Can an older dog get a hiatal hernia? Is it a birth defect or trauma?

onHi, I will try and cover all the questions about Hiatal Hernia (HH) you have: In most veterinary patients, hiatal herniA (HH) appears to be a congenital or birth defect. Brachycephalic dogs (those with a shortened nose such as English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs) are at an increased risk. Trauma can also cause a HH but much less likely. Diagnosis of HH is most commonly done via fluoroscopy (a moving x-ray study) using radiographic dye. Esophagoscopy and gastroscopy may also be performed. In general treatment options include conservative medical treatment and surgical repair. Medical treatment aims to control clinical signs with with medication, diet changes, and supplements. This will probably reduce the frequency of the clinical signs but may not alleviate the condition. In many cases medical management is attempted initially (around 30 days), but if non-responsive then surgical repair will be done. Bear in mind the information given is general without knowing the specifics of your individual case. Hope that's help.

Hello. I would not say your Lily is in overt pain, but this cannot be comfortable. She is probably vomiting intermittently, perhaps you are seeing a little blood, too in the vomitus. HHs can compromise esophageal function & the longer you let it go the more \pathology you can see & the greater the risk for aspiration pneumonia. If your vet has recommended surgery, do consider it, or at least follow all medical recommendations closely. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for using Pet Coach! You are correct that there is some thought that umbilical hernia’s have a genetic component. However, other types of abdominal hernias may be acquired- usually by some sort of trauma. Other types of hernias include inguinal hernias (male dogs only)- these may also have a genetic component if the dog was born with it. If it was acquired later in life - it is usually secondary to some sort of trauma. Since the sire died from a hernia at 2years of age, my guess is that it is not related to genetics.

What you describe that your vet said is an abdominal hernia. It is a small hole in the muscles that hole the guts inside the body and allows loops of small intestine or other organs to fall through. That is quite possible. Another possibility would be a large, fatty tumor (lipoma) or other tumor. The only way to know for sure is to do diagnostics and an exam with a vet. In any case, I would recommend getting it fixed. If there are intestines in there, they are at risk of reduced blood supply, which would require emergency surgery. If it is a tumor, even a benign one, it can continue to get larger and outgrow its blood supply, again requiring extensive surgery. The wounds on the mass right now are likely caused from normal movement and Karat simply laying down on it. It is a reason I recommend having it dealt with now before things get worse.

I am so sorry to hear of your concerns for Hazel! It certainly sounds like a hernia could be the cause of the swelling. These are usually corrected surgically and can be easily incorporated into her spay procedure. In the United States this is typically recommended to be done at around 6 months, but you should chat with your veterinarian and see what age they recommend scheduling Hazel for her procedure. The risk with a hernia is that intestines and other abdominal organs may become entrapped in the hernia and this can create an emergency situation. Monitor carefully for signs that the swelling is firm or painful, or if Hazel goes off her food and seems uncomfortable.

It is ok for Lily to remain on those antacids long term. I suspect there are reasons your vet considers the surgery to be risky (brachycephalic breed, senior age, complicated nature of the surgery, possible bloodwork issues). It is great that they have stopped the vomiting. Putting her on an intestinal diet that is easy of the GI tract such as Hills i/d dry and canned or Royal Canin GI dry and canned may help as well. Good luck!

When internal organs slip through an umbilical hernia, the swelling tends to become larger very quickly and is very painful. That does not seem to be the case with Charlie which is good. Umbilical hernias are normally present at birth and should not develop later in life. This swelling also looks like it is a little higher than his umbilicus, so it may not be an umbilical hernia. Depending on what your vet thinks, they may perform a fine needle aspirate to collect a few cells and decide what it is and if anything needs to be done about it. If it is a benign mass, they may not recommend any treatment. If they think it may be a hernia or if they see any concerning cells, they may recommend surgery. Hopefully your vet appointment will put your mind at ease. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.