Understanding Umbilical Hernias
By Julia M. Crawford
If a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy has an umbilical hernia, it will be apparent by
6 weeks of age as a bubblelike protrusion at the navel. This occurs when the
umbilical rings fail to close fully after birth. Umbilical hernias can be
caused by heredity, cutting the umbilical cord too short, or excessive stress
on the umbilical cord during delivery. The frequency of occurrence of this type
of hernia in Berners should indicate that heredity is a factor. The mode of
inheritance is unknown. The concern that this condition poses for the future of
the breed is small in comparison with far more weighty matters such as
structural soundness, excellence in breed type and longevity.
In more than 30 years of experience with Bernese Mountain Dogs, only once did
our veterinarian feel surgical correction of an umbilical hernia was necessary
The size of the protrusions we have seen range from minuscule to the size of a
nickel at 6 weeks, and if makes note of the presence of a hernia, the pup is
monitored. Not once have any of the puppies had a problem. In the highly
unlikely event that an umbilical hernia becomes painful to the touch, swollen
or red, the dog should be examined by a veterinarian within 24 hours. Experienced
Berner breeders have found that bitches with umbilical hernias - some quite
large - are unaffected by repeated pregnancies, even with large litters.
Some veterinarians are unaware that umbilical hernias can be a common
occurrence in Bernese. They alarm new owners with recommendations for surgical
correction and a call to spay or neuter the pup regardless of its quality.
A Bernese Mountain Dog's status as a candidate for future breeding should not
be determined by the presence of an umbilical hernia. While concerns about the
condition may be justifiable with some other breeds, not so with Bernese. The
call for surgical repair is usually unnecessary, other than for cosmetic
reasons.
One veterinarian actually told the new owners of a 9-week-old potential show
puppy that the pup's small umbilical hernia (identified by the breeder and her
attending veterinarian as being no problem)) would have to be repaired for the
health of the dog even if it would disqualify the dog from showing because of
the surgical alteration of appearance. In fact, the AKC's disqualification
applying to all breeds regarding hernia surgery mentions only corrections of
inguinal (in or near the groin), scrotal or perineal (near the anus) hernias,
not umbilical hernias. Fortunately, inguinal, scrotal and perineal hernias are
very rare in Bernese.
The presence of an umbilical hernia should, of course, be called to the
attention of the prospective owner. We have found it helpful to provide a
written, referenced discussion of umbilical hernias in Bernese Mountain Dogs
that can be presented to the puppy's veterinarian to assist in making
knowledgeable recommendations to the owner.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article is presented in support of the fact that
ours is not the only breed that finds umbilical hernias common. Unfortunately,
too many veterinarians would like us to believe Shih Tzu are the exception. If
you substitute "Shih Tzu" for "Berners", the information
would be the same. The ASTC Education committee has been working on a flyer to
give to vets describing this and other conditions (e.g. late teething,
undershot bites, tight nostrils due to teething that do not require surgery,
etc.) normal in Shih Tzu but not "understood" as such by most
veterinarians. Let a committee member know of your experiences.
Reprinted with the permission of the author from the Bernese Mountain Dog
column in the July 2000 AKC Gazette.
http://americanshihtzuclub.org/umbilical_hernias