Spaying - Keyhole Surgery, A New Option

[lainey]

Hi there

My little girl recently had her Spay surgery at our local vet’s and she was lucky enough to benefit from a new operation, called a “Laparoscopic Spay”. 

I was so amazed at the results I wanted to share them with you all.

Traditionally, spay surgery involves making a large incision to access the organs inside. The new laparoscopic technique means that the surgical procedure can be accomplished through two small holes giving rise to the name ‘key hole’ surgery.

In veterinary surgery, “key hole’ surgery has only recently been introduced as a surgical method and only a small number of veterinary surgeons are performing these types of operations on a routine basis. Ours is currently the only one who performs this technique in Scotland.

Until recently, the traditional method of spaying has been to remove the entire reproductive tract (ovaries and uterus) through a large (10-15cm) incision into the abdomen.

Using the new laparoscopic method only the ovaries are removed and this is achieved through two small, 5mm holes.

These small holes are made through the skin and muscles into the body and a camera and long, slender, surgical instruments are introduced to perform the surgery inside the body with maximum precision and minimal invasion.

The advantages for the patient include, much less pain and discomfort, quicker healing time and a more rapid return to normal activity.

There is no difference in the effect of the two operations and both techniques will stop your Bichon from coming into season. What's more the uterine disease Pyometra is still avoided as ovaries are required to contract the disease.

Mitsy has only 2 very small holes and NO external stitches at all. 

Here she is



Compared a traditional operation



As she had a less invasive procedure her recovery time was dramatically increased. She walked out of the recovery room and jumped up onto the row of seats where I was. That night she ate well and went out to potty and bark at the neighbour's cat as normal  .  The cost was about 75% more expensive but in my opinion well worth it.

I just wanted to share this new option with you all, perhaps it will not be available in your area yet but as with everything new the more it is requested the more commonplace it will become.

Whatever option you choose, my very best wishes for you both 

Lainey & Mitsy 

[Terri]

Thanks for the info Lainey. It was so interesting.
Belle had the traditional operation, although her incision wasn't nearly as big as the example picture, she was still a sore little girlie.
I'm so glad Mitsy had the keyhole surgery and recovered so nicely.
Good job!

[Bluebell]

Yes thank you for sharing this info with everyone Lainey. The more we hear and learn about this technique the more popular it may become. Same as Terri, my girls' incisions were no where near as large with their traditional spays as in your example pic. They all recovered well and in a few days were fine but I know that for humans laproscopy has made things go from a hospital stay to an out-patient affair. Interesting to say the least!

[mazza]

good post Lainey.......hope this surgery becomes standard practise

Marilyn

[Annie36]

I hope it becomes commonplace everywhere myself. Thanks for the info Lainey. Now folks know what to ask for when they go to their vets.

[SusieL]

      Thank you for sharing the information Lainey.  Anything we can do to ease our     babies medical experiences is important.  I haven't had a chance to speak with my vet about whether this is available in the U.S.  I would assume it is - if nothing else at the veterinary schools.

It also warms my heart to hear from all of you here about the extra, extra care and concern for our little precious bundles.  After so much lately about the mistreatment of animals - it gives me hope.

Susie and her main man, Oliver

[Freedom (Sandie)]

Gee, isn't that something???  Thanks for explaining.  I always worry about the girls SO much more than the boys, and this will help make things easier on all of us!  I'll be sure to ask about it for future reference.  Even though I don't have, nor expect to have, a need for it for a LONG time, I want to ask about it.

One of my cats had a spay last year by a vet who trained in England, and he did it through the side, rather than the 'bottom.'  It is also much easier for the pet than the way our vets are trained here in the US; but the vet has to be trained and it is slower for the VET so they can't "do as many in one surgery session."  That is what MY vet told me when I asked him about what the other vet did.     And the girl is not as likely to get the saggy belly  with that method.  Sigh. 

[natalie]

Thank you so much for this thread, Lainey - I really hoping mum's Molly can have the new procedure and we're going to ask our Vet about it.

Even if he can't do it for her (Jersey tends to be a bit behind the times ), it may be possible that my baby girl can have it when her time comes (around the middle of next year, if Flurry has at least 2 girls so I can have one! ).

[EDDEL]

for this wonderful thread Lainey !  Like Natalie, I'm hoping by the time I have another girl (it'll be a few years at least ), laparoscopic spay will be available in Singapore!

[Raewync (Rae)]

Thanks for sharing Lainey,   NZ is usually last to get new procedures , but maybe if one day we have a baby girl   it will be here by then, I would definately pay the extra for this

[ArtsyCourtneySue]

Thank you for this new info!!! Poor Marie was drowsy for a few days...had about 7 days with the cone on her head and was all drugged up post-surgery- It was just awful!  Its nice to know that this new prcedure will be available

[lainey]

  It is 10 days since the op and Mitsy hasn't even got a scar 

I hope anyone that want's the surgery is able to find it soon...............until then I can do B&B 

Well actually I don't cook    but I can do B 

Lainey & Mitsy 

[Annie36]

Be careful Lainey, some of us may take you up on it.

