Pet Laparoscopic surgeries
We’re proud to offer laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, a minimally invasive option for several procedures for dogs, at our Stokesley branch.
- What is keyhole surgery?
- Why choose keyhole surgery for your pet?
- Are there any drawbacks to keyhole spays?
What is keyhole surgery?
A keyhole spay involves making two small cuts (5-10mm) into your dog’s abdomen, through which a small camera and instrument are inserted.
The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide and the ovaries are removed through the small incision ‘ports’.
This option is currently available for dogs over the size of 10kg, and is our preferred method for dogs weighing over 25kg.
Why choose keyhole surgery for your pet?
- Due to the smaller incision size, your pet will feel less pain after the procedure.
- There is evidence that this technique is safer and has fewer postoperative complications than a traditional spay.
- The recovery period is much shorter – with most pets resuming normal daily activities within three days.
We recommend neutering female dogs eight to 12 weeks after their first season. Neutering eliminates the risk of unwanted pregnancy, uterine diseases including infection (pyometra) and uterine cancer, as well as greatly reducing the risk of mammary cancers which are linked to the hormone oestrogen.
Unlike a traditional spay, where both the ovaries and uterus are removed, keyhole spays only remove the ovaries. The risk of disease in the remaining uterus is extremely low.
Are there any drawbacks to keyhole spays?
- Requires a larger shaved area despite smaller incisions
- Not suitable for patients with obvious pathology of the ovary or uterine horn. If a pet was found to have ovarian or uterine disease at the time of a keyhole procedure, we would instead convert to a traditional spay.
- The price is higher than a traditional spay, as we have invested heavily in state-of-the-art equipment and team training. The surcharge for keyhole surgery is £250 above the standard spay price.
- At the moment, we don’t offer this service to dogs under 10kg.
Besides keyhole spays, we also offer minimally invasive surgeries for retained testicles, gastropexy and organ biopsies.
If you are interested in a keyhole procedure for your pet, please contact the practice for more information or for an estimate. We also accept referrals for keyhole procedures on an outpatient basis.