Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
can even reduce the hernia temporarily by gently pushing the abdomi-
nal fat back into the small hole in the body wall with your finger.
Umbilical hernias are not an emergency, and they can be repaired
when the animal is sterilized. Repairing an umbilical hernia involves
putting a few stitches in the abdominal wall and the skin. A spay inci-
sion can usually be extended to include and then close an umbilical
hernia. In a male cat, a hernia repair will be at a different site than the
castration surgery. If your cat has an umbilical hernia, ask your veteri-
narian about repairing it at the time of sterilization.
Another type, called an
inguinal hernia
, appears as an out-pocketing
in the groin region. Abdominal fat or organs can push out of this hole
in the abdominal wall. Inguinal hernias can be a congenital defect (one
a cat is born with) or they can occur as a result of a physical trauma.
Inguinal hernias are usually not emergencies, but because they can
enlarge, they should be repaired.
Two other hernias are occasionally found in cats. These are
diaphrag-
matic
and
pericardial-diaphragmatic hernias
.These types of hernias occur in the
chest cavity and are diagnosed with an X ray.You might suspect one of
these in an animal who is having some difficulty breathing. Breathing is
affected because abdominal organs that would normally be held back by
an intact diaphragm (the muscular band separating the chest and abdom-
inal cavities) are able to move into the chest cavity and compress the lungs.
Diaphragmatic hernias are most often due to trauma. The muscle
tears away from the body wall.This injury needs to be surgically repaired.
Diaphragmatic hernias should be repaired as soon as it is safely possible.
The risk with any hernia is that if it gets larger, organs can get
trapped in abnormal locations and be damaged. It is rare for an umbil-
ical hernia to get larger, and if surgery is not performed, it could sim-
ply close by developing scar tissue with a bubble of fat protruding, or it
could stay open throughout a cat's life and continue to feel like a soft
out-pocketing. The risk with a diaphragmatic hernia is severe impair-
ment of breathing.
Pericardial-diaphragmatic hernias are congenital defects. In this
condition, the diaphragm is connected to the pericardium, which is the
sack surrounding the heart. This malady sounds serious and looks ter-
rible on an X ray, but the surgical repair can be more dangerous than
living with the defect.
A pericardial-diaphragmatic hernia should be left alone unless it
affects the animal's ability to breathe or compromises digestive func-
tions. Some kittens born with this defect never show signs, because
their bodies slowly compensate as they grow.
