What is Laparoscopic Neutering? Incisions are much smaller than a traditional open surgical spay (3/16 inch vs. 2 or 3 inches) and there is less tissue trauma. Due to smaller incision(s), recovery generally occurs in half the time compared to post-operative timeframes for an open spay operation. Please click here to watch Dr. Mark Kinghorn perform an actual laparoscopic spay surgery. Two small incisions (approximately 5-10mm long) are made along the dog’s abdominal midline. Often, laparoscopic surgery is used to prevent other conditions. It doesn't really matter which technique is performed in the majority of female dogs, in the sense that the end result is the same. - Katka. If they have not been securely blocked the severe bleeding can happen, and this can even be life-threatening. Gastropexy (surgical attachment of stomach to the body wall) is the most effective means of prevention. We remove the likelihood of any bleeding before we make our cut to remove the ovaries and the uterus (is a full ovariohysterectomy is being performed). “Surgeons performing laparoscopic procedures always discuss with pet owners the possibility of needing to convert to an open approach if complications arise, such as poor visualization, equipment malfunction, or uncontrolled bleeding.”. The accelerated healing times and extremely significant reduction in post-operative discomfort/pain make the use of scopes extremely appealing. Laparoscopic spay cannot be carried out if there is a uterine infection or any other uterine pathology present. There are some clear benefits of a laparoscopic spay in dogs. There is also a lower complication rate with laparoscopic spay compared to routine spay surgery. Laparoscopic spays involve a single 10-12mm incision to allow entrance of a camera and electrocautery instrument. The surgery is normally performed in the morning, and on the day of the procedure you will need to book an early appointment (8am) to see the Vet who will be performing the surgery. For much smaller dogs, it is likely that a traditional spay is always the best solution and technique to use. Once the dog is fully awake, able to stand and shows willingness to eat… Unlike the 2 weeks of enforced quiet time to heal after a traditional spay surgery, pets can get back to many of their normal activities as soon as 2 days after a laparoscopic spay – particularly helpful with active puppies and kittens! This was not the case; I had to wait for my own Saluki, Lexi to be spayed. Plus, as a pet owner, you may have less stress taking care of your pet as they recover. Laparoscopic Spay Dr Erickson has been performing laparoscopic spays for many years. A laparoscopic spay is the superior technique for the majority of female dogs. The camera transmits a digital image to a screen in the operating room, allowing full view of the entire abdomen and all organs, Hirshenson describes. Other complications that are frequently seen, and are the same with both surgical techniques, are diarrhea and vomiting. Research has shown that animals undergoing the laparoscopic procedure feel 65 percent less pain than with a traditional spay, Hodges says. Just as veterinary care and traditional spay procedure costs can vary among veterinary hospitals and geographical location, cost of laparoscopic spay may vary slightly between hospitals.”. It is a very uncommon risk with a traditional spay, but there is a slightly higher risk nonetheless. There is smaller equipment available, but this will not be available to the majority of veterinarians. In an open surgery a single large incision is made. Unsuitable candidates, notes Hirshenson, include very small patients who would require tiny ports, cameras and instrumentation to perform the surgery safely. It involves one to three small half-inch incisions being made into the body wall that then go into the abdomen. They will have a faster recovery because they are more comfortable. The laparoscopic procedure is much less invasive than traditional open surgery, with much reduced post-operative pain, bleeding, and recovery time. If the suture material ligature is not tied tightly enough, or the knot is not tied securely, then it has the potential to slip. One incision is used to pass the videoscope into the abdomen, while the other is for the surgical instruments. In fact, keeping your dog quiet after surgery might be your biggest challenge! If they are fat and overweight, we will often need to make a larger incision because there is so much fat in the way. That said, even with the standard, traditional approach, our dogs are still pretty comfortable and are back up and running very quickly after surgery. 