I just bought a pitbull pup. He is five weeks old. He has a bump on his stomach just forward of his penis. I'm assuming it's his belly button but is looks swollen and when you push on it it feels like there is fluid inside. When you push on it it goes away but then if fills back up and looks swolen again any ideas what it could be?

You are right about the belly button, that is about where the umbilical cord attaches. On dogs, the stub falls off usually leaving a scar that can barely be seen. I think in most cases it should be long gone by 5 weeks. You will need to be running him to the vet for shots. Point it out, although the vet should catch it. Sometimes there are problems needing a little surgery.

I must condemn the breeder for allowing a puppy to go home at 5 weeks. This is especially so in a breed with dog aggressive tendencies. It needed to spend another 2-3 weeks with its mother and litter mates. A 5 week old is difficult to care for, not ready to be house trained, and easy to form bad habits. If he is to get along with other dogs you need to get him around other ones, best younger ones that will enjoy puppy biting games. Be very careful not to expose him to anything except healthy one. Even the best shot programs leave window where a puppy can catch parvo or other diseases if exposed before a shot takes.

Thanks for the private message showing confidence in me. I prefer to answer in public. That is a big advantage of a site like this where others can critique others answers. Of course that leads to feuds detracting from the board. I also respond to questions on the board more quick.

There are some Pit Bull owners here, that have helpful ideas.

It could be an umbilical hernia or the umbilical just didn't heal properly and there's an infection. You should take him into the vet they will probably just put him on anitbiotics. Make sure that it is the belly button first of all it could be a bite over the belly button from a litter mate that is infected. Is it painful for him when you push it? Get it checked out before it turns into something worse.

As for the whole pit bull and 5 weeks too early thing yeah he's way too young to have gone home especially with something wrong with him. I have 6 week old pit bull puppies right now, won't let them go until they have finished their shots and I have done some training with them. It doesn't matter if it's a pit bull or a poodle going home too early no matter what breed they all need socialization before leaving. I could go on a lot about all that but it's a different topic. He will be fine. Do not let him around other dogs or even outside for that matter until he has his shots. If you let him outside don't put him on the ground.

There is a lot of truth about what jennapbt said about outside and other dogs. Part of the reason I have a real fence rather than a wireless one is to keep stray dogs out of my yard. That leaves me a fairly safe area for my young puppies when I have one. It also leaves a safer area when friends and family bring dogs for a visit. Christmas was a great experience for our 12 week old. We had 4 other dogs in the house, 2 older ones to teach ''Wrooulf'' means let me alone and a couple yearlings to play with her and teach her when she is biting too hard and to quit. Between 6 and 12 weeks is a very important time in the development of your dogs personality. If you don't want an anti social mess, your puppy must get out and around strangers and other dogs. Many dogs do die of parvo or something when they are exposed to other dogs that young. Getting out doesn't mean the public park where there are dogs of unknown health. One sniff where a sick dog eliminated in the last 6 months may be all it takes to kill your puppy. Avoid areas where dogs are allowed to run loose. People that let their dogs run, are unlikely to give them good medical care either.