Disease Ontology ID: DDTO:0000203

Disease Description: A break in the muscular layer of the body wall occurring at the inguinal canal (where the back leg meets the body).

Inherit Mode: -

Disease Symptom: The most remarkable symptom of an inguinal hernia is the protrusion itself, which appears as swelling on one or both sides of a dog’s groin and can be exacerbated by certain activities such as standing, barking or straining. However, additional symptoms correlate with severity of the condition, and they include: Noticeable pain ;Warmth at the swollen site; Vomiting; Lack of appetite ;Malaise or depression ;Frequent attempts at urination; Bloody urine

Disease Cause: Inguinal hernias are both congenital, or present at birth, and acquired. While the majority of inguinal hernias are congenital, acquired inguinal hernias are caused by obesity, physical trauma, and pregnancy. Knowing if hernias run in your dog’s bloodline can help you identify a problem early.

Disease Diagnose: The veterinarian typically diagnoses inguinal hernias easily upon palpation of the groin area. In irreducible inguinal hernias, x-rays and/or ultrasounds are required in order to determine if there is any organ entrapment, so, the extent. Irreducible inguinal hernias commonly involve complications of the uterus, intestines or bladder.

Treat Method: In rare cases, you and the veterinarian may decide not to treat very small, reducible inguinal hernias. However, this is unlikely, as trauma, pregnancy, activity and weight gain may exacerbate the opening and cause complications. In most cases, particularly with irreducible hernias, prompt surgery will be required. The veterinarian will remove any scar tissue that has formed at the site, push any entrapped organs back into the abdominal cavity, and use stitches to reduce the inguinal canal to its proper size. It's vitally important that both diagnosis and treatment transpire swiftly, as untreated irreducible hernias can lead to strangulated organs, tissue death, and infection. In some strangulation cases, the dead or affected section of tissue may be removed, and the organ or intestine may be repaired with tissues. The success of this procedure depends heavily upon what tissue and how much tissue is affected.

Breeder Advice: -

Disease Description Source: Link