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. In a traditional spay, they have a three-inch incision compared to one-three much smaller incisions. The laparoscopic method usually costs more than a traditional spay. Adam says laparoscopic spay remains safest because there’s less trauma to tissues, less risk of infection, and less bleeding. It can be a worrying time for owners and we want to provide the best possible service. We are a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites. Laparoscopy is also more challenging in small dogs, those less than about five kilograms. This helps separate all of the organs for visualization with a camera. Due to smaller incision (s), recovery generally Hirshenson says a laparoscopic spay is neither safer nor riskier than a traditional spay. A faster return to normal activity due to patient comfort and reduced scar formation. In many cases performing a procedure using endoscopic surgery allows for it to be done as an outpatient procedure, a less painful and traumatic alternative for both patient and pet owner. In a traditional spay a 2” to 3” or larger incision is made in the abdomen through which the ovarian ligament is blindly torn from the abdominal wall. The differences come with the practice the surgeon has with one procedure or the other. Laparoscopic surgeries are gaining popularity in veterinary medicine. Laparoscopic surgery is most commonly performed for spaying a female dog. Your dog will undergo one large abdominal incisions in a … Laparoscopic, or “keyhole”, bitch spays have been around for a long time, but have really become much more common in the last few years. This is the severe complication risk. We removed the ability to get pregnant, the risk of pyometra, and we have all of the other risks and benefits of a spay surgery (which you can read in the linked article). If you are interested in our laparoscopic spays, feel … In a laparoscopic spay, only the ovaries are removed (an ovariectomy). Smaller incisions generally mean less pain and much quicker recovery time for our faithful friends. It depends on the size and body condition of your dog. First off, they are more expensive, and understandably so. The likelihood of side-effects varies just as much with surgeon experience as it does by the actual technique preformed. Adam says the extra cost is well worth it. Laparoscopy also reduces bleeding and swelling for patients, making the recovery process easier. Minor surgical site infections are not common but are the next most frequently experienced complication. The wound on your dog does vary and that depends on what type of surgery your dog is undergoing. If we do get a problem during surgery, your surgeon is going to need to convert into a traditional open spay. Spaying a dog involves cutting some really big blood vessels. The training that needs to go on before this surgery can be performed is quite extensive. Following a traditional abdominal surgical procedure - such as a spay- 10 to 14 days of restricted activity is recommended. In one study, there was a complication rate of around 20% with laparoscopy. It is less invasive and allows faster recovery time. In a laparoscopic spay, your female dog will have her ovaries removed with a camera and vessel sealing device through a … I’ve already mentioned that the majority of surgical complications involve little more than a bit of inflammation that requires no further treatment. Laparoscopic procedures can also help detect other diseases such as cancer. This tearing causes bruising to your pets abdominal wall and postoperative pain. But in a traditional spay, the blood vessels are tied off using sutures, which can potentially loosen or slip. Our team will be eager to help guide you in the right direction! Hodges adds that “the cost increase also includes the additional training and expertise required for a veterinarian to become proficient in performing a laparoscopy. Laparoscopic surgery is known as minimally invasive, or keyhole surgery. Laparoscopy will become more common in time, but there will always be a place for the traditional approach. Also, the equipment that we need is much more expensive than with a traditional spay. But it's important to remember that safety is very high in both procedures. A gentler, more comfortable recovery requires less rest, your dog can be active again in a couple of days. Laparoscopy is considered the gold standard in human medicine, Hodges says. These are likely due to the anesthetic and the pain medication given, rather than the specific surgical technique performed. A laparoscopic spay doesn’t require a lengthy incision like a traditional spay. Owners who have previously had their pets spayed with the old open surgical technique are amazed at how much quicker their pet’s recovery is with the laparoscopic spay. There is less pain, less trauma and recovery time … Overall, your pet may benefit from a laparoscopic spay procedure because of less pain and a smoother recovery time. Veterinary endoscopy