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A hernia is a place where tissue that belongs inside the abdomen pushes through a gap or weak spot in the body wall and forms a pouch under the skin. This guide covers the two types owners meet most often. An umbilical hernia sits at the belly button, where the umbilical cord was attached before birth. If the small ring in the wall there does not close fully, fat or a loop of intestine can slip through and make a soft outie bulge on a puppy's underside. An inguinal hernia forms in the groin, where a natural opening called the inguinal ring lets tissue pass into the fold beside the hind leg, or into the scrotum in males. In both types, the lump often looks bigger when the dog stands, barks, or strains, and smaller when the dog relaxes, because pressure inside the belly changes through the day and with activity.
Most umbilical hernias in puppies are minor. Many contain only a small tag of fat, cause no pain, and shrink as a young puppy grows, and a vet can often repair the rest during the spay or neuter surgery the puppy will have anyway. Inguinal hernias deserve more respect, because the opening can admit the bladder, a loop of intestine, or in a pregnant female the uterus itself, and tissue that becomes trapped there can lose its blood supply. That complication, called strangulation, is painful and life threatening. The practical lesson is simple: any new lump at the navel or groin should be examined once, measured, and placed on a plan, rather than squeezed, taped, or simply ignored. A two minute check at a puppy visit is what separates the hernias that can be safely watched from the ones that need prompt surgical repair. Breeders should also know that both types can run in families, so an affected puppy's history is worth sharing honestly with your vet and with anyone considering breeding from the same line in the future.
Umbilical hernias are present from birth. Before birth, blood vessels pass through the umbilical ring to reach the puppy, and the ring is meant to close once the cord is gone. When closure is incomplete, the gap remains and abdominal contents can push through. A tendency to run in families is suspected, and several breeds appear more often in case lists. Inguinal hernias may also be present at birth, especially in young male puppies, but many develop later in life when the inguinal ring is stretched or weakened by hormones, pregnancy, obesity, or trauma. Excess hormone exposure and some long term steroid use can also weaken the abdominal wall and make an acquired hernia more likely.
Breeds and dogs at higher risk: Umbilical hernias are reported more often in Weimaraners, Pekingese, Basenjis, and Airedale Terriers. For inguinal hernias, VCA Hospitals lists Basenjis, Pekingese, poodles, Cairn Terriers, and West Highland White Terriers among predisposed breeds, and acquired cases are most common in middle aged to older unspayed female toy breed dogs.
Most hernias are diagnosed on a careful physical examination. Your vet will feel the lump, note its size and whether it is soft or firm, and check whether the contents slide gently back into the abdomen, which vets call a reducible hernia. A lump that will not reduce, or one that is painful, raises concern that tissue is trapped. Blood and urine tests may be run before surgery or when illness is present. Ultrasound is the most useful imaging step, because it shows which organs sit inside the hernia, and X rays or advanced imaging such as CT are added when the picture is unclear or a complicated repair is being planned. The other side of the groin and the navel are always checked too.
Treatment depends on the type, the size, and what sits inside the hernia. A tiny umbilical hernia in a young puppy may simply be watched, because some close as the puppy grows. One that remains at spay or neuter time is usually repaired during that same anesthesia: the contents are returned to the abdomen and the gap is stitched closed, a short addition to the planned surgery. VCA Hospitals advises that inguinal hernias are best repaired at the time of diagnosis, because waiting can turn a simple repair into a difficult one if more tissue slips through or becomes trapped.
When the bladder, intestine, or uterus is caught in an inguinal hernia, surgery becomes urgent and is done immediately. The surgeon frees the trapped tissue, removes any part too damaged to survive, returns healthy organs to the abdomen, and closes the ring. Spaying is often advised for females, because lower estrogen levels reduce the chance of the tissue weakening again. Outcomes after repair of a simple hernia are overall excellent for most dogs. When tissue has been trapped and starved of blood, the outlook is more guarded and depends on how much damage happened before surgery, which is why timing matters so much.
While a hernia is being watched, check the lump gently every day and learn its normal size and feel, so change is obvious. Keep your dog at a healthy weight, because extra fat raises pressure inside the belly and pushes on weak spots. Prevent rough tumbles and heavy straining where you can, and never try to tape the lump down or push hard on it yourself. After repair surgery, follow the rest and incision instructions, use the protective collar if one is given, and keep the follow up appointment even if the area looks perfect, so the vet can confirm the wall has healed. Note any change in your phone the same day.
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Some small ones do. As a young puppy grows, the ring can finish closing and the bulge disappears. A hernia that is still present when the puppy is old enough for spay or neuter surgery is unlikely to close later, so vets usually repair it during that operation. Your vet will measure the hernia at each puppy visit and tell you which path yours is on.
Usually, yes. An umbilical hernia most often holds a small tag of fat and stays harmless, while an inguinal hernia opens into a space where the bladder, intestine, or uterus can slip through and become trapped. That is why vets generally repair inguinal hernias when they are found instead of watching them, and why a painful or rapidly growing groin lump is urgent.
Breeding is generally discouraged. Both umbilical and inguinal hernias are suspected to have an inherited component, and VCA Hospitals advises that male dogs with congenital inguinal hernias should not be bred because the tendency can pass to puppies. Pregnancy can also stretch an inguinal hernia in a female and raise the risk of the uterus becoming trapped, which endangers both mother and litter.
Strangulation means tissue that has pushed through the hernia opening is squeezed so tightly that its blood supply is cut off. The trapped tissue swells, becomes painful, and can die if surgery is not done quickly. Signs include a firm, tender lump, vomiting, belly pain, and sudden illness. Strangulation is the main reason a quiet hernia can turn into an emergency, and it always needs immediate care.
No. Gentle pressure during a vet exam is one thing, but pressing on a lump at home can injure trapped tissue or push damaged intestine back where it cannot be assessed. Taping or binding the area does not close the gap and can hide dangerous change. If the lump suddenly will not reduce, looks discolored, or your dog becomes unwell, that is an emergency visit, not a home fix.
This page is general information drawn from the published guidance of the organizations listed under Sources below. It is not veterinary advice, and it does not replace your own veterinarian, who knows your dog. If your dog may have eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435, or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661 straight away. A consultation fee may apply on the helplines. If your dog is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure that will not stop, or has a swollen belly with retching that brings nothing up, go to an emergency veterinarian now and do not wait to finish reading.
Last updated: November 2026. Facts on this page were checked against the sources listed above. How we work: our methodology.