bump on belly

[luckyboy]

I have two black and tan females they are sisters and 8 months old one has a bump on her belly the vet says i should get her fixed and they can fix it at the same time, and she says it can be bad for her and it is hereditary. i also have a 2 year old black and tan male with the same bump they both never had any problems. i dont think i need to get her fixed but idk.

???

[Mackdog]

Always keep in mind that vets are a business. If they convince you to have your dog operated on, they make money. Also remember that vets work on house pet dogs that tend to be pussies and get sick a lot.

Is it a hernia at their belly button? My redbone pup had one but it healed and went away on its own. Do a little research of your own and figure out if its cancer. I doubt it is in two young dogs, if its not cancer and it doesn't get in the way, don't worry about it.

[DeVuono311]

Had a Lab born with an umbilical Hernia, he lived to age seven without having it operated it went away as he grew. Never seemed to bother him a bit and boy could that dog run! However, I am NOT a vet. I do NOT know for sure that this is what your hounds have, nor do I know that it might not cause issues later on. I'm just letting you know of MY experience. I agree with Mack, I would start that route before making any rash decisions.

Good Luck and I hope all turns out well!

[DunDealHoundHunters]

I would agree with you guys...its probably a hernia...when they are puppies just shave their belly and duck tape a quarter over it and it will be gone in a few weeks...my bluetick puppy has a quarter on his belly right now...

[luckyboy]

It is a umbilical Hernia she acts fine and is the more active out of the two pups, and the male has never had a problem with his. Her sister doesnt have it and the only difference between them is the one with out the hernia is growin faster than the one with it.

Thanks!

[cobalt]

Sorry, but I think your vet is correct in diagnosis and protocol for treatment. If you question your vets integrity, get another vets opinion. Vets are professionals like mechanics, plumbers and electricians. It's what they do for a living all day, every day.

[catdogs]

Your vet is just saying get her fixed so she isn't bred and passing on that trait. It is hereditary. It is not going to be a problem other than being unsighlty unless you see it getting noticably bigger, then it would require fixing. If you do get her fixed, they would repair it at the same time.

[twist]

hernias in pups more times than not will go away with age and do not seem to be heriditary or ever affect them at a later age. Andy

[jgagne57]

I agree with Twist . Hernias are not hereditary ! If the mother nips the embilical cord to tight or to close to the pup's belly it will cause a hernia. With a pair of scissors cut the cord about an inch long and deter the female from nipping at it .
When the hernia appears , wrap the belly with gauze and tape for 7 or 8 days.

[Mackdog]

Cobalt,

Any profession is performed to make money. These days, money is tight for everyone. When money gets tight, people get greedy and the quality of work and materials goes down hill. A dog is a person's property, there is no law that says a dog has to be taken to the vet. There are resources on the internet that explain any condition an animal can experience. When a vet walks out of the exam room, they go check their references, no different than the ones that you or I can look at. There is social pressure to take a dog to the vet, but last I check hound hunters aren't the most socially accepted fellas.

[T.Hunt]

Whether you take it to the vet, or tape a quarter to it, I would get the problem fixed. These are not house dogs, they are high strung hunting animals. There is potential to snag the herniated area on a stob, or a bear, lion, bobcat, etc to get a claw into. Either of which could spill the dogs intestines on the ground, and create a true problem.
As far as being hereditary, I believe that there is some merit to it. I have personally seen this in 3 Duncan black and tans. My thoughts are genetic throw backs, but I am not a vet, nor a breeder, so I am guessing.
I agree with Cobalt on the vet issue. They are professionals that require 8 years of an expensive education. Yes there are some out there that are just looking to make a dollar, but most become vets because they have a love for animals. Just because times are tough doesnt mean a persons moral integrity goes down the drain. If a person is dishonest, they will continue to be that way no matter the circumstances. Like Cobalt said if you think you are being taken advantage of, get another opinion. These are just my opinions, and I am not disregarding the opinions of others. Tim.

[luckyboy]

it cost the same to get her spayed and fix it as it does to just fix it so im just gonna fix it not plannin on breedin her or her sister till they are older so if i kept a male from one and a female from the other could i breed those two later?

[wanapasaki]

Sounds like a hernia if the vet offered to fix it with the spay. I worked at a vet hospital, should be super cheap, obviously no more than the spay, they just open up the ab cavity and tuck it back in and put 3 stitches in. You don't need to spay her unless you want to

[catdogs]

I can assure you, umbilical hernias CAN be hereditary! Ken Duncan sold one of his best stud dogs because he had a tendency to throw pups with umbilical hernias. He has been breeding dogs longer then a lot of us have been alive. I would not breed a dog with one.