Spaying is one of the most common population control methods for cats, which involves the removal of the uterus as well as ovaries. This surgical procedure is quite simple, and most veterinarians out there can perform it without causing any complications.
However, in some cases, spaying procedures can lead to several other health problems, such as hernias.
Getting hernias after being spayed is not that rare in cats. Once the abdominal wall breaks down, hernias would appear in cats. It is essentially a collection of intestines, fat and organs that manage to escape the abdominal cavity. Fortunately, hernias are not usually serious and can be fixed through surgery.
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What are Hernias in Cats
The complications that occurred during the spay surgery are not that rare. However, accidents can happen. In some scenarios, your female cat can get hernias after the spay surgery. Generally speaking, a hernia is a complication in which a cat’s fat, intestines, and several other internal organs escape the abdominal cavity.
It might seem like a horrible condition, but hernias aren’t typically serious and can be treated with surgery. Here are some of the most common types of hernias that might occur in cats:
- Umbilical Hernia – Located on your feline’s underside, near the belly button. This hernia usually appears when your feline is meowing, straining, crying or standing. During this condition, you can feel the swelling, squishing protrusion, or soft bulge below the skin.
- Inguinal Hernia – This one is probably the most uncommon type of hernia in cats. An inguinal hernia occurs when the intestines push through the abdominal cavity to your cat’s groin.
- Hiatal Hernia – Hiatal hernia, also known as sliding hernia, is also quite rare. This hernia may come and go and is caused during the birth of a kitten. This one usually occurs when the abdominal viscera gets pushed through the diaphragm.
Causes
There are numerous causes that can cause hernias in cats, such as:
- Chronic bloating
- Pregnancy
- Straining to defecate
- Weakness
- Traumatic injury
- Congenital
Symptoms
No two hernias are the same. Therefore, the symptoms of these disorders vary in felines. Here are some of the most common clinical signs of hernia in cats:
- Depression
- Bloody urine
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
- Protrusion
- Grain swelling
Treatment of Hernias in Cats
In most cases, your feline doesn’t even need corrective treatment if they get a hernia. However, if the intestines get strangled, hernias can set the eternal bed for your little feline. Therefore, it would be best to visit a veterinarian and get surgery to repair the defect.
Conclusion
Can cats get hernias after being spayed? Although the spaying procedure is quite safe, your cat can still suffer from some complications, including hernias. In most cases, hernias are not that serious and don’t even require corrective treatment.
However, most veterinarians out there recommend getting this condition repaired as soon as possible through surgery. This is because if your feline’s intestines become strangulated, hernias can even lead to the death of a cat!
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