Laparoscopic spaying

[Michen]

For various reasons (change in circumstances mean we will be living in a more urban area and I’m unlikely to have a litter from my bitch in the next few years) I need to get my bitch spayed. I think.

Can anyone advise how the recovery was for a laparoscopic spaying, I assume it’s worth the extra £££. My own vet practise doesn’t do it laparoscopically as he says you can’t do it on small breeds though a spaniel is probably ok. Are the benefits enough to be worth sending her to a new practice for it?

Any behavioural or physical changes I need to look out for?

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I found that mine recovered quickly from a "normal spay" where they actually had to go a bit deeper than anticipated and she had a lot of bleeding small blood vessels, so then she retired staples instead of stitches. If my preferred practice didn't do keyhole surgery, but I felt most comfortable with them, then I'd just opt for a normal spay procedure

I don't have experience with anything other than the usual spay that isn't keyhole, but I know others here do, so hopefully they'll chime in.

I felt as though my Lab was feeling good too quickly, tbh ? no behavior or any other changes with her at all. She's 3 and just had it done earlier this summer.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I had my youngest done laparoscopically and it went fine. She did react a bit to one of the stitches but I have had that in the past with standard spays. I still gave her the same length of time off as the others that were done normally. Not really sure there was enough benefit to warrant the extra cost.

 

[Michen]

Ok thanks both. I would rather she went to my normal practice. But whatever is best for her and happy to spend the money if it really makes a difference, my vet doesn’t seem to think there’s much in it.

 

[Clodagh]

I don’t see the point in it, so cannot comment really as I’ve only experience of normal spay. But having been through many normal ones, it’s 2 weeks of being careful then completely back to normal. I’m not sure even with a laparoscopic I’d risk letting them hoon about sooner.

 

[Clodagh]

As for side effects, spaniels tend to end up with awful fluffy coats. I have a friend who’s are as beautiful as before and she swears by daily grooming , mainly with her hands.

 

[Michen]

I don’t see the point in it, so cannot comment really as I’ve only experience of normal spay. But having been through many normal ones, it’s 2 weeks of being careful then completely back to normal. I’m not sure even with a laparoscopic I’d risk letting them hoon about sooner.

Dont see the point of spaying or a laparoscopic spay?

I thought the coat thing was more for dogs. Shame She has a lovely coat.

eta obviously you mean laparoscopic as re read and you wouldn’t have spayed them if you didn’t see the point ?

 

[Errin Paddywack]

It was my own vets that did my bitch, wouldn't have sent her anywhere else just to get that type of spay.

 

[Thistle]

A Lap spay leaves the uterus behind I believe, surely one of the main benefits of spay is to remove risk of pyometra, surely this is still a rsisk after a lap spay. Even after a lap spay the dog still has the be rested, I'd rather go for a full spay and rest and extra week.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I have always had normal spays done on my bitches, and have never had any issue with recovery, it's just a question of keeping them quieter for a couple of weeks, not too difficult I find. The spay scars have always been tiny, amazing on a big dog like a GSD so I would always go for a full spay with a vet I know and trust over going for a laparoscopic with a new vet. As I understand it the main advantage of lap spays is for working/competition dogs which can be back doing whatever in a shorter time.

 

[Michen]

Ok thanks all. Think I will go for a normal spay with my vet then. Now to find a two week period to have her done where I’m in the country ?‍

 

[HeyMich]

We had our spaniel cross spayed normally earlier this year, and honestly, the incision was so small it could have been key hole. It was so neat and tidy, not like the huge belly wound we had the last time we had a bitch spayed, some 15 years ago. This time, normal chaos, I mean business, resumed within 10 days and her coat/behaviour hasn't changed at all since.

 

[Michen]

We had our spaniel cross spayed normally earlier this year, and honestly, the incision was so small it could have been key hole. It was so neat and tidy, not like the huge belly wound we had the last time we had a bitch spayed, some 15 years ago. This time, normal chaos, I mean business, resumed within 10 days and her coat/behaviour hasn't changed at all since.

Thank you that’s great to hear. Hope I’m doing the right thing on all accounts.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Ok thanks all. Think I will go for a normal spay with my vet then. Now to find a two week period to have her done where I’m in the country ?‍

Don't forget timing is quite important when spaying, ideally mid way between seasons.

 

[Michen]

Don't forget timing is quite important when spaying, ideally mid way between seasons.

She usually only has one a year (December) when I drop her to her holiday home!

So she’d be about 3/4 of the way through…

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

A Lap spay leaves the uterus behind I believe, surely one of the main benefits of spay is to remove risk of pyometra, surely this is still a rsisk after a lap spay. Even after a lap spay the dog still has the be rested, I'd rather go for a full spay and rest and extra week.

