Inguinal Hernia

Both litters of pups are going on fine. Dolly's pups are now 7 weeks old. They will be having their first vaccination & microchip on Thursday & in 7 days time they will start to go of to their new families. The time always goes so quickly as it only seems a wink of an eye ago that these pups were born but I am confident that they are going to good homes & that they will be an asset & a welcome member to their new families. Dolly is proving to be an exceptional Mum & has nutured & cared for these pups way above normal duty.
Ysabel's girls are doing fine but noticed a lump in Foxy's groin a few days ago & when the vet examined her he confirmed my suspicions that she has an Inguinal Hernia which is not to be confused with an Umbilical Hernia.
Inguinal Hernia is found in the groin area & is a hole or tear in the muscles that line the abdominal area & the contents inside then push through & there is a risk that if left that she could have her bladder pop through. The cause can be in such a young pup a rip caused from birth or it could be hereditary but as we know that she was born very fast that the tear may be from the high pressures of birth also this is Ysabels second litter & none of her other pups have had any signs of a Hernia. Foxy has been booked in next Monday to do the surgery as unlike an Umbilical Hernia which could be left till the pup was spayed because of the position of this Hernia it needs to be done now & she must never be bred from although Tracey just wants a pet & was looking to spay her in the future before she had this problem.
Tracey who is having Foxy & that is the name she choose for her still wishes to have her & we have come to an amiciable arrangement as I know how much they were looking forward to taking her home soon. Tracey has been very understanding as it is not a phone call I enjoy telling someone something is not quite right with their pup which they have so been waiting for but Tracey has shown great understanding & sympathy for my position. The surgery is highly successful & actually makes the groin stronger,  basically they stitch the hole up sometimes they need to use mesh if the hole is a bit big. She should of made a full recovery & stitches out within 2 weeks if everything goes well, so positive head on & everything will be okay although anything like this naturely does make you worry which is only being human.
Inguinal Hernias are quite rare in pups as this is the first one I have seen & hopefully the last but the more you do the more you see & in life you are permanently on a learning curve. In adult dogs it is seen when they have had a severe trauma which causes a rip in the muscles of the groin area. Foxy other than a lump in her groin which can be pushed back up is a perfectly healthy & happy pup & does not lack confidents & loves playing with her siblings or us.
Click on photos below to see full size.