I just want to cry

Jet is my 16 month old horse. When we were first told about Jet, the original owners thought she was a colt. When we got her a couple months ago, it became clear that she was a filly with an umbilical hernia. I called the vet right away and got a cost estimate and they said they'd have to wait until it got warmer so they could just drop her on the ground and take care of it. I told them how big she was and her age, etc.

Well, I called last week and scheduled her appointment. They scheduled it for the 24th. They didn't ask me anything about her, but they called today and said they needed more info. When I told them (again) her age and size, they put the vet on the phone.

The vet said he cannot do the surgery. He said she is too big and too old and that it would be extremely dangerous. He suggested another vet, about 2 hours away. I called them and the vet is supposed to call me back sometime today and let me know if he would be able to do it at his hospital.

But my vet tells me it's very likely she will not survive the surgery or that even after it's sutured up that the sutures will bust and she will die from that.
Jet is 16 months old, and probably about 1200 pounds. So even though she's still a yearling, she's the size of an "adult horse" according to the vet.

I'm going to wait until I hear back from the other vet and go from there, but if they can't do it either I don't know what I'm supposed to do.

aawwwwwwww I hope everything turns out well with the second vet! keep hope!

Oh no Brit... I´m so sorry for this sad new...
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For Jet... I hope the other opinion of the Vet will better...
keep me update about it...

I'm sorry to hear about Jet... Lets hope that the second vet will have a better prognosis on what to do next.

Could Jet possibly live out life normally without having the umbilical hernia removed?

I am sorry to hear that. the second vet will have a better prognosis

Thank you all so much. I'm still waiting to hear back from the vet.

Originally Posted by Pippy-pops

Could Jet possibly live out life normally without having the umbilical hernia removed?

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Unfortunately, no. There's a risk even now of it rupturing at any moment. She'd have to live a very sedate life, no running, no hard playing, definitely never being ridden, etc.

Originally Posted by bnwalker2

Unfortunately, no. There's a risk even now of it rupturing at any moment. She'd have to live a very sedate life, no running, no hard playing, definitely never being ridden, etc.

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Oh no, I'm sorry!

Just thought it was similar to a human umbilical hernia - which I have had since birth - and I'm certainly not having mine removed any time soon!

I hope you can find a vet who can treat her! Poor girl.

Have to say I`m quite suprised her previous owners couldn`t even sex her correctly. It`s quite obvious what`s a male and what`s a female with horses or do you think they were playing dumb to off load her? Is there no way to hold them responsible for costs at least, seeing as they should have known about this?


Healing vibes for her. It must be uncomfortable.

Oh no, that's so sad!!! I hope the second vet is more positive

I agree with Jaffacake--the previous owner needs to take some responsibilty altho I have to wonder how you went two months without ever seeing her urinate or lift her tail?????

Oh no, that's sad.

for your girl, and hopefully something works out for her.

I hope everything works out for your and your young horse. I am sure everything will be fine, you will be able to find a veterinarian that can deal with the problem. I did my undergraduate degree at a University that had a veterinary college, and a large animal clinic to go with. Abdominal surgeries were performed there on a fairly routine basis with fully adult horses and cows. I see no reason why a 1200 pound horse couldnt easily have an umbilical hernial corrected. Without evaluating your animal directly, its ridiculous for the vet to say he "cant" do it, or that surgery is required (many equine umbilical hernias can be repaired using a ring-clamp technique following manual adjustment of a reducible hernia). And as for it bursting?? Im a little confused. In my experience, the risks with an umbilical hernia are mainly strangulation/necrosis of the piece of intestine that is in the hernia.
Maybe your vet refusing to do this was a blessing in disguise for you to find a more suitable large animal doctor. I have faith that Jet will live a long normal life. Good luck!

I'd be really angry at the first vet. They sound incompetent for not asking you the right questions, and not taking in what you did tell them.
for poor Jet.

Februa's advice sounds very good! I hope you can get her well! Keep us posted.

ohh I really hope Jet will be okay! My son had an umbilical hernia and it was very painfull! I hope you find a vet that can handle Jet and get him to be happy & healthy!! Good

oh poor jet!

Hope the next vet will be able to help her, so she can live a happy, healthy life