Hernia in dog?

jackieglasgow

Hi All,

I am not looking for medical advise per se, as I have a vet's appointment for Monday, just wanted to know of others' experience of this.

My about ten monthe old staffy Coco was speyed a week ago and when she went for her checkup on Wednesday the vet said she was a bit swollen and she wasn't sure she is developing a hernia or not in the area where the op was. Told me to keep an eye, and if she is uncomfortable etc. to get her back, otherwise to take her on Monday as normal..

I think the "swelling" has gotten slightly larger and seems to be quite firm, she doesn't appear tender there, and doesn't pull away any more than is normal when you touch it. I called the vet as I am concerned, and after discussing it they are happy to wait until Monday to see her.

Now, my question is, if it is a Hernia, I presume she will need an op to repair it, is this more serious/involved than the initial op was, and what sort of questions should I be asking the vet. For other reasons, I am also concerned about the cost, as I don't think it will be covered by my insurance as it happened as a result of her initial op, which is not covered, anyone have any suggestions about this?

Thanks for any input you feel able to give.

Jackie (and Coco!) X

KVet

I very much doubt it is a hernia, you would know it it was! Most common swelling after being spayed is the muscle and subcut fat around the sutures, moreso in dogs that are a wee bit bouncy and too active after the operation. Best see your own Vets on Mon just to double check

jackieglasgow

Well that is a bit of a relief. It is a large swelling to the one side, maybe an inch across and 3-4 inches long following the line of her body, and as I said, quite firm to the touch. She does seem quite tired tonight, but she's not had much opportunity to be as bouncy today because its been piddling down here all day. Thanks so much for taking the time.

gettingready

Zara had complications after being spayed - her wond got infected, she had swelling on one side and her stitches came out. All that could have gone wrng - did go wrong......

A bit of coincidence for this to happen so soon after her being spayed, does not sound like hernia, rather post op complications...

Hope she is ok soon....

jackieglasgow

Oh that's sad to hear. Hope she's OK now? Coco's stitches are pretty much healed I now, and as I said she seems OK in herself. I will keep you informed, keep your fingers crossed for us, please, I can't bear to think about her in any more pain. X

gettingready

Oh, Zara was spayed at 6 months, she is almost 4 yo now so all good....but it was a big worry at the time...

Hope your girl is ok.....and it is nothing serious

foreign_correspondent

Badger's scar had a bulge after her op to remove broken glass she had eaten... (in case you missed it - shelf broke in kitchen overnight, jar of jam broke on floor, greedy dog ate jam and glass!) - I was a bit concerned about the bulge, but the vet said it's not unusual and would settle down - she also said it is very common except in very small or very inactive dogs. dont know if your dogs is the same sort of bulge, but fingers crossed....

jackieglasgow

It's not under her scar as such, its under the skin, at the side IYSWIM> It feels like a big bulge of muscle or other tissue, but it has a pretty even, regular texture. I'm looking at her scare just now and don't think I can see the blue thread anymore either, I will definitely be calling about that tomorrow. It looks well except for that. And yes, she has been active, cannot get her to stay put at all. Trying to climb the stairs, jump on and off the sofa, and has had a jump over the fence once or twice too, chasing cats! , which I thought she'd be too porrly to even attempt.The vet said keep her calm, I nearly chocked, and said she'd obviously not lived with a Staffy.

I did miss about your dog, silly sod, that must have been terrifying, glad to hear she's OK. X

foreign_correspondent

Yeah, she is fine - it happened about this time last year, so perhaps before you frequented these parts jackie!

Yup, Badger's was off to one side alongside the scar, towards the back end of it I think. Definitely get it checked, but hope its nothing!

jackieglasgow

Sorry I meant to do this yesterday. Coco was checked out and is OK, the bulge is definitely just muscle the vet said, and she didn't need her stitches out as they were already gone! :eek: The vet didn't believe me that she never had her lampshade/satellite dish off (the boys are now calling her Sputnik! :rotfl: ), and thought she'd done it herself. I think they've burst when she was doing one of her bounces on the trampoline to get over the fence whilst on Cat Patrol! Silly girl, either way she's fine thank goodness.

The vet did say she needs an eye keeping on her weight, and I've to take her back in a month, is this because of hormones, or something else? I didn't like to get into it with her, as she obviously never believed me about the collar, and rubbed me right up the wrong way.

foreign_correspondent

Thats good news Jackie!! Speyed dogs normally need slightly less food to maintain their weight (yes, I think it is down to hormones) - some people blame speying for making their dog fat, but ultimately so long as you do not overfeed and exercise the enough speyed dogs will maintain the right weight - its just something to be aware of - if she starts gaining any, just cut down her daily rations a little.