Author: Jessica Vogelsang, DVM

Can Hernias be Treated? As a hernia is essentially a hole in the body wall that shouldn’t be there, surgery is indicated to replace the contents of the abdomen and repair the defect so the organs remain where they are supposed to be. The success of the repair depends on the size of the defect, whether or not the organs sustained damage when they were herniated, and the overall health of the pet. In the cases of small umbilical hernias where only fat is protruding, your veterinarian may recommend repairing the hernia at the time of spay or neuter. If the hernia is large or contains abdominal organs, surgery should take place as soon as possible to avoid organ damage or even death. Your veterinarian can assess your pet if you suspect he or she is suffering from a hernia and determine the best course of action.,Are Hernias Preventable? In many cases of congenital hernias, it’s impossible to predict when and where they will occur, though some breeds are considered predisposed to various types of hernias. For example, while Shar-pei and English bulldogs are more likely to have hiatal hernias, Weimaraners are overrepresented in cases of peritoneopericardial hernias. Pets who have any form of congenital hernia should not be bred as they may pass the defect onto their offspring. Although hernias can be distressing and sometimes even life-threatening, the majority of pets with a hernia who receive prompt diagnosis are successfully treated and go on to live long and happy lives. If you find an unexpected swelling or mass on your pet, even if it doesn’t seem to be bothering them at the moment, don’t wait to get it assessed. Early diagnosis is the key to excellent outcomes.  ,By Jessica Vogelsang, DVM As part of every puppy physical exam, I feel the dog’s belly to check for all sorts of things, like pain, enlarged organs and masses. I run my fingers down the center near their belly button feeling for the telltale blob of an umbilical hernia and near the groin checking for inguinal lumps and we find them quite a bit. Hernias are not uncommon in puppies, and occur in a variety of ways. The good news is most are easily treatable and often caught early. Here’s what you need to know: What is a Hernia? A hernia occurs when abdominal organs or fatty tissue protrude through a weak spot in the muscle or connective tissue. The severity of the hernia depends on the size of the defect in the abdominal wall. In its most benign form, a small amount of abdominal fat may intermittently protrude from the hole and be easily placed back through with a little pressure. In its most severe form, intestines or other abdominal organs may pass through the the hole, compressing blood supply and essentially strangling the organ. In these worst-case scenarios hernias can become life threatening in a short period of time. Amazingly, even large hernias can often be successfully treated if the diagnosis is made before the herniated organ is compromised.

WRITTEN BYJessica Vogelsang, DVM Veterinarian Jessica Vogelsang, DVM, is a person who loves too many topics to be able to stick to one descriptor: writing, dogs, communication, cats,…,Since dogs can’t talk, we spend a great deal of time trying to interpret other signs of their health. How is he acting? How is his appetite? And how is his poop? Your dog’s poop can give your vet a tremendous amount of information about your dog’s digestive and overall health, which is why your vet’s office will routinely ask you to bring a fecal sample along to office visits. Even if you’re not planning on going to the vet, as a pet parents, it’s a good idea to pay attention to your dog’s poop. Is it changing color or consistency? Does it smell foul, or contain streaks of blood or mucus? Are some variations in a pet’s stool normal? Is there such a thing as a stool emergency? Here’s what you need to know about your dog’s poop. The Four C’s of Poop When it comes to evaluating poop, your vet will be looking for the four C’s: color, consistency, content, and coating. Color Under normal circumstances, dog stool is a chocolate-brown color. During normal digestion, the gallbladder releases bile to aid in the breakdown of food. Bilirubin is a pigment in bile that affects stool color. The stool may have some minor deviations in color due to diet, hydration, or dyes, but you shouldn’t see substantial changes. Abnormal color patterns that should catch your eye include: Black stool: bleeding high up in the digestive tract may result in tar-colored stool Red streaks: this indicates bleeding in the lower digestive tract Grey or yellow stools: may indicate issues with the pancreas, liver, or gallbladder If abnormal colors persist for more than two stools, call your veterinarian.