allows vets to offer their animal patients less pain, minimal recovery time and fewer complications. Instead of opening a pet up a few inches, only a pencil size incision is made for a laparoscopic spay. Once a blood vessel has been sealed like this, a very low chance of future bleeding exists. By asking questions, you can make an informed and appropriate decision for your pet and family. The incision is not likely to be very different in size, and the equipment used in laparoscopy is really too big. Please call today to find out if this is an appropriate option for your pet. You need to open up the abdomen traditionally, using your hands to fix the problem. Dogs have been shown to feel up to 65% less pain after laparoscopy than they would feel after traditional spay surgery. Let's compare this traditional technique to a laparoscopic spay. Though it is significantly more (due to the cost of the instruments), the less invasive procedure with less pain and quicker recovery time is well worth it for many owners. There is a slightly increased risk of infection in a traditional spay along with a slight delay in wound healing. The routine neutering of a male dog is a relatively easy procedure, from a veterinary point of view. In general though, very few of these infections need any major treatment apart from a course of antibiotics. Laparoscopic ovariectomy is a minimally invasive approach to spaying dogs. The patient’s abdomen is filled with CO2 gas for better visualization, adds Dr. John Adam, owner and president of Imperial Highway Animal Clinic in Southern California. The surgery time runs shorter and there’s less bleeding, if any. Following a Laparoscopic spay dogs are back to their normal activity within 3 days. “Laparoscopic spay is a minimally invasive procedure that is allowing veterinarians to provide the same benefits to our dogs and cats.”. It is also going to vary based on the surgeon. A screen is used by the surgeon to perform the surgery, the camera is connected to a television screen. Doctors almost always opt to perform a procedure with scopes, if it’s available. Laparoscopic spays are the least invasive way to spay your female dog. The camera and the instruments are passed through those small incision ports, and the surgery is carried out without the surgeon’s hands entering the abdomen. Spaying was pretty much unchanged for decades until laparoscopy came along. A more modern technique is laparoscopy, but is a keyhole spay superior to the traditional approach? Your furry family members will be happy to hear there is a shorter recovery time and a smaller incision. “In veterinary medicine, clients consider their pets part of the family and want their pets to receive the same level of care that they would want the rest of their family to receive,” Hodges concludes. With laparoscopic spay technique, electricity is used to effectively seal the blood vessel. Carbon dioxide is then used to inflate the abdomen. The incisions made for a laparoscopic spay surgery when added up likely equal the same length as a good traditional spay incision. This compared to 40% of dogs suffering complications with a traditional spay. The risk is slightly higher with a traditional spay. When you come to collect your pet, the nurse will advise you of the post-operative care required and will make an appointment for a vet to recheck your pet in 2-4 days. Avery Animal Clinic is one of few clinics in Orange County that have the capabilities to perform a laparoscopic spay and gastropexy since 2007. It’s not called keyhole spay for nothing! A traditional spay procedure performed by someone qualified is considered very safe, says Dr. Paul Hodges, owner of Minimally Invasive Procedures (mobile endoscopy services) in Toronto. Feeding Kittens 101: What to Feed, How Much, and How Often. The vast majority of bitches that are spayed will return home the same day, to continue their recovery at home. The exact technique is again going to depend on the technique and the preference of the veterinary surgeon. The above is a transcript taken from “The Dr Alex Answers Show”. dog, vaccination, side effects, call the vet. As a referral surgeon, Hirshenson always encourages pet owners to discuss the pros and cons of each spay procedure with their primary veterinarian. “Some minimal variation occurs in the procedure among surgeons, but it involves between one to three small incisions along the abdominal body wall,” says Hirshenson, who performs surgery at Triangle Veterinary Referral Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. As with a laparoscopic spay procedure, the prognosis and recovery time are greatly improved when a laparoscopic cryptochidetomy is performed. Most general practitioner veterinarians won't be familiar with laparoscopic equipment before they start performing laparoscopic