We noticed a soft little lump near Jade’s belly. It was right in the crease between her hind leg and the lower abdomen. She didn’t mind us touching it, didn’t react, showed no signs of pain—but of course, I wanted to be sure. So the vet came by to check.
After a quick exam, he confirmed it: inguinal hernia.
It’s one of those things that sounds scarier than it sometimes is. Basically, there’s a small opening in the abdominal wall—specifically in the inguinal canal, a passage that exists naturally in both male and female dogs. Through this opening, soft tissue like fat or even a loop of intestine can push through and sit just under the skin.
In Jade’s case, the hernia is reducible, which means it can be pushed gently back inside. That’s a good sign. It means the tissue isn’t trapped, there’s good blood flow, and she’s not in danger right now. Some dogs are born with this condition—it’s congenital—and in females, it’s more likely to go unnoticed for a long time. It often only becomes visible when the dog is relaxed or lying a certain way.
But not all hernias are harmless. If the tissue inside gets stuck—what vets call “incarcerated”—or worse, loses circulation, it can become an emergency. That’s when you’d see swelling, pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, or sudden changes in behavior. In those cases, surgery isn’t optional anymore—it’s urgent.
For now, we’re in the clear. Jade’s hernia is soft, painless, and doesn’t bother her. But we’ll monitor it closely. Because these things can change fast—and the line between harmless and dangerous isn’t always obvious from the outside.
There’s also another layer to this. Inguinal hernias are more common in puppies, especially in certain breeds, and some studies suggest that hormones and spaying/neutering can play a role in how or when they appear. In some cases, hernias show up in females after their first heat or after pregnancy, when the abdominal wall stretches and weakens. With Jade, it’s likely something she’s had since birth.
I’m sharing this because it’s something that’s easy to overlook—just a lump, right? But knowing what to look for, and when not to wait, can make all the difference. Especially with dogs like Jade. Dogs that can’t tell you when something’s wrong. Dogs that rely on us to notice.
So that’s what we’re doing. Watching. Checking. Not panicking, but not ignoring it either.
And Jade? She’s still the same goofball. Lying in the sun, tail thumping whenever someone walks past. One small lump, but nothing stopping her from being her.