If your vet diagnoses your adorable new puppy with a hernia, don’t panic. Umbilical and inguinal hernias, the most common types, are quite treatable and shouldn’t cause problems for your pup as he grows into adulthood. A hernia means that there’s a tear or hole in a part of the body’s wall, through which an organ or another body part protrude.

Umbilical Hernias

If you notice a protrusion in the area of your puppy’s belly button, underneath his rib cage, it’s likely he has an umbilical hernia. In some puppies, these hernias close up and disappear before the age of 6 months. If it doesn’t go away, surgical removal is advisable. While most umbilical hernias don’t bother adult dogs, there’s always the slim possibility that part of his intestines could become trapped, cutting off the blood flow. This results in strangulation, requiring emergency surgical correction.

Inguinal Hernias

Inguinal hernias are less common in puppies than umbilical hernias. They can occur in male puppies, but are more often found in female dogs going through pregnancy or estrus. You might notice a swelling in the area of your dog’s groin, or in the scrotum of an intact male dog. Inguinal hernias are usually painless and don’t cause problems unless a strangulation results.

Correction

Hernias in puppies are often corrected when the dog is spayed or neutered, since the animal is already under anesthesia. Scar tissue formed around an umbilical hernia is removed. The site is then closed by suturing. With an inguinal hernia, any organs that protrude are put back in place, with stitches or a muscle graft repairing the hernia. Most puppies experience no complications and hernia recurrence is rare. The puppy might need to wear an Elizabethan collar for several days after surgery, but that also would be necessary to keep a spayed female from bothering her incision.

Diaphragmatic Hernias

Unlike inguinal or umbilical hernias, diaphragmatic hernias result from trauma. Your puppy could experience a diaphragmatic hernia if he’s hit by a car, mauled by another dog or receives any type of severe blunt force. A tear occurs in the diaphragm, which separates the chest from the abdomen. Through this opening, the gastrointestinal and other organs can enter the chest cavity. If you did not witness the trauma your puppy went through, the most obvious sign of a serious diaphragmatic hernia is difficulty breathing. Puppies with small tears might be asymptomatic. If your dog receives any serious blow, take him to the vet for an examination even if he seems fine.

Mother Nature decrees that a pregnant animal’s body must devote itself to the development of the babies. That means a female dog should be in good physical shape before she’s bred. Those two months of gestation take a lot out of a dog. A malnourished dog’s inner workings will utilize all the nutrients necessary to nourish the fetuses, at the risk of the mother’s life and those of the puppies.

Feeding

The mother dog is eating for more than eating for two. She might be eating for six or more. The American Kennel Club recommends feeding a high-quality diet consisting of at least 29 percent protein and 17 percent fat — a diet for puppies or high-energy dogs. Start feeding her such ration as soon as she becomes pregnant, no more than normal. After her gestation’s first month, gradually increase her food intake, up to 25 percent extra daily by the time she’s ready to give birth. As she gestates, offer her several small meals throughout the day rather than one or two large feedings.

Exercise

Unless your dog participates in strenuous physical exercise, she can maintain her normal routine for the first month of her pregnancy. Taking regular walks helps maintain her muscle tone. By the sixth week of pregnancy, she’ll have gained considerable weight and her mammary glands will have gotten bigger. By that point, she should take it relatively easy. Short, easy walks in good weather are fine, but don’t let her do anything to potentially cause overexertion.

Considerations

Because anything she consumes can affect the puppies, don’t give your dog any supplements or over-the-counter medications without checking with your vet. Keep your home as quiet and stress-free as possible. This is not the time to do major home renovation or anything disrupting normal routine, such as adding another dog to the household. Make sure your dog has a private area of her own where she can rest, away from other pets or children.

Vaccination

Ideally, your dog is up-to-date on vaccinations before breeding. In most cases, it’s not a good idea to vaccinate a pregnant dog, as it could harm the fetuses. If a pregnant dog is in a high-stress environment — such as a shelter — with an unknown vaccination history, the risk of coming down with a serious disease might outweigh potential fetal damage. That’s especially true in the case of distemper or parvovirus.