We had one of ours spayed recently, full hysterectomy, done the traditional way. We don't routinely spay but she was having terrible problems with her hormones, so we wanted the lot gone anyway. 'Daycare Dog' had a false pregnancy after her 1st season, so has also just been spayed the traditional way. Our vets only do the laparotomy at the hospital at the main branch and it costs twice as much. Like others I can't see the benefit. Both of ours had 2 weeks of very limited exercise, which I would expect them to need, with either method. I do know someone whose dog had a laparotomy spay and she said it was terrible not being able to see how the healing was going.

 

[JoannaC]

Our Labrador has just had the Lapaoscopic spay, my husband was against having her spayed but agreed to this as less intrusive. You wouldn't know she had had anything done, I just kept her separate from the loony boy but the cut was tiny and healed beautifully. She was just a bit sleepy from the anaesthetic for a couple of days. With regard to pyometra my understanding is that as she won't have any more seasons the uterus won't keep thickening. If her uterus had been in a bad way they would have reverted to a normal spay. I'm happy with the results and recovery being quicker has made it easer as my two are very active.

 

[SAujla]

My understanding is that the ovaries are responsible for things like pyometra and once they are removed the risks go with them. I have my dog booked in for a laparascopic spay later this year. I thought about it a lot and my vets do it as well so that made it an easier decision (although certainly not an easy decision)

 

[lozzles]

I spoke to the vet before I had ours spayed. Her opinion was for small dogs there was no real benefit to the lap spay but ours was only 8.5 kilos. Our retriever had the lap spay and it was a good recovery time. Incidentally in her case they also saw kidney issues as part of the lap spay so it does have some other advantages.

My very active bitch recovered really well after her traditional spay. We kept her on the lead for exercise for the recommended time. Also used one of those recovery jumper outfits rather than a cone so much nicer for her. She had a phantom pregnancy after her first season, was miserable with the season and we had no intention of breeding her so it was an easy decision.

 

[misst]

Both my small JRTs were spayed in the traditional way. Both recovered well. One was about 18 years ago now but my present bitch was done 18 months ago and my vet recommended a traditional spay. He did say if I wanted lap spay he could recommend somewhere but I have trusted my vets for many years. He also said a small dog (5 - 6kg) could be difficult for a person with large hands to spay but his partner had very small hands and always did the little dogs! No idea if this is really true.
I was told that a lap spay has very few advantages and certainly in people there are still possible complications for any intrabdominal procedure.

 

[babymare]

As for side effects, spaniels tend to end up with awful fluffy coats. I have a friend who’s are as beautiful as before and she swears by daily grooming , mainly with her hands.

Our spaniel now needs regular clipping since being speyed. If we don’t she ends up looking like Shaun the sheep with spindle legs coming out of a long fluffy body ?She was very short smooth coated prior lol Hubby does a great job clipping her though

 

[AmyMay]

Can’t speak for other breeds, but Daisy’s coat is as beautiful as it was before she was spayed.

 

[meleeka]

My vet said there’s not much difference with small dogs as the wound isn’t much bigger in a normal spey. I had it for a GS and that was definitely worth it. she was back to normal 12 hours later.

 

[Michen]

Our spaniel now needs regular clipping since being speyed. If we don’t she ends up looking like Shaun the sheep with spindle legs coming out of a long fluffy body ?She was very short smooth coated prior lol Hubby does a great job clipping her though

Argh this makes me sad!!! But I can’t not spay her for the sake of her coat I suppose ? maybe she will need less jackets in the winter haha.

 

[lozzles]

Our spaniel was no longer manageable with hand stripping alone once she was spayed but still looked lovely clipped

 

[Michen]

I don’t have to do anything with mine atm. Short silky smooth coat.

 

[Supercalifragilistic]

Argh this makes me sad!!! But I can’t not spay her for the sake of her coat I suppose ? maybe she will need less jackets in the winter haha.

Our spaniel was spayed about 18 months ago. She still has a beautiful fine silky coat, hopefully yours will be the same.

 

[Michen]

Our spaniel was spayed about 18 months ago. She still has a beautiful fine silky coat, hopefully yours will be the same.

thank you! I hope so.

 

[ycbm]

Excuse me butting in, but I don't understand vets saying they can't do it on a small dog? My last female cat was a tiny keyhole with glue, no stitches, surely that's at least a difficult as a small dog?
.

 

[Michen]

This is what RVC say. Weird as I assume your cat weighs less than 8kg!!