390 



HERNIAL RUPTURE 



inguinal hernia in the l)itch if it is of any size is easily recognized (Fig. 

 128) . It is found in the posterior part of the mammary gland, an enlarge- 

 ment varying in size, elastic, painless, with no increase of the local tem- 

 perature. When the animal is placed on her back, it either returns to 

 its normal position by natural gravitation or else it is reduced with very 

 little manipulation. On the return of the contents of the hernial sac the 

 abdominal ring is found to be very much dilated above normal. In 

 rare instances it may be found impossible to reduce the hernia entirely, 

 and this is found to be due to certain adhesions of the abdominal contents 

 to the pouch or else to a pregnant uterus; in the latter case the fcBtus can 



Fig. 128. — Inguinal hernia of bitch. 



easily be detected by manipulation. In certain cases where there is a 

 doubt as to the exact nature of an enlargement in the position of inguinal 

 hernia, if it is the uterus in the sac, on introducing the finger into the 

 vagina, that is found to be elongated and deviated to one side, due to 

 the stretching and weight of the uterus, and it is also found that it is 

 impossible to reach the os uteri with the end of the finger. In very rare 

 cases when the round ligament of the uterus (false inguinal hernia) is 

 greatly hypertrophied, it might be possible to mistake it for inguinal 

 hernia. (False inguinal hernia.) As a rule inguinal hernia in the bitch 

 is rarely involved in strangulation, and if s^hc should be in whelp, she 

 has her puppies without trouble. 



A bitch affected with inguinal hernia nuist be carefully fed, avoiding 



