Have you ever wondered if dogs have belly buttons? You may have even tried to search despite your pup’s wiggles and fur to go looking for one. For most puppies, the search will be in vain.
But the fact is, every puppy has a belly button, known medically as an “umbilicus.” This is where their umbilical cord was connected when they were still in the womb. In most puppies, all that’s left is a faint scar, making it hard to find, especially if they’re super fuzzy!
Sometimes the belly wall at the attachment location doesn’t close all the way after birth. This leaves a small hole through which body parts and structures that are supposed to stay inside a puppy’s belly can poke through and press against the skin, creating a little bulge. This creates the “outie” look.
The good news is that this is usually easily fixed with a simple surgery to stitch the gap closed. Thankfully, umbilical hernias are not painful and aren’t typically emergencies, so surgery can wait until the time of the spay or neuter. Rarely, based on the size or appearance of the umbilical hernia, a veterinarian may recommend fixing the hernia sooner rather than waiting for the spay or neuter.
Who knew belly buttons could be so interesting? If you have more questions about umbilical hernias, Live Chat anytime for free* on the myVCA™ app. Download Now.
*Live Chat with a licensed veterinary professional is free for VCA clients through the myVCA mobile app, available at Apple’s App Store and Google Play.
