Arranging for your dog to be spayed is one of the biggest decisions you will make during her early life, and it is only natural to want the gentlest option available. That is why we are pleased to now offer laparoscopic spays, often known as keyhole spays or lap spays, at our practice in Newmarket.
This modern technique uses the same approach as keyhole surgery in human medicine. Rather than opening the abdomen through one larger incision, our vets work through a few tiny openings, guided by a camera that shows the surgical area in magnified detail on a screen. The result is a procedure that is every bit as effective as a traditional spay, with a noticeably easier recovery for your pet.
What Is a Laparoscopic Spay?
During a traditional spay, the ovaries and uterus are removed through a single incision in the abdomen that may be several centimetres long. A laparoscopic spay achieves the same outcome in a far less invasive way.
Our surgeon makes two or three small incisions, each usually under a centimetre. A slim camera called a laparoscope is passed through one of these openings, while precision instruments are used through the others. In most cases only the ovaries are removed, a procedure known as an ovariectomy, which prevents seasons, unwanted pregnancy and serious conditions such as pyometra just as reliably as a full traditional spay. Blood vessels are sealed as the surgery proceeds, so bleeding is kept to an absolute minimum.
If you are still weighing up whether neutering is right for your pet, our neutering page explains the benefits and the best timing for dogs, cats and rabbits.
The Benefits of a Keyhole Spay
Pet owners choose a lap spay for the same reasons human patients choose keyhole surgery whenever it is available. The benefits include:
- Smaller incisions, which cause less trauma to the muscles and tissues of the abdomen
- Less post-operative pain, with published research suggesting dogs spayed laparoscopically can experience up to 65 per cent less pain than those having open surgery
- A faster recovery, with most dogs returning to normal exercise in around half the time needed after a traditional spay
- A lower risk of wound complications such as swelling, infection or breakdown, because the openings are so small
- Greater surgical precision, as the camera gives our vets a clear, magnified view throughout the procedure
- A more comfortable recovery at home, with less need for prolonged rest or a lengthy spell in a protective collar
What Happens on the Day
Your dog will usually be admitted in the morning, and one of our team will settle her in and answer any last questions before surgery. The procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic in our sterile operating theatre, where her heart rhythm, breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels and core temperature are monitored continuously from the first moment to the last.
Most patients are ready to go home the same afternoon, and many owners are surprised by how bright their dog seems that evening. We will book a post-operative check before you leave and talk you through some simple aftercare, which is usually little more than short lead walks and keeping an eye on the small wounds while they heal.
Is a Laparoscopic Spay Right for Your Dog?
Keyhole spays are suitable for most female dogs, and larger or deep-chested breeds often gain the greatest benefit. There are some situations where a traditional spay remains the better option. Very small patients can be harder to operate on with keyhole instruments, and if the uterus itself needs to be removed, for example because of infection, open surgery is the safer route. We also prefer not to operate while a dog is in season.
As a general guide, we recommend spaying either before a first season or at least three months after a season has finished, although weight, breed and behaviour all play a part in the decision. Our vets will examine your pet, talk through both options honestly and help you choose the approach that suits her best.
Spay Prices and the Pet Health for Life Plan
We believe in being upfront about costs, which is why our standard neutering fees are published on our procedures and pricing page. If you would like a quote for a laparoscopic spay, our reception team will be glad to help over the phone.
Members of our Pet Health for Life plan also receive a discount on neutering, alongside savings on vaccinations, parasite control and routine health checks throughout the year.
View our procedures and pricing
Discover the Pet Health for Life plan
Talk to Us About a Keyhole Spay in Newmarket
Lida Vets is a small, personable, RCVS accredited practice in Grosvenor Yard, just off Newmarket High Street, caring for pets across Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. If you would like to find out whether a laparoscopic spay is the right choice for your dog, call us on 01638 560000 and our friendly team will be happy to advise you, or register your pet with us online to get started.
