Umbillical Hernia?

Question

My friend is buying a female Puggle puppy for her child. The breeder said the puppy has a Umbillical Hernia which means that there is a tiny big of fat where the umbillical cord was and that it may go away on it's own or fixed when it is spayed. We have never heard of this before and are a bit worried bcz we dont know if its long term and could cost a lot. Has anyone ever heard of this or has had a dog that has had this and is it recommended to buy the dog anyway?

Update: The breeder did cut off a few dollars from the originial price of the puppy for her but assured her that it wouldn't be more than $25.00 to get the hernia fixed during the spaying process. Also, this question only pertains to the Umbillical Hernia not to why she is buying the puppy from a ind. breeder and/or if its right.

Answer 1

Sometimes it goes away on it's own and sometimes requires surgery to correct. Won't affect the animals health in any way and does not HAVE to be fixed. If they do fix it, the dog won't have a belly button. Not that a dog's naval is noticable anyway. I had one once who had the hernia, and we just left it. Looks strange but does not bother them otherwise. People will just constantly ask what it is and think it has something wrong like a tumor or something. Will never be a "show dog" or breeding dog, but depends on what you want. Probably will be a great pet either way.

P.S. Good advise above about checking with the vet first to be sure it is actually an umbillical hernia. You could be getting a dog with a more serious problem.

Answer 2

I would have it checked by a vet first to verify that's what it really is. If it is an umbilical hernia, than she should just get the dog spayed as soon as possible and have that repaired at the same time.

Ideally, she wouldn't be buying the puggle puppy in the first place. Breeders that raise 'hybrids' are doing that against the recommendations of the AKC, HSUS and just about any other group that seeks to promote the welfare of dogs. They can't be shown, they aren't held to any kind of standard. Pretty much, anyone breeding puggles, schnoodles and any other combination breed is just in it to make a buck.
There are plenty of mixed breed dogs out there, which is essentially what a puggle is.
If she absolutely must have a small breed puppy, she really should just get a pet quality purebred pug puppy from someone responsible. Someone that actively shows their dogs and requires that their pet quality ones be neutered AND screens for health problems.
This individual breeding puggles probably just got a couple pet quality purebreds of unknown origins to breed and may not have done any health screening at all.
That's a scary thing when you're buying a dog. Things like luxating patellas and eye problems are common in poorly bred animals. You'd have better luck with a shelter dog than with that puggle.

Answer 3

Please suggest to your friend that she not "buy" a puggle, but rather rescue one from a shelter. In purchasing a puggle, she will be supporting a detestable puppymiller. A puggle is a mixed breed dog. A mixed breed dog is a MUTT. Responsible breeders don't breed mutts, only puppymiller do. Those individuals who are producing mutts and dubbing them with "Designer dog" names are motivated solely by greed and are not only perpetrating an unscrupulous scam on the public, but doing harm to the very dogs they breed. They do NO health screenings or genetic testing at all. They do not even breed to a standard, (because there is none). In the case, for example, of the "Puggle", they are risking the very lives of the dogs they produce by virtue of the breeds they are crossing (pug + beagle). A brachycephalic dog, (such as a pug) with the lung power and prey drive of a beagle would be in serious danger or dropping dead while playing on a hot day. We've had someone on this group ask why their neighbor's "Puggle" puppy died in its sleep for no apparent reason. Those "breeders" are very adamant in perpetuating the lie that "mutts are healthier", yet these puggles are already exhibiting epilepsy (a disease that has virtually been eradicated in the lines of responsible beagle breeders), before the age of one and a defect where the bones break very easily and do not properly heal. They don't guarantee to take back their dogs, so these sick animals are now growing in numbers in shelters. By the way, they charge more for a "puggle", than a beagle pup from a responsible breeder would cost.

Answer 4

they can be a genetic fault. if it's a good breeder they would deduct some money from teh purchase price.
They can actually either go away or they can get bigger. the price of removal depends on teh vet. My vet charges an additional $50 fee on top of spay for it to be removed.
Is the dog being sold as having to be spayed??
I'm not saying breed you may end up with the same problem if bred. but if you don't spay her then what???
Teh pup should only be sold as a pet quality with teis hernia.
You could try to call the vet you plan to use to see how much get a quote and then ask teh breeder to deduct that amount.
Good Luck
Oh if it is removed there should be no other problems and I have often sold the pup with a guarantee and stating exactly what is to be done and deduct teh $50 I would be charged and it is also stated that the dog is being sold as a pet only and is to be fixed at 6 months

Answer 5

I have a Lhasa Apso, that had the same exact thing. It actually looks like a little bag filled with fluid. We got him anyways cause he was so cute.....He wasn't fixed at the time, but the vet never mentioned that it would go away once i fixed my dog. We got the surgery for him, i believe it cost close to $200. Its actually extremely minor surgery. Just remember to ask your vet for pain medication when you go and pick her up. Vets will always tell you that whatever anesthesia that they put the dog under during surgery is sufficient for pain medication. Dogs have a high tolerance for pain, and this is why they do this. Just please buy a couple days worth of pain medication, it is SURGERY after all. Anyways if the cost of the surgery and everything needed for afterwards is too expensive, She is not under any pain with her hernia, I believe maybe a small amount of discomfort, but even that is iffy. My dog lived with his for about 3 years before i got enough money and time to get it done. You do have to take care of them and keep an eye out after the surgery, because they're so groggy, and always tend to get into things that may pop the stitches. Good Luck with that, but remember its not a necessary operation, just for cosmetic reasons.

Answer 6

These types of Hernia's are common in pups. Yes they do sometimes go away on their own if not they can be repaired at the time of the dogs spay. The only person to tell her how bad it is will be her vet.

Answer 7

Sorry but the breeder is an idiot. (First for producing Puggles and Secondly for saying what he did about the hernia).

Talk to a vet about this. Hernias are not bits of fat. There is no way to diagnose this from this description. I'd consult a vet and get his opinion before purchasing the pup.

Answer 8

It probably won't go away and means NOTHING! You will most probably NEVER have to get it fixed. It's more of a "cosmetic" than an actual problem. When the vets say: "We can fix that for you if you like, just say no". Forgidaboutit. Now, the price of the puppy. Someone wants your friend to pay full price for a puppy with a cosmetic defect. Sorry! Defects decrease the value of the puppy unless your friend has already fallen in love with it in which case it's too late.

Answer 9

it happens a lot in both puppies and kittens. yes it can easily be fixed when the dog is spayed--it may cost a little bit more than a normal spay

Answer 10

It is really common actually, mypuppy had it and they are just going to stitch it up when they spay/neuter the dog. It is $88.00 for my Pom-a-Poo. It is not an on going thing, and buy the puppy, have fun with your new pup!

Love Danielle