. These hernias happen when the umbilical ring fails to close completely after birth. They may close up on their own by the time the puppy turns three or four months old. If they don’t, they typically require surgery. Your veterinarian may be able to fix the hernia at the same time your puppy is spayed or neutered.

ARTICLE by WebVet: Umbilical hernia in dogs and cats

Umbilical hernias sometimes occur in newborn puppies and kittens. Puppies and kittens are attached to their mothers via the umbilical cord, just like human babies.  The umbilical cord is how nutrients pass through the bloodstream from the mother to the growing fetus.  Once the cord is cut, the stump dries up and falls off, leaving a small swirl-shaped spot that is similar to the belly button in people.  The cord attaches to the blood supply of the newborn through a small opening in the wall of the abdomen, which normally seals off shortly after birth.  However, in some cases the opening does not seal properly, so that a small amount of tissue from inside the abdomen can “pop” out under the skin.  This persistent opening is an umbilical hernia.

Umbilical hernias can often be seen as a sort of skin “bubble” in the middle of the animal’s belly.  Usually, they are only about the size of a marble, but they can be much larger depending on the size of the opening and the amount of abdominal contents that have pushed through.  Your veterinarian will usually be able to diagnose an umbilical hernia by its appearance and by the ability to gently maneuver the material back into the abdomen.

Very small umbilical hernias may never cause a problem.  However, material from the abdomen (eg, a loop of bowel) may pop through the opening and become trapped, cutting off its blood supply, which is a serious situation.  For this reason, umbilical hernias should be surgically repaired.  The repair is a simple operation that is usually done at the same time that your pet is spayed or neutered.

Q&A
What happens to the puppy or kitten’s umbilical cord after birth?
Once the cord is cut, the stump dries up and falls off, leaving a small swirl-shaped spot that is similar to the belly button in people.  The small opening in the abdominal wall (where the cord attached) normally seals over.


What is an umbilical hernia in pets?
An umbilical hernia is a small hole left when the abdominal wall fails to seal up properly after the umbilical cord drops off.  This allows tissue from inside the abdomen to “pop” out under the skin, forming a bubble.


How can this problem be corrected?
Umbilical hernias should be surgically repaired by a simple operation that can be done during a routine spay or neuter.


Credit: Written and reviewed by John A. Bukowski, DVM, MPH, PhDand Susan E. Aiello, DVM, ELS