My kitten's umbilical hernia grew. Is her pain an emergency?

The problem with hernias is that the internal organs can become twisted and cut off blood supply. That is very painful and will lead to death. This is something that needs to be fixed with surgery. Depending on the severity of the hernia, it may be an easy fix and not a risky surgery. Only the vet treating Flash can tell you if it's risky or not. I hope this helps!

As long as Coco is at least two pounds in weight, she can be spayed now, and while the vet is doing her spay, the hernia can be fixed as well. You can call your vet tomorrow to make an appointment for her. Don't worry, you aren't hurting her when you pick her up and when she sleeps on you. I hope this helps!

Sorry....hernias can be repaired during a spay procedure, but since she is spayed already, you can either have her anesthetized again or wait for her next anesthetic procedure to have it repaired (if your vet determines that it can wait).

Unfortunately fixing a chronic diaphragmatic hernia can also have some potential complications since scar tissue can form in the lungs and edema can develop following surgery. If the hernia is still present however anesthesia could be risky. I would recommend rechecking with your vet and having x-rays repeated. If the hernia is still present you can discuss surgery. I would think that a spay at the same time would be reasonable as long as anesthesia is going well since a hernia is fixed through an abdominal incision as well.

A hernia is essentially a loop of intestine (variable in size) which protrudes through a defect in the abdominal wall. A spay is done by opening the abdomen (aka, belly) by cutting between muscle layers beneath the skin. If the layers do not meet when the incision is closed, intestine can protrude. Depending on the size of the hernia and if the tissue can be pushed back into the abdomen, surgery may or may not be required to correct the defect. I recommend keeping a close eye on Kurisu to make sure she does not lose her appetite, develop diarrhea or begin vomiting; as these may be a sign of intestinal constriction. I recommend keeping her diet constant, and avoiding giving any human food which may upset her stomach. I hope this helps and that all is well!

You need to take the kitten into a vet immediately, this is a medical emergency. It looks like a herniation of the intestines, which cannot be treated at home. Please take her, your cat, and the other babies into a vet now

It does appear that it could it be a hernia. You would need a physical exam by your veterinarian for confirmation. As long as Nala is behaving normally otherwise, there is likely no cause for concern. Monitor for lethargy, vomiting, loss of appetite or abdominal pain. If necessary, have a family neighbor or friend take Nala to the vet. You may even be able drive up and have the technician remove her from the car. You can wait outside while the exam is done and then they can return her to you and discuss findings and any treatments.