Laparoscopic Neutering – What every pet owner should know

17/08/2020

What is Laparoscopic Neutering?                         

A laparoscopic spay or neuter is an alternative to the traditional method. 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 keyhole incision (ovariectomy). 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. The uterus and the ovaries are stitched with thread and are removed through this larger hole. The technical name for this operation is ovariohysterectomy.

lap-spay-diagram
 

 What are the benefits?

The main benefits of a laparoscopic spay are less pain and a faster healing time than the traditional spay operation.

benefits-of-lap-spay

*In larger dogs a Gastropexy can be performed with the camera at the same time as the spay to potentially prevent GDV (Bloat) which is a potentially fatal condition.

The bottom line is that laparoscopic neutering is a far safer, less painful, and a more modern method.

Is Laparoscopic Neutering more expensive than traditional neutering?

Laparoscopic surgery costs more than traditional neutering because it is carried out by a specialist surgeon and requires specialist equipment. Laparoscopic surgery equipment is also costly to purchase and maintain, it takes extra training, experience and a higher level of surgical expertise. The exact variance in cost depends on the size of the dog, however, most owners find the procedure is worth the money.

Can all vets perform Laparoscopic Neutering?

Laparoscopic surgery requires both specialist equipment and an experienced surgeon to carry out the procedure. Compared to human laparoscopic procedures, a very small portion of pet surgery in the UK is performed laparoscopically, although there is a steady increase in practices that are providing this service.

How can I book an appointment for this procedure for my dog?

If you are an existing Village Vet client, you can contact your vet and they will put you in touch with the closest team. If you are not an existing client and would like to get more information, simply call Village Vet Hampstead. If you reside in Hertfordshire, you can contact our St Albans (Caytons) practice. If you reside in Cambridgeshire, you can contact our Village Vet Whittlesford Hospital.

We will happily answer any further questions that you might have.