How I Healed My Filly’s Umbilical Cord Hernia—No Surgery Required

When my Mo was just two months old, I noticed something that made my heart sink—a soft, squishy bulge near her belly button. Sure enough, it was an umbilical cord hernia. It looked big (about two inches long), and the idea of putting her through surgery—especially with the closest equine hospital four hours away—left me feeling a bit overwhelmed. I started searching for alternatives.

A Video, a Wrap, and a Lot of Hope

That’s when I stumbled across a series of videos from Dr. Tucker, a veterinarian in Florida. He shared a simple wrapping technique that he said works best when foals are still young and before weaning. It felt like the right path for Mo. I ordered the supplies, watched his demos a few more times (okay, maybe six), and got to work.

A Quick Look at Umbilical Cord Hernias

For anyone unfamiliar, umbilical hernias happen when the muscles around the umbilicus (navel area) don’t fully close after birth. They’re not super rare, but they can become a big problem if not treated properly. Some hernias shrink on their own, but others—like Mo’s—need a little help.

Mo, prior to wrapping – notice how large her hernia is! It was a good two inches in length. (6/2025)

The First Wrap

I started by gently pressing the tissue back in, placing gauze over the area, and securing it with a wrap—exactly like Dr. Tucker demonstrated. Mo was a champ through the whole thing. She didn’t fuss, and the wrap held well.

By the end of the first week, I was floored. Her hernia had already shrunk by about 80%. It was working!

Results after the first week of wrapping. Wrap was on from 6/16 - 6/25. Photo taken on 6/25/2025.

A Little Validation Goes a Long Way

Just to be sure I was doing everything correctly, I reached out to Dr. Tucker directly. He was kind enough to respond and confirm that I was on the right track. That reassurance gave me the confidence to keep going.

We had a trip planned over the 4th of July, and I worried that a few days without the wrap might undo our progress. But Dr. Tucker assured me it would be okay—and he was right. When we got back, her hernia looked even smaller.

One Final Push

I wrapped her one more time for good measure. After that final stretch, I felt her belly and realized I couldn’t find the hole anymore. It was gone. That moment—the quiet, satisfying realization that we did it—was so rewarding.

Yes, the wrap did cause a little rubbing on her flanks, but those areas healed quickly. By mid-July, she was back out in the pasture with the herd, happy and whole.

Progress as of 7/14/2025. Yes, their flanks will get raw from the wrap, but they heal up just fine.

Final Thoughts

Shortly after the last wrap, I had to head out on a 10-day work trip. When I returned in late July, there was no doubt—Mo was fully healed. The hernia was history.

I’m sharing this because I know how stressful it can be to face the possibility of surgery, especially with young foals. This non-surgical approach saved me time, stress, and money—but most importantly, it worked.

If you’re facing something similar, I’d absolutely recommend looking into wrapping before jumping straight to surgery. That said, I’m not a vet—just a horse owner who took a chance and got lucky. Always check with your vet first before trying something new.

Supplies Used

I've linked the wrap I used and similar gauze below. Vet wrap will NOT work. You need the kind that is sticky on one-side. All in, I spent under $200 in supplies.

Wrap used: view here (get the 4 in roll)

Gauze used: view here