Hi Esta, Umbilical hernias are very common in Bernese and can sometimes be caused during birth by excessive tugging on the cord. Your breeder was right to think that the hernia might "self correct", most of them do. What happens is the little hole behind the hernia oftentimes heals over but there is a little glob of fat that remains on the outside that you feel under the skin, rather like an outie belly button! Most umbilical hernias are reducible and providing there is no strangulation or gross enlargement or redness the hernia can be left alone. I generally tidy up any umbilical hernias when I xray my dogs and have never had to have emergency surgery for them. I do not reimburse my puppy owners cost for what I consider cosmetic surgery and as the majority of my puppies are sold as pets this fault can be tidied up when spaying or neutering if it should still have a small hole behind it. I think your breeder was very generous to reimburse you for this:-)
Rose T.
