Traditional Spays. What are the downsides of a laparoscopic spay compared to a traditional spay in dogs? If you have a girl, when you spay her at 18-24 months it is very easy for them to do the spay and gastropexy at the same time. Traditional spaying is still the acceptable approach, despite more advanced (and possibly more humane) options, largely because this procedure can be offered at a reduced price, making it accessible to almost all pet owners — and that in turn reduces suffering for the greater population of pets. Similarly, if your dog is known to have an existing disease of their uterus, for example pyometra, then it is a traditional ovariohysterectomy that they need. Although equally routine in veterinary practice, spaying is, in fact, major abdominal surgery. The procedure is performed with magnified views of the organs allowing for greater precision. Freya, my 4.5 month old Siamese kittens was just spayed yesterday laparoscopically. The surgery is normally performed in the morning, and on the day of the procedure you will need to book an early appointment (8.45am) to see the specialist who will be performing the surgery. A younger veterinarian is likely going to have a larger incision than a more experienced surgeon. In addition, veterinarians can also perform laparoscopic-assisted surgeries where they take out the uterus. Other complications that are frequently seen, and are the same with both surgical techniques, are diarrhea and vomiting. The advantages of the Laparoscopic Spay (Lap Spay) over traditional surgery include: Smaller incisions are less painful, reduce recovery time, and have less serious complications. All rights reserved. Let's compare this traditional technique to a laparoscopic spay. Overall, there are benefits of a laparoscopic spay compared to a traditional spay in dogs when it comes to the risk of complications. I had heard about this from a fellow owner, who had also had the procedure done and highly recommended it. If they have not been securely blocked the severe bleeding can happen, and this can even be life-threatening. A medical jacket instead of a plastic cone is an optional extra. Laparoscopic spays are often less painful and recovery is quicker. A laparoscopic spay brings to your female dog the same relative comfort and safety that humans have adopted for decades. And it is vital for all dogs that diet is adjusted to focus on healthy weight maintenance following surgery, with energy requirements falling by up to 25%. Leaving these in the body could make it much more likely that your dog will suffer from a significant disease of their uterus later on in life. Although it is uncommon, there is a possibility that the surgeon may need to convert to a traditional spay at the time of the procedure. There is a slightly increased risk of infection in a traditional spay along with a slight delay in wound healing. Vetstreet. During laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon inserts instruments and a camera-tipped device through the incisions to view and perform the operation without dividing the muscles or breaking a rib. Laparoscopic ovariectomy is quickly becoming the in-demand method for spaying animals. I’ve already mentioned that the majority of surgical complications involve little more than a bit of inflammation that requires no further treatment. Contact us to see if a laparoscopic spay procedure is right for your dog. If laparoscopy is not available in your area, or if the cost is too high, then you should have no qualms at all about having your dog spayed traditionally. This is another big difference. In general though, very few of these infections need any major treatment apart from a course of antibiotics. Laparoscopic restorative proctectomy - hybrid approach or totally laparoscopic? Let us know! In cases of larger breed, deep chested dogs, gastropexy can be performed at the time of the lap spay to prevent life-threatening gastric torsion (bloat). It is less invasive and allows faster recovery time. The surgical wounds are much smaller with keyhole surgery: 0.5 to 1 cm compared to 6 to 15 cm which mean your dog is likely to have a speedier recovery. The time it takes to recover from a laparoscopic surgery depends on many factors, such as. This helps separate all of the organs for visualization with a camera. Here are tips for a safe and comfortable recovery: Provide your pet with a … It is a very uncommon risk with a traditional spay, but there is a slightly higher risk nonetheless. With a laparoscopic spay, your dog will experience less trauma, heal faster, and have up to 65% less post-operative pain! Understanding a Laparoscopic Procedure. In one study, there was a complication rate of around 20% with laparoscopy. Laparoscopy can be performed through a few small incisions, with reduced tissue damage, less pain, and ultimately, a quicker recovery time for your pet. It’s not called keyhole spay for nothing! There is a reduction in the amount of pain after the keyhole spaying operation. In a traditional spay, incision size actually varies. That said, even with the standard, traditional approach, our dogs are still pretty comfortable and are back up and running very quickly after surgery. As a veterinarian, it's my job to make sure you are educated about both procedures so you can make a fully informed decision on your pet's behalf. As with a laparoscopic spay procedure, the