Laparoscopic spays

Because your pet deserves 65% less pain

A study published in the 2005 Journal of the Veterinary Medical Association concluded laparoscopic spays caused less surgical stress and up to 65% less postoperative pain than a traditional “open” surgical spay.

Depending on where you live, the “spay”, which is simply the surgical sterilization of a female dog or cat, may be referred to as any of the following:

• Spay
• Spey
• Ovariectomy (if only the ovaries are removed, leaving the uterus intact)
• Ovaiohysterectomy (if both the ovaries and uterus are removed)
• Sterilization surgery
• Sterilisation surgery
• Desexing
• Castration (though this usually refers to males in North America, it is sometimes used for females as well in other English-speaking countries)
• Female neutering

In a traditional spay a 5 to 10 cm incision is made in the abdomen through which the ovarian ligament is blindly torn from the abdominal wall. This tearing causes bruising to your pets abdominal wall and postoperative pain. In most cases your pet will be required to stay overnight. The incision takes up to two weeks to heal, with ample opportunity for infection or for her to tear open the stitches.

By performing the surgery laparoscopically (a minimally invasive technique for viewing the internal structures of the abdomen), the procedure is performed through one to three small incisions in the abdomen, 0.32 to 1.27cm in length depending on the size of your pet. A laparoscope (camera) magnifies the internal structures of the abdomen on a TV monitor, allowing for greater surgical precision and fewer complications. The magnified view of the ovarian ligament allows the doctor to carefully cut and cauterize it rather than blindly tearing it, as in a traditional spay; this eliminates the pain your pet would experience from bruising caused by tearing the ligament. The small incisions are sutured and she will usually be sent home the same day. With a laparoscopic spay, your dog will experience less trauma, heal faster and experience up to 65% less post-operative pain.

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).

By incorporating the same techniques seen in human minimally invasive surgery, the laparoscopic spay or “lap spay” allows you to give your pet the same care you would expect for yourself. It is a safer, less painful, faster healing alternative to traditional spays. As an outpatient procedure your pet recovers in the comfort of your home, a less stressful alternative for both you and her.