[lainey]

Aww come on over just being a  and a bottle 

Lainey & Mitsy 

[mazza]

Poppy is going on 5th may for spaying.......at Lainey's vets,yesterday, i spoke to my vet about it and he had no problem with me getting this procedure done at another surgery.After seeing Mitsy it was truly amazing...anything to eleviate pain in our wee ones.

Marilyn

[EDDEL]

Marilyn, come 5th May we'll be here for you and Poppy .

[SuperMax (Susan)]

Poppy is going on 5th may for spaying.......at Lainey's vets,yesterday, i spoke to my vet about it and he had no problem with me getting this procedure done at another surgery.After seeing Mitsy it was truly amazing...anything to eleviate pain in our wee ones.

Marilyn

That is GREAT news, Marilyn!!  .. I'm so glad you are able to do this for Poppy.   What lucky fluffs Mitsy are Poppy are! 

[Hils]

Marilyn, I am so happy that Poppy will be having her spay done by Lainey's vet, you must be so relieved.

My eyes nearly popped out of my head at the length of that incision for the normal method!   Is that normal?  I never dreamt it would be practically the whole length of the tummy.   I am in two minds about getting Molly done at all now!   I know it is for her good in the end but the thought of that makes me feel sick.    Maybe if I wait for a bit longer the new procedure will be in place.   I'll have to have a chat with my vet about the new procedure and ask round all the vets here to see if they do it.

[lainey]

Marilyn, I am so happy that Poppy will be having her spay done by Lainey's vet, you must be so relieved.

My eyes nearly popped out of my head at the length of that incision for the normal method!   Is that normal?  I never dreamt it would be practically the whole length of the tummy.   I am in two minds about getting Molly done at all now!   I know it is for her good in the end but the thought of that makes me feel sick.    Maybe if I wait for a bit longer the new procedure will be in place.   I'll have to have a chat with my vet about the new procedure and ask round all the vets here to see if they do it.

Hils, I found that example on another site but if you read back quite few have posted that the incision wasn't that big.

Why not ask your groomer for some idea of the "local" procedure I bet she has seen quite a few.

 

Lainey & Mitsy 

[Hils]

That's a great idea Lainey - I'll have a chat with Fiona next time the twins go, in a couple of weeks!

[Schnoppy]

Thanks for the information Lainey. It's great that they've advanced to this method.  Invasive surgery in "always" painful and healing time - long.

Cheers!

Schnoppy

[Suzy83]

Hey Lainey After much searching, I have found a veterinary clinic in Holland that does this operation. Since we are trying to decide whether or not to have Lily spayed, it's nice to know this option is available I don't mind the travelling or the high cost. Anything for my baby girl

However, there are some things I'm worried about.... Since Mitsy's spay, have you (or Marilyn with Poppy, for that matter ) noticed any change in behaviour? Or weight gain? Or change in fur structure, like the hair becoming coarser?

What I'm most worried about is the change in personality. I love Lily and she's perfect in my eyes, I don't want her to change

[Annie36]

Personality changes with age no matter what. Spaying seems to keep their personality younger longer than not. As long as you do it young. But they will change some no matter what with age. Spaying now keeps her personality younger longer. from all that I can find on the net and through vets. So it is still a personal choice.

[lainey]

Hey Lainey After much searching, I have found a veterinary clinic in Holland that does this operation. Since we are trying to decide whether or not to have Lily spayed, it's nice to know this option is available I don't mind the travelling or the high cost. Anything for my baby girl

However, there are some things I'm worried about.... Since Mitsy's spay, have you (or Marilyn with Poppy, for that matter ) noticed any change in behaviour? Or weight gain? Or change in fur structure, like the hair becoming coarser?

What I'm most worried about is the change in personality. I love Lily and she's perfect in my eyes, I don't want her to change

Darling  I am so pleased you have found a vet you can get the Keyhole op with.

Trust me there has been  NO change to either Mitsy's personality  or energy levels    Her weight is just the same too.
Her coat is becoming a bit stiffer but that is the start of her adult coat coming in nothing to do with her spay. Lilys will too as she grows up.

Lily, will change spay or no spay. Mitsy isn't the same now as she was as a puppy  just as a 6 or 7 year old isn't like a toddler  .

Mitsy had a horrid season  and touch of the phantom pregnancy syndrome. I think if you experience that and don't want to breed then a spay is the only option.

Lily is still so little you have lot's of time to decide 

Have you any new Lily piccys for us 

Lainey & Mitsy 

[chichsmum]

Chich was speyed two months ago and only had three stitches despite undergoing traditional surgery. She was fully healed in about two and a half weeks and five days after surgery was pretty much back to normal. It was a much nicer experience for both of us than I had 15 years ago with my first fluff Zoe. She had good pain relief. I kept the cone on her head the whole 10 days as she was worrying her stitches the minute I took it off just to see what she would do.

Carolyn

[chichsmum]

I should add Chich is still  the same extremely energetic dog and it has not changed her fun loving personality in the least. We still have to go on a big walk every morning to help wear some of that energy off. We went for two walks in fact today.

Carolyn

[MattiesMom (MaryEllen)]

Wow!  I would definitely want that surgery if my girls weren't already done!  It's about time they updated this surgery!!!  Thanks, Lainey, for posting about this so that we are informed.  MaryEllen