Hernias

Among the many congenital abnormalities, umbilical or inguinal hernias are the most common. They are considered developmental defects and have a very low heritability.

Among the many congenital abnormalities, umbilical or inguinal hernias are the most common. They are considered developmental defects and have a very low heritability. Sometimes umbilical hernias can be associated with a particular boar. These boars should be culled.

All ages

• Mass protruding from navel and abdomen, below and in front of the testicles or in the groin (inguinal hernia).

Environmental factors may increase the incidence of umbilical hernias; therefore, if there is a problem (in more than 2% of pigs) the following factors should be considered:

• Piglets may be stretched during birth, when removed from the sow, putting too much strain on the umbilical cord.
• If the umbilical cord hemorrhages and umbilical clamps are used to stop the bleeding, we must ensure that they are not placed close to the skin because otherwise they will damage and weaken the tissues.
• Check if hernias coincide with a change of pen.
• Buildings where pigs have to go through a too-small opening to get to the defecation area.  Sudden and severe abdominal pressures can lead to hernias.
• In cold weather, pigs tend to pile, increasing abdominal pressure.
• If the hernia is large and the pig is on concrete floors or on slats, they should be moved to a bedded pen so that the skin over the hernia will not ulcer.
• Examine the navel at birth and two days later to see if there are any abnormalities.

• Visual evidence. If the hernia can be pushed into the abdomen thus appearing temporarily smaller.

• Inguinal hernias in uncastrated males are not an important issue unless they are large. On farms where castration is done routinely, a minor surgery may need to be performed.
• Investigate the possibility of it being hereditary.
• Peritonitis is sometimes caused and may require culling the pig.
• Use iodine to clean the umbilical cords of newborn piglets.