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  Discussion on Foal unbilical hernia
Author Message
Member:
juliem

Posted on Sunday, Aug 2, 2009 - 4:37 pm:

Dr. O, I couldn't find an article on umbilical hernias and I'm sure you have one. Perhaps you can direct me to it. My question concerns a pair of fillies I just rescued. They are supposed to be close to 3 and a half months although they look more like three WEEKS. When I palpate their umbilical I can feel a separation that feels like a cleft between the muscle. I don't know what a normal umbilical feels like as I've never palpated one before! They both have tiny--grape sized--skin protrusion at the umbilicus, but that doesn't strike me as unusual. I'm just wondering what a normal foal belly button feels like on palpation I guess.
I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew, but this place had 15 foals and I hated to leave any behind. The two I took aren't the ones in the worst shape, but they weren't the best either. And don't you know, all the mares are back in foal!!!
Member:
dres

Posted on Sunday, Aug 2, 2009 - 4:57 pm:

So pictures are in order ya know.. .. 15 foals.. what breed, and why are the mares in foal again.. ?

On the first day God created horses,on the second day he painted them with spots..
Member:
juliem

Posted on Sunday, Aug 2, 2009 - 5:39 pm:

Pictures will be coming--when I get them cleaned up a bit. Who else gives babies a sponge bath?? They are AQHA registered quarter horses! I think the old guy is a hoarder type--although get this--he leased a stallion to put in with his mares!!! If you had seen this place--it was probably not quite horsey hell, but it looked too close for my comfort! When I went back with my trailer--no small feat as there was no road (he's "squatting" in the Owyhee Mountains)--he had no hay and they had eaten everything including the sagebrush and were starting on the manure! I may be over-reacting since not everyone thinks horses need the treatment I do, but come on--no hay?? Anyway, no more rant, for now, and I will have pictures tomorrow.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Aug 3, 2009 - 7:36 am:

Hello Julie,
A cleft and not a hole may be normal Julie as it takes time for the umbilicus to close completely following birth. We have an article on diseases of the newborns umbilical cord, but mainly covers the more serious condition of a patent urachus, Diseases of Horses » Foal Diseases » Patent Urachus and Diseases of the Umbilical Cord. It does describe the umbilicus at birth and there are several messages posted about umbilical hernias on that page that may help.
DrO
Member:
juliem

Posted on Thursday, Jan 13, 2011 - 2:01 pm:

An update to this thread: Both of these fillies blossomed into lovely youngsters and are went to new owners last summer. The cleft I reference above closed completely in both. One was a little larger and my vet palpated it and said it was "one finger" and they normally close on their own. I'll be starting a new post about yet another hernia with a different filly.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jan 14, 2011 - 4:14 pm:

Good the hear Julie,
DrO
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