Foal with umbilical hernia

[foxhavenfarm]

We have a 2 month old foal with an umbilical hernia that we have been manually reducing 2x a day, but does not seem to be getting smaller. It is not very large, barely 2 fingers wide, but twice she has had intestine come through - VERY scary to say the least. We know it can take several months for it to close, but I want to be proactive.

So, while we are discussing options I wanted to see if anyone had used the Boa bellyband on a foal with an umbilical hernia.
http://wire2wirevetproducts.com/shop/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=6

[Iron_Horse_Farm]

They do not always close on their own. SOmetimes they even get larger. 2 fingers is the standard rule - if it is larger than 2 fingers it is likely to need surgical correction, smaller than two fingers and it is likely to close.

Personally, if your foal is only 8 weeks old and the intestine has already come through, just have it fixed. The smaller they are, the cheaper the surgery is and the faster they bounce back. Easier to have surgery on an 8 week old than a 1000# yearling.

[Iron_Horse_Farm]

Sorry, meant to add that the belly binders are very problematic. THey get chaffes, rubs and all kinds of crap under them because the sweat and rub them etc. The price would likely get you a surgical repair in a lot of places and you would be done with it.

[K_2]

We have treated a hernia with a ‘hernia clamp’. Which was basically a two hundred dollar wooden dowel and some hose clamps from a hardware store :lol:

Our vet tranquilized our filly, laid her on her back, shaved and scrubbed the area and applied the clamp.

This may be an option…

[genevieveg17]

[QUOTE=K~2;6450642]
We have treated a hernia with a ‘hernia clamp’. Which was basically a two hundred dollar wooden dowel and some hose clamps from a hardware store :lol:

Our vet tranquilized our filly, laid her on her back, shaved and scrubbed the area and applied the clamp.

This may be an option…[/QUOTE]

I have had a couple done this way. It did the trick with no surgery.

[jenbrin]

We had a filly that had a 2 finger hernia that never corrected it’s self & finally did surgery on it. It was a very simple surgery in which the vet was able to do right here on the farm. The filly healed really quick & was only on stall rest a short time.

I do agree it’s better to do it when they are younger & smaller.

[DeeThbd]

[QUOTE=K~2;6450642]
We have treated a hernia with a ‘hernia clamp’. Which was basically a two hundred dollar wooden dowel and some hose clamps from a hardware store :lol:

Our vet tranquilized our filly, laid her on her back, shaved and scrubbed the area and applied the clamp.

This may be an option…[/QUOTE]

I saw this done very effectively this spring on a TB filly where I board. Basically, the excess skin and clamp fall off after a couple of weeks, and there is very little sign that there was ever a hernia there.
Dee

[foxhavenfarm]

Good news! The hernia is gradually getting a bit smaller - more noticeably in the last two days.

Spoke with our vet this morning (who is currently unavailable due to a broken ankle). He said to give it a bit more time and keep doing what we are doing. He does lots of hernia repairs, so if it hasn’t improved markedly in a month, we’ll take her in and have it repaired.

Thanks all for the input!

[crosscreeksh]

When I have to deal with a hernia, I reduce it and rub the internal, muscle “hole” vigorously EVERY time I come near the horse every day. That equals 4-6 times a day. (as per my vet). The more you agravate the muscle tissue the better the chances of it closing.

[Foxtrot_s]

I’ve had two foals with hernias - one needed surgery, simple and effective and the other my vet just put very wide Elastoplast around her belly. Worked fine, too. He’s a baby specialist, so know he wouldn’t steer me wrong.