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My puppy has a soft belly bump. Is it an umbilical hernia or serious?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Pit Bull Terrier | Male | unneutered | 1 month and 20 days old

I just bought a puppy and he has a small bump where his umbilical would be. It's soft when laying down and I wanna know if it's gonna be a problem or what to do. He plays, eats, poops, and pees just fine.

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

Published on May 21st, 2017

The most common cause of a soft bump in this area is an umbilical hernia - this is quite common in young puppies, and in most cases does not cause any serious problems :) I would recommend having your vet check the when Thor goes for his first puppy exam and vaccinations, to make sure that this is what it is. If so, it can be easily fixed when Thor is neutered (if you are planning to have this done), or left alone as long as it is not causing any issues.

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on April 8th, 2017

    It sounds like Sammy might have an umbilical hernia - this is a very common cause of a soft, squishy lump in the center of the belly in puppies. Depending on how large it is, it may not be anything to worry about, or it may need to be surgically repaired. It's also possible that that the lump could be a growth, an abscess, or an injury of some kind. I would recommend taking Sammy to the vet for an exam to have this checked. He/she can tell you for sure what the lump is, and whether any treatment is needed :)

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