Well the vet came last night and has scared me to death

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Hovis_and_SidsMum

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As suspected the vet last night confirmed that Hovis has a hernia.
Hes not in any discomfort at the minute and didn't bat an eyelid at the vet pushing and poking him - in fact i'm not sure he noticed!
The vets view was to leave it for the moment but if it gets bigger they'll have to operate. Full GA, 6 weeks box rest and no riding for three months
frown.gif

I then had 5 minutes of the vet scaring me to death with what ifs with colic, if he cuts himself there he could die of blood poisioning and if he splits himself open there it will be curtains. I was shaking like a leaf by the time he'd finished. He did say he just had to tell me worst case scenarios and that if Hov was his he wouldn't operate yet but I feel sick.
I don't want to put him through an operation if he doesn't ned one yet but the vet scared me to death. He has said he can do everything and there's nothing i can do to try to decrease the risk other than make sure i fly spray his underside so he's less likely to kick at himself. My poor baby.
I could just do with some reassurance and a hug?
 
Ok, so now you've got me worried.

Will you take a piccy and post it? I'm sure Thump's is a fly bite. But of course, now I'm thinking not.

Did he say why it would have happened??
 
Genetics!
He's a big big horse and was obviously carrying a weakness there.
Its a lump right by the front of his boy bits literally almost on the edge of the dark flesh before it goes into the penis area (I'm hopeless at the correct names for things) about 3 finger widths back form his belly button.
Its a reasonable size lump so it couldn't have been mistaken for a fly bite so i'm sure thiumpers is just a bite.
 
How old is he and how big is it, before you get too worried it would be good to adress the facts. Ihave perhaps missed previous postings but have seen quite a few foals with hernia all successfully treated.
 
I can't give you any words of comfort, because I don't know anything about this.
But you can have a (((hug))) because I DO know how much we worry about our horses. It's a shame your vet couldn't have been more reassuring, even if he did have to tell you the worst case scenario. I think they become oblivious to the feelings of the owners sometimes.
 
If it helps, Cairo had a GA every two/three years from the age of 5 until his last one at 21 and he came through fine.

Whilst vets do need to explain problems, I do feel yours could have been a bit more tactful.

One good thing, he sounds like Cairo, basically a big placid lad and they tend to go down and wake up gently and don't panic.

Box rest - not the end of the world, I always make sure mine have hay all the time and lots of little feeds of chaff and carrots to stop them getting bored and they have been fine - again you have the advantage of having half a clydie.

Big hug to you both and try not to panic too much.

Why not do as the vet says, if it is not bothering him, leave him until it does need doing.
 
Try not to worry. If the vet didn't tell you all the risks he wouldn't be doing his job but he would not advise you to leave it if he was too worried. I have assisted in lots of hernia surgeries on beasties of all sizes and they have been pretty straightforward.
 
My old gelding had a wee umbilical hernia pretty much as you describe.
Never did anything about it and it never came to anything.
If the vet has said himself he wouldn't touch it, then leave it at that.
However, as has been said already, I think this particular vet's bedside manner needs addressing!
 
I wouldnt worry too much, one of my lads has an umbilical hernia, he has made it happily to 28 years old with no hassle at all.
 
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