Everyone has a navel, although most of the time it goes unnoticed. Despite this, the navel recalls the union that existed between the child and the mother before birth, so it is not strange to ask, Do dogs have navels?This question can generate a real controversy, since the anatomy of these furry companions does not seem to provide many answers to the untrained eye.
Do all animals have navels? The dogs too? If you have ever had this doubt, do not worry. In the following article you will discover if dogs have navels. You can not lose this!
Do all animals have navels?
The umbilical cord is a small organic "tube" that is responsible for facilitating the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the offspring during gestation period. After birth, the cord is removed, cut or falls off as the days go by, as it is no longer needed. The place where the cord was is closed leaving a mark, which we know as " el navel". Now, sure you recognize it as a human mark, but do other animals have it? The answer is yes, but not all
What are the animals that have navels?
- Mammals: Mammals are vertebrate animals that have warm blood and feed on their mother's milk during the first days of life. They are animal mammals such as giraffes, bears, kangaroos, mice, dogs and thousands of others.
- Viviparous: viviparous animals are those that are born from an embryo that develops after fertilization in the womb. In the womb they feed on the nutrients and oxygen they need while their organs are forming. Although many animals with a navel are viviparous, not all viviparous animals have a navel, so the following condition must be met.
- Placental viviparous: All placental viviparous have a navel, that is, those animals whose embryo develops in the mother's uterus, while being nourished by the placenta through the umbilical cord.
In most animals that are placental viviparous, the scar caused by the fall of the umbilical cord is very small, almost imperceptible. In addition, some have a large amount of hair, which makes it difficult to find that brand.
Do dogs have navels?
The answer is yes, dogs have belly buttons. The navel of the dog is there for the same reason already described, it was the area where the blood vessels of the placenta connected with the puppy before birth.
After giving birth, the mother of the pups bit by bit cuts the umbilical cord and usually eats it. Afterwards, the residue dries on the body of newborns and then falls off, this process takes a few days. Over the next few weeks, the skin begins to heal to the point where it becomes difficult to locate where the cord was.
In some cases, it happens that the mother cuts the cord very close to the skin and this creates a wound. When this happens, we recommend you go to your veterinarian immediately, it is necessary to determine if the injury will heal on its own or if a surgical intervention will be necessary.
Diseases related to the navel
Believe it or not, there are some he alth problems related to the navel, the most common being umbilical hernia in dogs. It appears during the first days of life and manifests as a hard lump in the belly area. Sometimes it is recommended to wait approximately six months for the body to reduce it, but after that time you can opt for surgery or the treatment recommended by the veterinarian.
Most umbilical hernias do not represent a problem that should be treated urgently, but you should not neglect them either. On some occasions, it is possible to eliminate at the time the females are sterilized.
Despite this, some dogs may require surgery for these hernias. Remember to follow all the recommendations of the veterinary and go to the doctor if your furry friend behaves abnormally. In addition, we offer you some recommendations for those dogs that have undergone surgery of this type:
- Take short, quiet walks, avoid activities that involve a lot of physical effort.
- Varies the diet and offers quality food.
- Prevent your dog from licking the wound, otherwise he may pull out the sutures
- Check regularly that all points are still intact during recovery.
- Clean the wound frequently according to the veterinarian's instructions. Remember to be delicate to avoid any annoyance or discomfort to your dog.
- Eliminates sources of stress, offers a relaxed environment away from disturbing noises.