prognosis and recovery time are greatly improved when a laparoscopic cryptochidetomy is performed. The vet originally said that keeping her quiet a couple days would be good. The procedure allows for excellent visualization of abdominal organs. If your dog is thin, they'll need a smaller incision. On an individual basis, however, you need to factor in what’s undeniably best for your pet and then balance that against other factors, most notably what you can afford. Laparoscopic Neutering for Bitches Why choose Laparoscopic Ovariectomy? It involves one to three small half-inch incisions being made into the body wall that then go into the abdomen. Initially consisting of simple hollow tubes, over time these rudimentary devices were adapted to include magnifying lenses and illumination, eventually evolving into the sophisticated surgical scopes used today. There is smaller equipment available, but this will not be available to the majority of veterinarians. Laparoscopy is generally not used for a typical neutering procedure, however, in the case of a cryptorchidism, it is an extremely effective way of removing the testes from the abdomen. Recovery time is decreased and risk of hernia is greatly reduced. Andrew Stevenson Smaller incisions generally mean less pain and much quicker recovery time for our faithful friends. Instead of removing the entire reproductive system, only the ovaries are taken out. Laparoscopic Spays. Not sure about food puzzles? It is less invasive and allows faster recovery time. It differs from typical spaying procedures. Vetstreet. I also put the inflatable collar on her which she looked quite disgusted with. What is Laparoscopy Laparoscopy is minimally invasive technique for viewing the internal structures of the abdomen. Laparoscopic spays are the least invasive way to spay your female dog. What are the advantages of a laparoscopic spay? When performing a laparoscopic spay, the procedure is done through one or two tiny incisions typically 11mm in size rather than the traditional 3”-5”. Remember that only the ovaries are removed in a keyhole spay. Roxy had a laparoscopic spaying yesterday which went well. The differences come with the practice the surgeon has with one procedure or the other. During this time she should be allowed to rest quietly in a warm (not too hot), comfortable, draught-free place. What is the difference between "traditional open surgery" and keyhole A laparoscopic stomach tacking could prevent bloat. Normal appetite should return within 24-48 hours. For those dogs that fall into this category, a pre-surgical weight loss program is still going to be beneficial to reduce the surgery risk as well as improving long-term health. We’ve got the skinny on which foods are OK to feed him. The recovery time is shorter than with non laparoscopic spays and provides a quicker return to full fitness for working dogs. © Vetstreet. Please enter an address, city and/or zip code. These are likely due to the anesthetic and the pain medication given, rather than the specific surgical technique performed. Minor surgical site infections are not common but are the next most frequently experienced complication. Incisions are much smaller than a traditional open surgical spay (3/16 inch vs. 2 or 3 inches) and there is less tissue trauma. Wonder which dog or cat best fits your lifestyle? If the video doesn't start playing momentarily, If you are interested in our laparoscopic spays, feel free to contact us today at (785) 267-6060. Laparoscopic Spay Surgery. In a laparoscopic spay, your female dog will have her ovaries removed with a camera and vessel sealing device through a keyhole incision (ovariectomy). This is a technique that is performed in veterinary practice daily, and so a procedure that your veterinarian is going to be very comfortable performing. Let's compare this traditional technique to a laparoscopic spay. In a traditional spay, they have a three-inch incision compared to one-three much smaller incisions. Powered by Brightspot. In fact, keeping your dog quiet after surgery might be your biggest challenge! But when I picked her up the vet tech said to keep her quiet and restricted for a week. All rights reserved. “I recently brought Sassy in for a keyhole spay and I just wanted to say how pleased I was with the whole process. Another advantage is a lower risk for complications, such as infection and dehiscence (where a surgical incision reopens). Whether you choose to have your pet laser spayed or traditionally spayed your pet will need some time to recover. please install the latest version of Flash. Laparoscopic spays o-er patients up to 65% less pain,* minimal recovery time and less trauma than traditional spays. The routine neutering of a male dog is a relatively easy procedure, from a veterinary point of view. If your dog were to have a traditional spay, this involves an operation whereby a long incision is made on the midline of the tummy. Following is some information about the procedure. Laparoscopic spay cannot be carried out if there is a uterine infection or any other uterine pathology present. To help your pup better prepared for the surgery, your vet will … First, though, a few words about spaying: Because spaying and neutering are equally used for controlling pet populations, people tend to think of them as being roughly comparable. Laparoscopic spays are performed at Frome & Trowbridge 4 days a week.