spays and so the learning curve can be high. At the time I learned about the laparoscopic spay, I imagined receiving permission to view another dog’s operation. In general though, there is going to be around a three-inch incision made into your dog in a traditional, regular spay surgery. Patients are … A difference I’ll discuss in more detail in just a minute. also called an ovariohysterectomy and has been performed by vets for many years Advantages. The surgeon’s hands never enter the abdomen. Recovery includes faster wound and skin healing, plus a quicker return to normal activity. Laparoscopic Spay: The Best Way to Spay a Dog (benefits, recovery + complications) A regular spay involves making an incision, a cut, into the abdomen of a dog to manually remove either the ovaries alone, which we call an ovariectomy, or the ovaries and the uterus, which is known as an ovariohysterectomy. Many owners struggle with the cost of the procedure. This is another big difference. While veterinary experts agree on the benefits of laparoscopic spay, they have different views on which method provides the best protection to the patient. Laparoscopic Surgery advantages: less invasive, less painful, less anesthesia, allows for excellent visualization of abdominal organs and reduced recovery time. Also, if the pet has an infected or cancerous uterus that needs removal, a traditional open approach is necessary. It’s that simple! What is Laparoscopy Laparoscopy is minimally invasive technique for viewing the internal structures of the abdomen. A laparoscopic spay does have various advantages over a traditional open spay: There may be less post-operative pain. Suitable for animals weighing between 10kg and 35kg - particularly young, lively, athletic dogs who may be difficult to keep quiet after a traditional spay. Recovery time includes restricted activity and no swimming or bathing for 7-10 days. Especially considering how major the surgery is. A Laparoscopic Spay Is Less Invasive. Thankfully, this severe complication is very rare regardless of technique used. With laparoscopy, the surgeon’s hands never enter your pet’s abdomen; A small camera and surgical instruments are used to remove the ovaries. If you’re looking for a minimally invasive alternative to a traditional spay procedure, a laparoscopic spay might be a good fit for your female dog or cat. The procedure can be performed at the time the dog is spayed or neutered, or at any other time. But not all female dogs and cats should undergo this new procedure. Furthermore, the longer incision takes up to two weeks to heal, during which time you are required to keep your pets activity restricted, and in most cases, you pet will also be required to wear an e-collar for this entire duration, to prevent her from licking at her incision and chewing out her stitches. The incision takes up to two weeks to heal, with ample opportunity for infection or for her to tear open the stitches. Your dog is going to have a smaller incision. However, the laparoscopic spay could be considered safer because electrocautery seals the blood vessels prior to cutting them, he says. Both surgical procedures achieve the same end result: sterilization, says Dr. Marc Hirshenson, a board-certified veterinary surgeon. The result of this can be rapid blood loss into the abdomen. He predicts that soon a traditional spay will become obsolete. "We recently adopted a standard poodle puppy and when it came time to spay her we investigated endoscopic and gastropexy thoroughly. With laparoscopic spays we are able to offer our patients reduced pain, minimal recovery time and less trauma than with traditional spays. Remember that only the ovaries are removed in a keyhole spay. Laparoscopic spays o-er patients up to 65% less pain,* minimal recovery time and less trauma than traditional spays. Laparoscopic Spays. If your pet is actively in heat, many veterinarians like Hodges won’t spay with either method, preferring to wait until the dog is out of heat to reduce the chances of bleeding and other complications. Laparoscopic procedures are minimally invasive and generally provide quicker healing and recovery time. There are however several other potential complications you should be aware of. A regular spay involves making an incision, a cut, into the abdomen of a dog to manually remove either the ovaries alone, which we call an ovariectomy, or the ovaries and the uterus, which is known as an ovariohysterectomy. There is no potential for slippage, and so long as the appropriate technique is used, and there is no equipment failure, the risk of bleeding is minimal. Is a laparoscopic spay better than regular spaying in a dog? After the blood vessels are sealed, the ovaries are transected (cut across) and removed. In contrast, a laparoscopic spay normally only removes the ovaries (ovariectomy), which means a surgeon can make a smaller incision or set of incisions in the patient. “Through these small incision(s), the surgeon places ports allowing the entrance of the camera and instrumentation.”