Why does my dog have a ball in his belly? Has it happened to you that you were cuddling your dog and suddenly you notice a lump that doesn’t seem normal somewhere on his body? You’ve probably been worried because when you see these lumps, the first thing you think is a tumor, but that’s not always the case.
Why does my dog have a ball in his belly?
Index
- Ball in the dog’s belly due to an umbilical hernia
- Tumor in the stomach in dogs
- sebaceous cysts in dogs
Ball in the dog’s belly due to an umbilical hernia
One cause for your dog to have a ball in the belly , at the level of the navel, is an umbilical hernia. An umbilical hernia in dogs is due to the exit of some organ or fatty tissue outside the breast where it should normally be through the navel, but it can also be due, in the case of puppies, to the closure in the cut of the cord. Umbilical did not fit well. The organ does not come out, since there is no external wound, and you can only see the bulge it produces in the navel area when it is placed out of place and presses on the navel area.out. There are acquired hernias, which are those that occur due to trauma or injuries, and congenital hernias, which are already present when the puppy is born. These lumps are characterized by:
- Soft to the touch.
- The skin in the area is lumpy but smooth.
- Hotter than other parts of the dog’s belly.
Furthermore, in many cases if you press very carefully you can see how the lump is introduced to where it should be in its normal state, although in some cases these remain on the outside protected only by the skin, which needs treatment as soon as possible in case that they do not return to their place by themselves. The causes of an umbilical hernia in dogs can vary, from a problem in the umbilical cord of puppies to trauma or injury in the navel area, or it can also occur due to congenital problems.
If you think your dog has this problem, do not hesitate and go to the veterinarian to evaluate the hernia and the cause of its appearance. Depending on this, he will evaluate the option of fixing the hernia with surgery . In some cases, especially when the dog is a puppy and still has to grow more, this lump decreases due to its own growth, which causes it to go back into the place where it should be by itself. The time to assess whether he leaves just because he is relocated or if he stays away and we have to see if something is done is 4 months of age for the puppy . In other cases this is not the case and the lump is so large, or even very painful or bothersome, that it needs intervention.
We recommend you take into account the advice that you will see in this other OneHOWTO article on How to care for a newborn dog so that you know everything it needs. Keep in mind that there are many precautions to take into account and that you have to watch for possible problems that they can cause, and this can be done from the beginning.
Tumor in the stomach in dogs
Another possible cause of a lump on a dog’s belly is that it is a tumor in the stomach . Although it can appear in all dogs, regardless of breed or age, it is usually more common in older dogs. Tumors in the tummy of dogs always have to be analyzed by a veterinarian to determine if they are good or bad. Be that as it may, if your dog has a tumor in the stomach you will also notice other symptoms:
- Lose your appetite.
- Lose weight.
- Diarrhea that can sometimes be bloody.
If it is a benign tumor but the size is large, sometimes it also causes vomiting due to the pressure and discomfort it causes in the stomach. Treatment for a lump in a dog’s belly that has turned out to be a tumor depends on whether the dog has cancer or not. If your dog has one or more tumors and has stomach cancer , the vet will examine what type of cancer it is and apply the treatment depending on it to end the problem as soon as possible and prevent it from spreading to other organs or parts of the body. This is based mainly on the removal of the tumor, the recommendation of a diet adjusted to the needs of your furry friend and, depending on the case, also on radiation or chemotherapy.
In the case of non-neutered dogs, it is also possible that the lump is due to mammary tumors , which can be benign or malignant, and the treatment is usually the removal of the entire mammary chain to prevent future appearances of these lumps.
sebaceous cysts in dogs
Another less worrying cause of the appearance of one or more balls on a dog’s belly are sebaceous cysts or fat cysts in dogs . These are benign in nature, so if they do not cause major discomfort to the dog, they are usually left there and even disappear on their own if they are small, or if they bother or grow a lot they are removed. If the veterinarian considers not intervening in these lumps, he will recommend controlling their growth to prevent their size or location from causing damage to your furry body.
Now that you know the possible causes why your dog has a lump in his belly, we recommend that you take him to the veterinarian to treat the issue as necessary to improve the dog’s health and, in case the dog has to be operated on, Read this unCOMO article on How to heal a dog’s wound , in case you have to do wound care in the area.