We are very pleased to be able to introduce laparoscopic neutering at Albavet Kirkcaldy. The procedure can be performed on patients registered with Albavet Veterinary Surgeons already or animals being referred by their regular practice to us specifically for this procedure.
Neutering is the removal of an animals reproductive organ. In females, ‘spaying’ traditionally involves making a mid line incision to allow visualisation and surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus.
Benefits of spaying:
- No unwanted offspring
- No seasons
- If neutered before her second season the chances of developing certain types of mammary tumours is significantly reduced
- Pyometra (infection in the womb), a life threatening condition, is avoided by removing the ovaries which are required to develop this condition
Risks of spaying:
Any form of neutering is a surgical procedure and therefore carries some risks such as haemorrhage, infection, swelling and anaesthetic complications. Usually neutering is happening in young and healthy animals so the risks are low.
Keyhole surgery is commonly performed in humans and has now been adapted for operations in animals.
The laparoscopic spay is the most commonly performed surgery and is conducted through two or three small incisions (5-10mm in size) into the animals abdomen which allow small instruments and a camera into the body to perform the surgery. Only the ovaries are removed and then the incisions are closed with dissolvable stitches. The operation is performed on a day-patient basis with most animals going home on the same afternoon/evening.
Conventional surgical spaying usually involves removal of the uterus together with the ovaries. The keyhole operation only involves removal of the ovaries which allows for a quicker, less involved and less painful procedure. Leaving the uterus behind does not cause any increased risk of incontinence or infection in the womb when compared to conventional surgery.
Advantages of ‘key-hole’ surgery over conventional surgery:
- Reduced pain after the surgery
- Shorter recovery time- about three days post operative care is needed
- Smaller wounds
- Fewer stitches
- Reduced risk of post operative complications
Disadvantages:
- Increased cost – the cost of keyhole neutering is higher than conventional neutering due to requiring specialist equipment and specially trained veterinary surgeons.
Pre-operative instructions:
- Please don’t feed your pet from 9pm the night before the operation and bring her in for a morning admission appointment (this will be pre-booked between 8-9am).
- Please take her out to the toilet before bringing her in so she is as comfortable as possible while with us.
- If you are coming to us from another practice your vet will need to send through a medical history to us ahead of the appointment.
- As with humans undergoing the same surgery we ask for permission to convert to a traditional approach during the procedure if necessary. This would only be if any unforeseen circumstances arise.
- As with conventional spays, we recommend performing the surgery two to three months after a season.
Currently, we are only undergoing keyhole spay procedures on dogs.
Speak to us today to book an appointment or to find out more on 01592 641333 or email Kirkcaldy@albavet.co.uk
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