. As a surgeon, I need to see what I’m doing and handle the tissue appropriately. Laparoscopic Spay Videos. Although human laparoscopies have been around for decades, utilizing this technique for dogs is new. “The more experience a surgeon has with either laparoscopic or an open [traditional] spay often helps minimize the time of anesthesia and procedure and allows them to perform the procedure in an efficient manner safely,” Hirshenson says. Laparoscopic Spays. In a traditional spay, incision size actually varies. Traditional spay uses very simple hand instruments, but laparoscopic spays require a more complicated, expensive setup. The surgery time runs shorter and there’s less bleeding, if any. “In people, the advancements of minimally invasive procedures have revolutionized the approach to medical therapy regarding patient comfort and recovery,” Hirshenson says. A younger veterinarian is likely going to have a larger incision than a more experienced surgeon. Cat Nutrition: What Makes a Nutritional Cat Food? In a laparoscopic surgery three separate small incisions are made. Laparoscopic spays significantly reduce pain and recovery time for female dogs. 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. What are the downsides of a laparoscopic spay compared to a traditional spay in dogs? The activity of dogs for 48 hours (2 days) after surgery was reduced by 62% in dogs that had open surgery but only 25% by dogs that had laparoscopic surgery. This is not likely to be a problem in a young dog, but if you have an older dog there is an argument that a traditional approach is going to be best, given the potential for an unknown problem with the uterus being found. If there is cancer of the uterus, or any other problem, then a laparoscopic spay procedure is not going to be the best option for your dog. That’s because special equipment and maintenance are required. We have performed over 150 laparoscopic spay procedures in the last few years. If you would like me to answer any question you have about your pet’s health, simply fill in this form and I’ll try and get you the information that you need. A laparoscopic spay or neuter is an alternative to the traditional method. We asked the experts to explain how the procedure works and whether it’s safer than a traditional spay. Dr Sam Kovac stated “having a dog spayed is a major surgical procedure. That being said, complications were mainly inflammation alone, which required no further treatment. In most cases your pet will be required to stay overnight. 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. Rather than suture material being used to block the blood vessels, electrocautery is used to seal them which prevents blooding once the ovaries are removed. By providing the option of the laparoscopic spey we can ensure owners we are performing the safest and quickest procedure for their beloved pet”. Laparoscopy, also known as diagnostic laparoscopy, is a surgical diagnostic procedure used to examine the organs inside the abdomen. The ovaries and uterus are then clamped off and suture material ligature is used to close off the blood supply so that we prevent any bleeding. You can't deal with any bleeding or other more serious complications with the laparoscopic equipment alone. A laparoscopic spay or neuter will prevent unwanted pregnancies. Although equally routine in veterinary practice, spaying is, in fact, major abdominal surgery. Adam concurs, noting that clients see the value of minimally invasive procedures for themselves, so they are creating a demand for it for their pets. In a laparoscopic procedure only the ovaries are removed. Research has shown that animals undergoing the laparoscopic procedure feel 65 percent less pain than with a traditional spay, Hodges says. Pets having a laparoscopic spay should be starved from 10pm the night before surgery with free access to water the time of admission to the hospital. There will be some pain relief medication for you to give your pet so she remains comfortable in the post-operative period. A laparoscopic stomach tacking could prevent bloat. With a traditional spay procedure, both ovaries and the uterus are usually removed, which is considered an ovariohysterectomy. Overall, there are benefits of a laparoscopic spay compared to a traditional spay in dogs when it comes to the risk of complications. If your dog is thin, they'll need a smaller incision. A smaller incision, less pain and lower chance of complications all add up to a dog recovering from their spay surgery faster if it performed laparoscopically.
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