Calf # 162 - Hernia Repair
Recently one of our large animal clients brought in #162, an 8 month old Holstein heifer with an umbilical hernia. Umbilical hernias are often considered hereditary in cattle and are most commonly seen in Holstein and Friesian breeds.
A hernia is a defect (hole) in the body wall that allows abdominal contents to fall out - held in only by a layer of skin. This is a serious concern as the animal grows. Often hernia surgeries are without complication and prognosis is good, but occasionally abdominal contents such as small intestine can strangulate through the hernia and blood supply can be cut off. This is often the case if the hernia is left too long, or if the heifer goes through a pregnancy.
The surgery starts by making the hole bigger to get back to healthy tissue. The defect is then closed using heavy suture and the skin is sewn over top.
Fortunately this hernia repair was successful and without complication!
