Pet Keyhole Surgery

What is pet keyhole/laparoscopic surgery?

What is pet keyhole/laparoscopic surgery?

Keyhole surgery or laparoscopic surgery involves the introduction of a camera and specialised instruments into the abdomen through two or three small incisions. It’s a minimally invasive method of surgery done under anaesthesia.

Many of the traditional surgical procedures such as spaying (neutering) can be performed laparoscopically. The tissues are visualised under high magnification and blood vessels are cut and sealed using specialist equipment, the ovaries are then removed via the port sites.

It’s well established in human surgery and laparoscopic procedures provide quicker healing time and fewer post-operative complications than other methods. This is evidenced in modern veterinary medicine now too.

What are the benefits of keyhole / laparoscopic spay surgery?

One advantage of pet keyhole surgery/ laparoscopic surgery is to reduce post-operative pain.

The likelihood of infection is reduced even more with smaller incisions as well as reduced risk of bleeding.

This method of spaying has much smaller incisions which leads to quicker recovery times. You won’t need to worry so much about your pet being active sooner. Generally, dogs can get back to normal exercise after 3 days of rest compared to 10 days or more with a 'traditional spay'. Smaller incisiions mean less scarring too.

There are likely to be fewer post-operative complications as smaller incisions cause less physical trauma to the tissues. Anaesthetic times are often reduced compared to ‘traditional’ as well.

Post keyhole / laparoscopic operative care

Pain Management: Administer any prescribed pain medication as directed by your vet.

Rest: Keep your pet calm and quiet for the first few days after surgery. Avoid strenuous activity and jumping. If you take your dog for a walk, go somewhere quieter and keep them on lead to avoid excitement.

Monitor the Incisions: Check the incision sites daily for redness, swelling or discharge. Contact your vet if you notice any concerns.

Use a pet cone or medical pet shirt: Ensure you follow your vet's advice to prevent them from licking or biting the incisions. This could lead to infection and potentially be very dangerous.

Diet: Offer a bland small meal the first evening after surgery as pets often feel nauseous after an anaesthetic, then continue feeding a normal diet. Please be aware as with any neutering procedure, pets can be prone to weight gain. Please discuss with one of our veterinary nurses about how to prevent this.

Follow-up: Schedule a follow-up appointment with your practice as advised to monitor your pet's recovery.

Pet keyhole / laparoscopic surgery: When to neuter your pet

Dog neutering is usually carried out when an animal is skeletally mature for large breed dogs, usually three months post first season, but for small breed dogs and some others where benefits outweigh risks, we can do pre-season spays before six months of age.

We always consider your dog’s breed, size, overall behaviour and other risk factors to provide the most suitable recommendation for your dog based on the latest evidence.

Why Choose Leadon Vale Vets for Keyhole Surgery?

Leadon Vale Veterinary Centre have state of the art facilities and a laboratory, as well as an on-site theatre and imaging room. We take the time to oversee every pet’s care with thorough checks and do all we can to help improve their quality of life.

Our hospital wards are also made comfortable for all pets staying the day, or overnight with us.

All clients visiting us for laparoscopic surgery for their pet will be scheduled with an appointment prior, to check their overall health, weight and to discuss the procedure with you. We will outline any risks and ensure you’re happy to proceed before we perform surgery. If we have seen your pet within the last year this is often carried out at the admission appointment.

FAQs for pet keyhole / laparoscopic surgery

What are the disadvantages of Laparoscopic spray surgery?

Your pet will be closely shaved in the area for the surgery and surgically cleaned. Laparoscopy spay has a larger clip than ‘traditional spay’ due to the different position of ports and technique used which people often find surprising.
There is also the cost of the surgery to consider, due to the expertise and specialist equipment needed there is a surcharge for a Lap spay. Speak to our practice for an estimate. If you would like more information on these prices, please contact us.

Can all dogs have keyhole/laparoscopy surgery?

While laparoscopy spays are generally recommended for most female dogs, there are exceptions.

Size: Very small breeds may be better suited for traditional spays.

Overweight dogs face increased risks in both procedures, so a pre-surgical weight loss programme is often recommended before booking in for elective procedures.

Medical Conditions: Conditions like pyometra (uterine infection) or other uterine diseases typically necessitate a traditional spay technique.

Does my pet stay the day for keyhole/laparoscopic surgery?

Yes.

Morning Arrival: You'll bring your pet in during the morning for an admission appointment.
Health Check: A thorough physical examination will be conducted.
Blood Test (Optional): A blood test is recommended to rule out any underlying medical conditions that could affect anaesthesia. This can also give us a ‘baseline’ for healthy pets.
Surgery: If your pet is deemed suitable, the surgery will be performed that day.
Post-Surgery: Our nursing team will contact you with an update once your pet has recovered from anaesthesia and schedule a discharge appointment generally early afternoon but can be later depending on recovery.

Contact Leadon Vale Vets today for advice on laparoscopic/keyhole surgery for your pet

If you would like to learn more about laparoscopy surgery , please call us on 01531 632276 or ask during your next visit. A member of your friendly team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.