Need Info On Hernias

[BassetWonders]

Ok, so we have just bought a basset pup from South dakota, he arrived lastnight and i got him home, and pulled him out of his crate, and he has a hernia on his belly button. The breeder which claimed to be very ethicial, claimed that she knew about his hernia and decided not to tell us about it!!!
Which she also believes this is not something she should be responsible for fixing!

well as some of you know, we were looking for a show dog and in the future possible breeding. Well he is register with the AKC, and we found this guy and our hearts just melted to the floor.

The problem is my vet can not see him for a few days, and i can't seem to find any other vet that will either. So i am looking for all the information on hernias that i can find.

I have been told that he may have to be fixed over this!

I have also been told that it could fix itself, if we wait for it too, which kinda scares me to wait.

It is located right on his belly button, and is roughly the size of the tip of a person's thumb.

[southern_girl09]

Umbilical Hernias:
The umbilicus is your pet’s belly button. Congenital umbilical hernias are the most common of all. Since this may be an inherited trait, it is best not to breed pets with this condition. Very few breeders take this advice. Dogs and cats with umbilical hernias have a soft , painless swelling or bulge over their umbilicus. The swelling may come and go depending on the pet’s position and how much it has eaten. Small umbilical hernias contain nothing but a fatty veil called the omentum which normally covers the intestines. Larger umbilical hernias can contain loops of the intestine. Small hernias are not serious and sometimes close spontaneously. In male dogs I repair them when the pet is 12-18 weeks of age. In female pets I spay them through the defect at 5-6 month of age and sew the hernia shut on my way out. Large umbilical hernias can strangulate when a loop of intestine gets pinched off within it. The hernia’s fibrous ring squeezes off blood supply to the strangulated segment of intestine causing cell death and necrosis. This is a life threatening condition. Extremely large hernias are less dangerous then medium size ones. The large ones put no pressure on the intestines. They can be a challenge to close because of a scarcity of available tissue to lap over the defect. Sometimes a sterile synthetic fabric webbing is used as a patch. There is a misconception that cutting the umbilical cord off too close is the cause of this condition. I see more umbilical hernias in purebred dogs and cats than in crosses.
There is an old proverb that genetic defects come in threes. In severe cases of umbilical hernia the pet should be examined for cleft palate and heart abnormalities.

source: http://www.2ndchance.info/hernia.htm

[pung-yo]

Southern girl is absolutely right, this is genetic and dogs with a hernia shoul not be bred. I don't know what kind of breeder would withold this info, but in my opinion, not a very honest one. If she knew you were looking for show and breeding quality, you should be able to get your money back, even if you have to take her to small claims.
Most judges will find in favor of the buyer, I think they don't like business people taking advantage of the small people.

[BassetWonders]

wow thanks southern!

[BassetWonders]

Pung- i have been trying to get a hold of her since lastnight, and i finally did today, and all she has said that she will do is send me $50 USD to put forward his surgery! Which we all know is NOTHING!
Or my other option is send the dog back to her, and pay for shipping out of my pocket again, and she will send what i paid her for the dog.

[southern_girl09]

Awe thats really sad.. Tell us what you decide to do when you decide.

[pung-yo]

hmmm...proves my point, very dishonest person. maybe try telling her you will be sueing her for the cost of the surgery and for the full amount of the pup. She might like the idea that she will have to travel to fight this. I don't know how you feel about keeping the dog though. If you're in love with it and want to keep it then she is responsible for the whole cost of the surgery. put everything you were told on the forum in the letter or phone call, so she will know you are aware of all the problems a hernia causes, she will see that you are educated about the facts and might change her mind. I hope you get your money, it isn't right of this breeder to act this way.Good Luck---keep us posted.

[BassetWonders]

Yeah i have been talking to my husband about this, and we are agreeing that a lawyer may need to be asked about legal advice. I know "Buyer Beware" comes into affect, but it doesn't hurt to check it out. But she did mention in several emails, about how there is NO health problems in the bloodline, and she only sells puppys that are completely healthy!!!! So i will be showing that to the lawyer, because Hernia can be mild, but he has clearly had this one for a while now. And her vet, looked at him the day he left, and never said nothing in health cert. about the hernia!!!

[pung-yo]

If you have her E-mails and she had it at the vets and didn't tell you, this is not a case of buyer beware, it's fraud, she misrepresented the puppy to you.

[mara]

I'm really hoping the puppy doesn't have to go back to the breeder. I don't think she cares about him at all. Brings tears to my eyes thinking about that.
I'm not saying that you did anything wrong, BassettWonders, you obviously not dealing with a very nice person.