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Everyone has a navel, although most of the time it goes unnoticed. However, the navel reminds us of the union that existed between the child and the mother before birth, so it is not strange to ask yourself, dog has a navel? This question can generate a real controversy, since the anatomy of our furry friends doesn't seem to provide many answers for the inexperienced eye.
Do all animals have navels? Dogs too? If you ever had this question, don't worry. In this article by PeritoAnimal you will find out if dogs have navels. You can not lose!
Do all animals have navels?
The umbilical cord is a small organic "tube", responsible for facilitate the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus during the gestation period. After birth, the cord is removed, cut or falls off over the days as it is no longer needed. The place where the cord was attached ends up leaving a mark, which is what we know as "belly button". Now, you certainly recognize this as a human mark, but do other animals have it too? The answer is yes, but not all.
What animals have a navel?
- Mammals: Mammals are vertebrate animals that are warm-blooded and feed on breast milk during the first days of life. They are animals like giraffes, bears, kangaroos, rats, dogs and thousands more.
- Viviparous: Viviparous animals are those born from an embryo that develops inside the mother's uterus after fertilization. In the womb, they feed on the nutrients and oxygen they need while organs form. Although many animals with navels are viviparous, not all viviparous animals have navels. For this, it is necessary that they comply with the condition below.
- placental viviparous: all placental viviparous animals have an umbilicus, that is, animals whose embryos develop in the mother's uterus while being fed by the placenta through the umbilical cord. In most animals that are placental viviparous, the scar after the fall of the umbilical cord is very small, barely noticeable. Also, some have a lot of hair, which makes finding this mark difficult.
Dog has a navel, but where is it?
The answer is yes, dog has a navel. The navel of puppies is there for the same reason just described, as it was the place where the blood vessels in the placenta connected with the puppy before birth.
After giving birth, the mother of the puppies cuts the umbilical cord little by little, and usually eats it. After that, the residue dries up on the newborns' bodies and then falls off, in a process that takes a few days. Over the next few weeks, the skin begins to heal to the point where it is difficult to locate where the cord was.
In some cases, it may happen that the mother cuts the cord too close to the skin and creates a wound. When this happens, we recommend that you go to the veterinarian immediately, as it is necessary to determine if the injury will heal on its own or if surgical intervention will be necessary.
Dog belly button: related diseases
Even if you don't believe it, there are some health problems related to a dog's belly button, the most frequent of which are umbilical hernia in dogs. This hernia appears during the first few days of life and manifests as a hard lump in the belly area. Sometimes it is recommended to wait a period of approximately six months for the body to reduce it, but after that period you can opt for surgery or the treatment recommended by your veterinarian.
Most umbilical hernias are not a problem that needs to be treated urgently, but neither should they be neglected. In some cases, it is possible to eliminate the hernia when the females are sterilized.
Despite this, some dogs may need an intervention to remove these hernias. Remember to follow all the veterinarian's recommendations and make an appointment for any unusual behavior from your furry friend. Also, here are some recommendations for dogs that have undergone surgery of this type:
- Take short and quiet walks, avoid activities that represent a lot of physical effort;
- Vary your diet and offer quality food;
- Prevent your dog from licking the wound, as this can remove the stitches;
- Regularly check the status of points during recovery;
- Clean the wound frequently, as instructed by the veterinarian. Remember to be gentle to avoid any discomfort or discomfort to your dog;
- Eliminate all sources of stress, provide a relaxed environment away from annoying noises.
