LAPAROSCOPIC SPAYS

with Temple End

We are very excited to be able to offer laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery at Temple End Vets. The main indications are for laparoscopic spays (ovariectomies) in female dogs and cryptorchid castrations (removal of an undescended testicle) in male dogs.

What is a laparoscopic Spay?

A laparoscopic spay is also sometimes referred to as a lap-spay, a laparoscopic ovariectomy or a keyhole spay. It is a minimally invasive technique for neutering your female dog and offers numerous benefits compared to the traditional spay technique. It involves making two small surgical wounds on the underside your dog’s belly. A small amount of gas is introduced into their abdomen through a special port to lift the internal organs away from the body wall. We can then insert a small camera through that port and the specially designed surgical instruments we require to remove the ovaries are put into the abdomen through a second port. We only remove the ovaries and leave the uterus behind. The ovaries are small enough to come out through one of the small holes we have already made for the ports.

What are the benefits?

There is a reduction in the amount of pain after the operation compared to a conventional spay. It has been shown that after a lap spay procedure patients have a faster recovery. Much of the discomfort in a traditional spay comes from traction on and breaking down of the ovarian suspensory ligament. This is not needed in a lap-spay.
Your pet will return to their normal level of exercise sooner. Normally she must rest for 10-14 days, but after laparoscopic surgery only 5 days rest is required on average.
The surgical wounds required are much smaller with keyhole surgery, which again means your dog is likely to have a speedier recovery.
There is a significantly reduced risk of complications such as bleeding from the surgical site. This is due to the surgeon having better visualisation of the ovaries and the use of advanced equipment to seal the blood vessels. The special vessel-sealing forceps that are used during the procedure allow a safe and secure closure of the ovarian artery without the need for ligatures tied with suture material.

What are the downsides?

There aren’t really any!

For keyhole surgery we do clip a larger area of fur extending up both sides of the abdomen.
Complications can happen with any surgery. In the worst case, the keyhole surgery may need to be converted to traditional open surgery, with no long-term consequences.

Are all lap-spays the same?

There are a few different techniques for carrying out a key-hole spay and the equipment can vary from clinic to clinic. We have invested in the very latest and state-of-the-art lap-surgery equipment so we can give our patients the very best treatment. This means we offer a 2-port technique (only 2 small holes are needed rather than 3) and we use the Hasson approach to the abdomen to minimise any risk of complications.

Why is it more expensive than a traditional spay?

Keyhole surgery requires the use of highly specialised equipment, including small cameras, video screens and special instruments. The surgery involves two surgeons and we have 2 nurses monitoring the equipment and anaesthetic.

The cost for a lap-spay is £820 independent of the size of your dog. The cost for a regular spay is around £500-650.

Which dogs can have the procedure?

Dogs need to be over 8kg. In very small dogs there is not enough space for the keyhole cameras and instruments. In these cases, traditional open surgery is safer.
In older dogs, we may start with a laparoscopic spay but if there are any signs of disease in their womb we would convert to a traditional open surgery to allow removal of their whole uterus rather than just the ovaries.

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Are laparoscopic procedures just for girls?

In a male dog, if both testicles do not make it to the outside of their body (called cryptorchidism) then it is important to find the retained testicle. This can be quite difficult and somewhat traumatic if done via traditional open surgery techniques. Using the lap set-up to find the missing testicle in a dog’s abdomen is an ideal use of the equipment. The cost for this procedure is £820.

What if I decide laparoscopic surgery is not for me?

We have been carrying out conventional ‘open’ spay surgeries at Temple End for over 130 years with minimal complications. The long-term outcomes for surgery are similar, irrespective of which technique is used.

What do I do next?

Please contact the clinic to check your pet is a suitable candidate for a lap-spay and then we can book your pet a theatre slot.

The laparoscopic surgeries are all carried out at our Stokenchurch hospital. On the day of the operation please follow our regular pre-op advice as per the pre-operative handout. This is a day-patient procedure so your pet will be able to go home the same afternoon.

If you have any further questions please feel free to ring and speak to our knowledgeable reception or nursing teams. Otherwise, you are welcome to book in to come and see one of our vets for a check-up appointment.