We got a puppy from a co-worker for my kids, mainly for Shane who has shown a LOT of responsibility with the cats. It was pretty spur of the moment, she brought them in, and I had been considering a pet for Shane, and fell in love with the puppy I held. She is a Papillion/Peekapoo mix, the co-worker used to breed Papillions, and I trust the puppy is healthy. I can't wait for the kids to come home from their dad's, they are going to freak out!!

Anyway, on to my puppy question, a couple days after after Izzy came home, I noticed a lump on her belly the size of a gumdrop. I am 99.99% sure it wasn't there before. I flipped her over to check it out, there is no redness, no injury, no pain, and when I push on it, it goes back in to her belly. I couldn't get her into the vet today, because I was sick in bed, but I am going to call tomorrow to see what they suggest. From the symptoms, it sounds like an umbilical hernia, which is likely to go away on it's own. Anyone ever had this before? She is acting normal, playful, going to the bathroom ok, no fever, no change in eating, just a simple little lump on her belly. Any thoughts?? TIA

By Marcia on Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - 09:24 pm:

What a fun surprise for your kids!!

Our dog had one from birth, and when she was fixed they repaired it. We didn't have her fixed until she was about 7, and it never caused her any problems for all of those years.

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - 09:35 pm:

[scott]

Could be an umbilical hernia. No telling from over here, of course. ;) Keep an eye out for pain in the abdomen, evinced by the dog licking at its belly, the usual symptoms of pain (howling, flinchy when touched in that area and so on), and be sure to make sure that it's defecating normally. And yeah, get to the vet ASAP.

Umbilical hernias can sometimes be diagnosed without a lot of pricey stuff like X-rays, so don't sweat the cost of the visit. And if it IS a hernia, the surgery is a snap IF caught early. It's a mess if it goes a while undiagnosed, because it'll also involve resecting some gut.

Anyhow and anyway, I can't give you a diagnosis without poking your puppy so you might as well get to the vet. You need shots anyway, right?

[/scott]

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - 09:53 pm:

Thanks, Scott! I wasn't sure if you were feeling well enough to post, but I'm glad to get your opinion. We do need shots, so we were expecting a vet visit soon, although I don't know if she can get all of them yet, as she is only 7 weeks old. I'll call around tomorrow to choose a vet (the one I use for the cats is REALLY out of the way, so I need to pick a new one) and will talk to the co-worker I got her from for recommendations. Thanks!!

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - 11:29 pm:

Awww, I bet she's cute!

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - 11:47 pm:

I'll post pictures later, she is a cutie!!