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Post by clayandjill on Aug 12, 2007 23:59:39 GMT -5
Hi everyone.
I am hoping you all can offer some advice, insight, or inspiration.
This spring I fulfilled my life long dream.....I purchased a colt from a local breeder. The mare is a Doc O Lena and the Sire is a Driftwood stud.....on April 28th, "Sunny" was born and he is a perfect little black colt.
On May 26th, his momma coliced and there was nothing the vet could do to save her, so my baby became an orphan. The breeder refunded my money and was going to destroy the baby. I worked out a deal and IMMEDIATELY brought my baby home......we have worked through all the feeding and respect issues and he is a happy, healthy little boy.
When I first got him he had a small umbilical hernia that seems to have grown to a little smaller than a tennis ball. I have been told it will correct itself, but I am going to take him to the vet this week.
In the meantime, I was hoping maybe you guys could tell me anything you know about these types of hernias and share some real life stories about them.
Thanks all!
Jill
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Post by TashGaia on Aug 13, 2007 0:05:20 GMT -5
Tarkh has an umbilical hernia. I don't know what it was like when he was little since he was 5 when I got him... but he is doing fine with his. It is about the size of a silver dollar and the vet says that it is closed up. I would bet money that he never had any procedure to fix it and that it was either always small or closed up on it's own.
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Post by Tockita on Aug 13, 2007 0:05:39 GMT -5
They do not correct themselves if they are large (tennis ball at a few months is large to me) he will probably need surgery to close the hole in the abdomen.
I need to take Cadence to the vet as she has one, but we think it has already had something done to it, but not very pretty. It's 4 bumps instead of a bubble.
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Post by Admin on Aug 13, 2007 0:37:24 GMT -5
Get the vet out. At this age most can be fixed with out surgery by manually manipulating it back up by pushing and putting a belly band on him.
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Post by clayandjill on Aug 13, 2007 0:53:22 GMT -5
Thank you all for your advice and insight.
I will keep you posted!
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Post by jenm on Aug 13, 2007 1:52:01 GMT -5
I look forward to following his story. Do you have a picture of him? It doesn't have to show the hernia, I just thought it would be nice to see him!  |
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Post by clayandjill on Aug 13, 2007 2:33:49 GMT -5
I have lots of pics!! I just have to refresh my memory about how to post them!!!
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Post by sassiedogtk on Aug 13, 2007 10:09:35 GMT -5
If you get it fixed early then they just us a clip. If it is more then two fingers wide then it requires surgery. CBER Juipter now Cash has to have surgery on his and his is just two fingers wide but was not fixed early on.
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Post by pnp4kidz on Aug 13, 2007 15:16:59 GMT -5
They even have a really easy 'caustic injection' way to fix them when they are smallish...
the vet simply injects a caustic solution into the muscles at the edge, and they swell up, then scar closed... viola! fixed!
However... that said... My draft baby who was an orphan too btw... had one too.
His was finger tip at a year when he was going for gelding, and it healed up by itself....
the swelling part is not 'the size' by the way,
you feel with your fingers to see what the size of the opening is. Some of them swell, some get intestines actually protruding... medium sized ones are the most dangerous... they can get bowel thru the hole, then clamp down on it and cut off the blood to the loop of bowel. Small ones are just left alone, if the bowel can't come thru, it's no biggie and most likely will grow closed as he matures... large ones that let a big loop of bowel thru are unsightly, and need repair, but cause no short-term danger from bowel 'strangulation' as they are too big to clamp down... so, they need surgery, but no hurry.
In any case, it is time to get the vet's opinion!!!
can't hurt, might help!
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Post by cutiepiepmu on Aug 13, 2007 19:14:34 GMT -5
Umbilical hernias are no big deal - but as a general rule I do suggest getting them fixed. Some do correct themselves - but if by 6-8 months old it has not corrected then I would do the surgery for sure - but certainly you can have it done before. It is a VERY simple surgery and takes only a few minutes and can generally be done at your own farm. The vet will lay your kid down, but doesn't need full sedation like they would for a big colic surgery. If you are planning to geld, this is also a good time to do that as well if his peanuts are available.
One thing you can do is press on the hernia area - push it in and out like a button several times a day. This softens the area and can sometimes help correct the hernia.
Don't worry - it is a simple surgery and long term it is really better to have it done!
Sara in WA
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Post by clayandjill on Aug 14, 2007 1:27:25 GMT -5
Hi everyone.
Talked with the vet at length this morning and we have decided to go in have the hernia corrected next Wednesday.....we are also going to geld at the same time.
I was sceptacle (sp, its late) about having him gelded so young but your vet said that it can actually help the horse to grow taller, and not quite so wide....since he is a bull dog style QH on both sides, the extra height and not so much bulk may be better....so, we are going to geld.
I will get pics soon.
Jill
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