Summer is here, and with it comes an increase in grazing. A horses’ overzealous appetite can lead to
colic which is an upset stomach that can turn deadly for your
horse. When colic makes its presence known, emergency surgery is sometimes the only fix that can save
your horses’ life. After the surgery, you
think the whole threat of the situation has passed, but when it comes to
hernias, the trouble may have just begun.
Hernias occur because of a tear in the body wall that allows
for the tightly compressed intestines to push themselves out. Hernias can
happen anywhere on a horse no matter what their age. Mares can experience hernias in the later parts
of pregnancy because of the increase stretching of the stomach. Their babies
can also develop hernias shortly after birth; these are called umbilical
hernias. While the foal is developing in
the womb, the umbilical cord brings all the nutrients it needs to grow. During the developmental process, the body wall is one of
the last parts to close. If there is a
problem with this process, a hernia can occur at birth or within the first few
weeks after birth. Make sure that the hernia and the umbilical cord do not
become infected to avoid other problems in the future.
Another type of hernia is a diaphragmatic hernia. This type
of hernia occurs most often following an accident where the chest of the horse
was struck. This can cause a tear in the
diaphragm, allowing
intestines to push their way into the chest cavity which
then causes colic and difficulty breathing for younger animals. Horses can also be born with this type of
hernia, normally occurring behind the sternum which is between the two front
legs.
After surgery, hernias become a problem because the body
cavity has been opened and the surrounding skin has been weakened by the
incision. These are called abdominal hernias. Smaller hernias can correct
themselves, but if this does not happen, there are two ways to correct a
hernia: massaging the intestines back into the body cavity or another
surgery. Massaging the hernia back into
the body cavity is the first step, but if the hernia cannot be pushed back, then
it is time for surgery to become an option. If surgery must be done, there are
two types to consider: the open and closed surgical methods. The closed
technique is simpler and avoids further possible infections, but this method is
not as accurate as the open technique. The closed technique does not allow for
the surgeon to see what the hernia consists of before they begin repairing the
tear. The open technique is precise and allows the veterinarian to see what is
occurring inside the hernia, as well other possible problems that could be
causing pain to the horse.
Keep an eye out for all types of hernias especially in
newborns, older breeding mares, and horses that have just undergone surgery.
If hernias occur, try to massage the sac back into the body daily, but if this does not correct the problem, seek veterinary
help.
Written by: Kelsey Stutts, Richmond County Cooperative Extension Intern
Resources:
Ball , Michael . "Umbilical Hernia." TheHorse.com.
The Horse , 1 May 1998. Web. 10 July 2014. <http://www.thehorse.com/articles/10453/umbilical-hernia>.
My mare had to have surgery four years ago now and this was a very stressful time in our lives! The foal and her are doing great now and the surgery scars are barely noticeable. This experience was a great stress on my though and led me to research the topic and write a guest post on the subject for www.horsesmad.com here http://www.horsesmad.com/umbilical-hernia-horses/. I hope it helps anyone with a horse suffering from this condition!
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