Abstract
Umbilical hernias are common congenital defect in domestic animals, affecting calves and puppies. Treatment encompass conservative and surgical methods, with herniorrhaphy and hernioplasty as primary surgical techniques. Despite high success rates, recurrences can occur later post-surgery. This report describes an innovative surgical approach in management of the first documented case of recurrent umbilical hernia in dog. A 4-month-old female German Shepherd, weighing 10kg, presented to Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Jos, with protruded umbilicus and history of two previous unsuccessful repairs. Clinically, the puppy exhibited protruded umbilicus, with vital parameters within reference values. Furthermore, a soft reducible swelling through a hernia ring (5.3cm width) and surgical scar were evident. Diagnosis of recurrent umbilical hernia was made based on history and clinical findings. Herniorrhaphy was performed under general anesthesia. An innovative 2-layer closure technique was employed, using simple continuous suture with polyglactin 910. The peritoneum, rectus and transversus abdominis were sutured as first layer. The internal and external oblique were closed as second layer with the bites taken at least 0.5cm apart with portion of the first layer incorporated by the bites to enhance secure closure of the hernia ring. The outcome of this pioneering case validates the efficacy of the 2-layer closure technique, addressing significant paucity of literature. This study highlights the importance of innovative surgical strategies grounded in evidence-based techniques, in achieving successful outcomes in recurrent umbilical hernia management, ultimately serving as a foundation for future investigations aiming at enhancing treatment outcomes and minimizing recurrence rates in affected animals.