Hernias are a common congenital condition (meaning that puppies are born with them), affecting around 1 in 500 puppies. Although they can make some dogs seriously unwell, most are usually discovered at a puppy’s first checks or vaccinations without any associated or preceding signs of ill-health.

Small (less than ¼“ or 1cm) hernias may close spontaneously (without treatment) by age 3 to 4 months. Umbilical hernias that do not close may require surgery, especially if a portion of an intestinal organ protrudes through it. Umbilical hernias are usually painless.

If your pooch has an umbilical hernia, you will notice that her belly button has been replaced by a squishy protrusion. Depending on the size, these can either heal on their own or can be surgically fixed when your puppy is spayed or neutered.

Hernias in dogs are relatively common, especially with puppies. Much like in people, a hernia is a condition where the contents of a dog’s abdomen pushes through a tear or hole in the muscle wall or fatty tissue. Over 90% of hernia cases are due to genetics, as puppies are most commonly born with them.

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.

For most minor hernia repairs, including anesthetics (excluding any necessary pre-surgical labwork) pet owners should expect to pay $150-$400.

Cost of Hernia Repair in Dogs Hernia repair expenses range from $700 (for simple more common hernias) to $2,500 (more complex cases) with $1,600 being the average cost. These costs include diagnosis, surgery and aftercare.

Do umbilical hernias cause any health problems? Small umbilical hernias do not cause any problems. These puppies do not need surgery and can do all normal activities. Large hernias can be a problem if an intestinal loop slips through the opening and becomes trapped or injured.

Depending on the type of surgery, full recovery will take between six weeks and four months. A full, safe recovery requires careful post-op care, followed by a gradual rehabilitation. Your veterinarian or board-certified veterinary surgeon will give you a range of time that they expect your pet will take to heal.

Once the puppy is out of the uterus, the mother dog will immediately bite and break off each of her offspring’s umbilical cord. In one to three days, the stump of the umbilical cord dries up and falls off, soon leaving just a scar.

Your vet will explain how long the bone may take to heal, but generally canine fractures need a minimum of four weeks in young puppies and eight weeks in older animals to heal sufficiently and eventually return to normal.

Early spay/neuter causes loss of bone mass. Dogs who are spayed/neutered at all are twice as likely to develop bone and other cancers. Dogs who are spayed/neutered too early have an increased chance of developing undesirable behavioral issues such as phobias, fear aggression and reactivity.

Veterinarians have traditionally recommended ubiquitous spaying and neutering dogs and have recommended doing it at no later than 6 months of age. These studies have showed impacts of spaying and neutering (both positive and negative) on 4 general areas of health: weight, orthopedic disease, cancer, and urinary health.

Studies show that early spay/neuter does affect the growth plate, delaying its closure and causing dogs to grow taller than they should have. This can predispose the dog to later joint problems. For small or medium sized dogs, the standard recommendation is still to spay/neuter the dogs between 6-8 months of age.

Generally, it is safe to spay or neuter most kittens and puppies at 8 weeks of age. However, be sure to check with your veterinarian and have your pet evaluated before scheduling spay or neuter surgery.