Hernias are usually found by your veterinarian at your puppy's first health check. When hernias are identified your vet will explain the necessary course of action. If they have not closed by themselves, small uncomplicated hernias are usually surgically repaired when your pet has their desexing surgery at around 6 months of age, however larger hernias or those that may risk constricting abdominal organs will need to be operated on immediately.
Ultrasound or x-rays can also be used to assess the abdomen and organs affected by the hernia which is then followed by surgery to repair the defect.
Cost of umbilical hernia surgery
For small umbilical hernias, their repair is often performed at the same time as desexing, and so there may be only be a minimal extra charge for the hernia repair, to account for the slightly longer surgery time. For more complicated hernias, where there are strangulated hernial contents, your dog may require stabilisation prior to surgery and surgery time may be longer depending on the severity of organ strangulation, so the cost would be higher.
Your vet will be able to advise you of an estimated cost of repair prior to surgery.
