© Kirrawee Veterinary Hospital CANINE DISEASES
Inguinal Hernia
Inguinal hernias appear as a soft swelling in the groin of dogs
and occasionally cats. The swelling is due to an enlarging of
the opening to the body (inguinal ring) through which the blood
vessels for the hind legs and the spermatic cord (in males) normally
travel. This allows some of the contents of the abdomen such as
intestine or fat to spill out and become trapped under the skin.
These contents are contained within a hernial sack which is a
continuation of the lining of the abdomen that stretches to line
the hernia. Middle aged over weight females have a higher risk of developing
an inguinal hernia however they can occur at any age. Congenital
hernias (present at birth) are also possible. Quite commonly hernias
will occur on both sides at the same time. The underlying cause of these hernia is unclear. Although there
is some evidence of inheritance in a small number of breeds, in
general this is not thought to be an important factor. Female
sex hormone (estrogen) has been found to cause a weakening of
the structure of the inguinal ring when administered experimentally.
This may explain the higher incidence in entire females.
Fat built up in the abdomen of over weight animals also puts
a greater pressure on the inguinal opening causing it to dilate. Surgical correction of the hernia is the only effective treatment.
The operation involves opening the hernia and returning the contents
to the abdomen. In rare cases intestine caught in the hernia may
be damaged and require partial removal. The hernial sack is then
removed and the inguinal ring is partial stitched together to
reduce the size of the opening. It is generally recommended that females with an inguinal hernia
be desexed. Related sites |