Surgical management of congenital umbilical hernia in a cat: Case report

Congenital umbilical hernia is a frequently encountered developmental defect in small animals, characterized by failure of complete closure of the umbilical ring after birth. This report describes the successful surgical management of a large congenital umbilical hernia in a 6-month-old intact female cat. The hernia involved voluminous, reducible abdominal contents including intestine, spleen, and liver, extending from the umbilical region towards the pubic area and progressively increasing in size with age. Surgical correction was performed under balanced general anesthesia. Herniorrhaphy was achieved using layered closure techniques. Postoperative management included antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, fluid therapy, laxatives, and dietary modification. The animal recovered uneventfully, with no postoperative complications observed.