Hernia belt for colts

[Jean]

Has anyone on this board used a hernia belt for an umbilical hernia and how did it work. Am thinking of purchasing one. The cost to fix a hernia here runs around $1500

[tbrace]

Most of the time they recede on their own. Even if they protrude some, it isn't a problem.

Belts do not help, because the tear is higher in the adominal structure.

If it is really severe, it needs surgery. If not, it will fix itself.

[Dave C]

How old of a horse are we talking about and how severe of a hernia? As tbrace said most recede on their own in foals. I've had a couple that were getting worse rather than receding, so I had the vet deal with them. With the first she used a fancy clamp, by the time the second one needed doing she had learned how to uses castrating bands which are much cheaper. Total cost each time was only about $100 including sedation. These were the severity of hernia at which a belt may work, but I wouldn't use the belt due to the uncertainty of it staying on. If the opening in the abdominal wall is too large there is no alternative to surgery.

[griff]

My Vet uses the two funger test.. If you can get two fingers in the herina it needs to be repaired and our total cost was around $700, including an over night stay for colt and mare.
If it's smaller that two fingers he uses a castarting band which is much cheaper

griff

[Skipitgirl]

We just had a 2 finger hernia repaired on our colt Friday. Used a metal clamp which falls off in about 2 weeks. Cost $150 total with farm call.

[KBEquine]

We've used a local vet with the same costs as Griff reports. We also recently found a vet who will use a metal or wooden clamp with about the same costs that Skipitgirl reports.

[Jean]

The foal is 5 monthes old. Our vet using a clamp may make the skin fall off but not close the hole and he has seen gut fall out on the ground when the skin falls off. It is a 1 1/2 finger hole.

[Dave C]

I think your vet needs to make a payment car payment. Find another vet.