Hernia

[Fireweed]

One of my AGSs, Jiggy Jamz, has an umbilical hernia since I got him (what I *think* is an umbilical hernia - it's in the right spot :dono). It was very small - smaller than the end of a pencil eraser. After reading much about it and talking with some folk, I thought there might be a chance it would disappear on its own. But it hasn't, and recently it got bigger. He isn't bothered by it at all, even when I push it back in *gag*. He's very active, has a normal appetite, loves life.

Should I wrap some vet wrap around him to try and keep it in so the tear or opening might close up? What else can I do?
I took away his wheel recently to see if that would help.
He's a neuro and is always falling - so that could be making it worse.

:help

Any ideas would be appreciated. No access to vet.

[farrelli]

Poor guy. I would think without surgery he will always need a wrap so that it doesn't strangulate. I'd ask Loopy though.

[Fireweed]

I'll PM Loopy. Thanks, farrelli.

Any ideas about what kind of wrap would be best?

[Rodentia]

The only danger is if a piece of intestine got trapped in the hernia and got strangulated. If this is one that you are keeping, just keep an eye on it and make sure that it continues to reduce, or go back inside. Sometimes hernias will close leaving a bit of fat or omentum outside. This is no danger at all. Most hernias in dogs and cats are too small for the intestines to go through. The wrap will not help. Only surgery can fix a hernia. If the hernia ever is discolored or painful, that will be an emergency, but the likelihood of this happening is very small.

This is based on dog, cat and horse hernia knowledge. I don't think the wheel is a problem.

[Fireweed]

The only danger is if a piece of intestine got trapped in the hernia and got strangulated. If this is one that you are keeping, just keep an eye on it and make sure that it continues to reduce, or go back inside. Sometimes hernias will close leaving a bit of fat or omentum outside. This is no danger at all. Most hernias in dogs and cats are too small for the intestines to go through. The wrap will not help. Only surgery can fix a hernia. If the hernia ever is discolored or painful, that will be an emergency, but the likelihood of this happening is very small.

Thank you, Rodentia.

How long do you think it could take to close up - and if it's gotten bigger do you think that's even possible?

How can I tell if there is fat or omentum? Can that be pushed in or does it feel different?

Do you think I'll have to keep his wheel away from him for good? He loves that thing. But I worry about him running so much.

Why do you think a wrap wouldn't help?

[Rodentia]

Sometimes in really young animals, hernias will close on their own. If they are already near to full size, they rarely will close on their own. When they are surgically repaired, the edges of the hernia are trimmed and sutured so that the abdominal wall will heal together like a fresh wound. It does not matter whether it is fat or omentum passing through, as long as it is not intestine. The hernia would have to be much larger for intestine to go out.

An old time horseman repair for hernias in foals was to push the contents of the hernia up and then place a clip on the hernia. Eventually it would cause enough scarring to repair the hernia and then the entire thing would fall off. Not pretty.

Running on the wheel will not hurt him at all in my opinion. He might as well be happy. Just be sure to every day feel the hernia and make sure it is not changing. If it looks bruised or painful, that would be an emergency.

As far as getting bigger, I don't know why that would be. Are you sure it is growing? Hernias don't usually get bigger.

[Fireweed]

Thank you so much, Rodentia. I really appreciate it. :thankyou
I'm not sure it's still growing but I do know it got bigger all of a sudden, which is worrying. It hasn't changed since its one growth spurt, though.
:dono