You’re not the only one if you’ve ever stopped to wonder whether or not dogs have belly buttons just like people. An often tiny detail of animals, but a very cool one. Yes, dogs have belly buttons but theirs are a little different from what you would expect on humans. In this article, we delve into the origin of a dog’s navel, where it is located and if there are any known functions for the same.
What Is a Belly Button, and Why Do Dogs Have One?
In mammals, a belly button (navel) is a small scar left over from birth. The human belly button is in the middle of their abdominal structures, which are easily visible. It is the place where the umbilical cord is attached and through which the fetus receives nutrients from the maternal source inside the womb. One might think that all placental mammals, including dogs, would have an umbilical cord during gestation. The belly button; is when a puppy is born, and the umbilical cord gets cut or dries up until it falls off, this creates an ‘innie’ navel in their bellies.
The answer is yes, dogs do have belly buttons and much like a human, they too rely on an umbilical cord for sustenance before birth.
Where Does My Dog Even Have a Belly Button?
While a dog may have one, it is nowhere near as obvious or easy to spot. It is usually situated in the midline of their abdomen, just below the ribcage. The belly button of a dog is usually not very noticeable; it is flat, small, and covered with fur on top.
The small, round area of smooth muscle will be in the center line along your dog’s belly and you can determine its location by gently rolling on either side of her spine with a finger. Unfortunately, because of their thicker coats and different healing process it likely would not look as much like a human belly button.
How Does a Dog’s Belly Button Form?
A belly button’s formation in a dog isn’t complex in the least: it is the mark left after the healing of an umbilical stump. During a dog’s development inside its mother, the umbilical cord connects the growing fetus to the placenta. This cord provides nutrients and oxygen to the puppy’s development. After birth, the mother bites off the umbilical cord, and it becomes separated from the puppy’s body.
After cutting off the umbilical cord, the small hole that is left behind after healing is what we call a belly button. In dogs, this scar forms very quickly, and even if not well hidden by fur, it is easily overlooked.
Are Dog Belly Buttons Similar to Human Belly Buttons?
It is important to note that, unlike human beings, dogs have an insignificantly small umbilical scar. The scar from the umbilical cord in a dog is much smaller than that in human beings and heals more quickly, with minimal roughness. Further, relative to human belly buttons, dogs have their belly button covered by fur while human belly button is stripped on skin.
The scar left behind after the umbilical cord stump detaches forms into innie or outie belly button types in humans. However, the umbilicus of dogs normally lacks the raising feature and can be best described as flat. As for skin, animals have different abdominal scars, but dogs’ scars are rather inconspicuous and do not attract attention.
What Is the Purpose of a Dog’s Belly Button?
The belly button in dogs, as is in the case with humans, is a scar that is indicative of where the umbilical cord was sited. In fact, the belly button is not really useful after birth. It is just a remnant of the dog’s fetal development. After a puppy has been born and the cord has separated, a belly button cannot serve as any purpose for the physical well-being of the dog.
Do our Belly Buttons Cause Health Problems in Dogs?
Common to all dogs, an umbilicus or belly button in puppies is mostly harmless following birth though certain pains and discomforts could result from it. A potentially painful complication of a dog’s belly button is an umbilical hernia. This condition develops when the muscles around the umbilical cord stump fail to join as they should when the cord falls off, and there is a small hole through which abdominal fat or organs may come through.
Umbilical hernias can be simple or complex. In mild form, they tend to shut as the puppy grows, but those that get worse may call for surgical procedures. You yourself should visit your vet during the common checkups to make sure that there are no issues connected with the belly button of your dog.
Conclusion
Do dogs have belly buttons? Yes< Belly Buttons in Dogs Are Real but Easy to Miss. Now you know that as well! Belly buttons are just the scar left from the detachment of the umbilical cord and are harmless. But if you notice your dog being in pain or suffering from an umbilical hernia, immediately contact your vet.
That’s it for today, but stick with Petlyc to find out more useful information regarding your furry fellow in the future!
