Just like the average human, you perhaps have never wondered where the belly button of a dog is. There could be various reasons for this. However, one reason you perhaps have never thought about a dog’s belly button is a good number of humans simply assume that humans are the only ones with belly buttons. This might seem right. However, it is a very wrong notion. Dogs actually have belly buttons. Regardless of this, the fact is you might never get to see a dog’s belly button if you do not know how to look for it.
Why do Dogs Possess Belly Buttons
If you have always thought that only humans have belly buttons, at this point, you will be wondering why dogs have belly buttons. Well, there are really no complexities to the presence of a belly button on a dog’s body. In its simplest form, one reason dogs have belly buttons is they are mammals. Beyond simply being mammals, they are placenta mammals.
For placenta mammals, the way young ones feed when they are in their mother’s womb is through the umbilical cord that links a baby to its mother. The umbilical cord helps puppies get oxygen and food from their mothers. That’s not all. It also helps in moving waste from the baby to its mother.
Since dogs are linked to their mother through an umbilical cord, it is not out of place that they should have a belly button. A dog’s belly button is situated at the point in which the umbilical cord was cot after childbirth. While it might seem like the belly button of a dog is an important part of its anatomy, in the real sense of things, it is simply a scar.
Where is a Dog’s Belly Button Located
Just like in humans, a dog’s belly button is located on its stomach. It lives up to its name as simply a button on a dog’s belly. This might be difficult to locate because dogs do not stand on tow limbs. Additionally, the presence of ample fur on a dog’s body means you might struggle to locate its belly button. That’s not all. Dogs’ belly button is usually flat and very small.
To locate a dog’s belly button, you will need to look closely at its rib cage. If you do not look close enough you just might be unable to locate its belly button.
Is it Okay for Dogs to Have Protruding Belly Buttons?
All things being equal, you will never really notice the existence of a dg’s belly button. This is how it really should be. The implication of this is if you spot a dog’s belly button protruding, all just might not be perfect. Your dog might be dealing with an umbilical hernia if its belly button is protruded. In very serious cases of umbilical hernia, the abdomen’s content get stuck in the belly button. In situations like this, you should take time to treat your dog. If you do not get your dog treated on time, it could end up dying.
What is Umbilical Hernia
An umbilical hernia is swelling or bump that is located on the lower end of your dog’s underbelly. It is a condition that gets formed after the abdominal walls’ muscles fails to get properly sealed. In this situation, the muscles fail to fuse in the right way. This results in a hole that is quite visible when you check under a dog’s belly.
Hernia can be reducible. Although this is not always the case, when the hernia is reducible, it is possible to shift the hernia back into the abdomen. On the other hand, if it is not reducible, the hibernating structures could have some obstruction. In this situation, it becomes impossible to push the things contained in the hernia into the abdomen.
How Big can a Hernia Be?
There is no fixed size to the dimensions of a hernia. Nonetheless, a good number of umbilical hernias are not more than 1cm.
Hernias are of different sizes and usually, bigger hernias are considered more dangerous than those that are not so big. This means you will have to give more attention to a hernia if is big. That’s not all. If a part of the small intestine finds its way through the hole created by the hernia, it could have a negative effect on the supply of blood.
What Should Dog Owners Do About Umbilical Hernia
If your dog’s umbilical hernia is not so big, it most likely will get healed spontaneously. On the other hand, if it does not get haled spontaneously, while its time for neutering, you might need to get your dog ready for surgery.
On the other hand, if the hernia has a large hole, then, you might not need to wait for it to close spontaneously. Seeing a vet for immediate surgery will be the best way too about things.
Conclusion
If you are of the notion that dogs do not have belly buttons, you are wrong. Although you might be unable to see a dog’s belly button, the fact that they are placenta mammals means they definitely have belly buttons.
