Can cats get hernias?

[Christel]

I just noticed yesterday that my 4 month old kitten, Darla, has a strange lump on her side that was never there before. It is just before her right haunch. She's always trying to eat things she shouldn't so at first I was trying to think if perhaps it was something she mistakenly ate, but upon further review it doesn't feel like it's in her stomach. It feels more like a hernia would feel with muscles or intestines protruding. She still acts fine. She's been eating, playing and using the litter box like normal and she does not seem to care when I touch the lump so I do not think it is causing her pain. I will take her to the vet if this does not go away in a day or two. Has anyone heard of cats getting hernias? Any insight on what else this could be?

[Traci]

While rare, yes, they do occur, usually during early development, and they usually need to be surgically corrected. If she is not spayed yet, get it done immediately, your vet can correct the hernia (if this is in fact a hernia) during the spay.

NEVER leave a lump or bump unaddressed/examined by your vet, NEVER. If you notice a lump or bump ever, get kitty seen by your vet immediately, he is the only one who can tell you if it is a hernia, abcess, wound, lymph node reaction, etc. Please get your kitten to your vet promptly.

[Christel]

I will get her checked out today. She was last seen 3 weeks ago for her 2nd set of shots and her vet said to spay her at 6 months. Isn't she too young to spay right now at 4 months?

[Traci]

No, she's not too young, although your vet would want to ensure her weight is appropriate prior to a spay. While I agree with your vet about the 6-month-of-age spay protocol, many vets perform it when kittens are younger.....general health status of the pet will play a role in determining when young kittens can be safely spayed.

Some vets will spay very early on, others have a policy not to spay until 6 months of age. Regardless, since you are describing a lump, it's best to get that diagnosed right away, then discuss the spay.

[Christel]

Ok. I called the vet and will get out of work to bring her over. He said because she recently got her rabies shot in that same spot it could just be a localized reaction. Hopefully that's what it is...I'll keep you posted.

[Christel]

I'm happy to report that the vet has confirmed that Darla just has a localized reaction from the rabies shot and it will go away on its own. I have posted pictures of Simba and Darla in Debbie's Cloud. I have some better pictures of them together (the one of them eating together was taken when they weren't really getting along and food was their only bargaining point) but I have yet to scan them to my computer. Thanks for your help Traci! I feel much better now knowing she's ok.
-Christel

[Traci]

I feel better now too thanks for taking her in and for the update.

Watch that lump closely in the next 30 days. If it appears larger, don't hesitate to have your vet recheck it. Most localized reactions to vaccines causing a lump should dissappear within 30 days post-vaccination, but if it remains past 30 days or enlarges within that time frame, never leave it unattended by your vet.

[davet]

no more advice but i was one of those who early spayed, didit when i felkt they were large c=enough tohandle the anesthesis...here is the summary of a long article on eary spay (prepubertal gonadectomy )
this of course has nothing to do with the lumpe but that has been covered ...


CLINICAL
>IMPLICATIONS: In this study, prepubertal gonadectomy did not increase
>morbidity or mortality on a short-term basis, compared with gonadectomy
>performed on animals at the traditional age. These procedures may be
>performed safely in prepubertal animals, provided that appropriate
>attention
>is given to anesthetic and surgical