Why Choose a Laparoscopic Spay at Roncy Village for Your Pet?
Roncy Village Veterinary Clinic is proud to be on the cutting edge of veterinary medicine as the second clinic in Toronto to offer laparoscopic spays, a minimally invasive way of having your pet spayed. Only 2 tiny incisions are required, each less than 5 millimeters in size. These tiny incisions mean that recovery time is minimal, with most pets getting back to their normal routine in just a couple of days.
Laparoscopic spays are also associated with minimal pain due to the small incision sizes, the removal of just the ovaries (versus both the ovaries and uterus for a traditional spay), and the cauterization of tissue prior to cutting it. By cauterizing tissue, nerve endings and blood vessels are sealed, meaning that very few pain sensations will be transmitted, and a minimal amount of bleeding will occur. In fact, a study in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association concluded that laparoscopic spays are associated with up to 65% less pain than traditional spays.
Please note that due to high demand, we are currently limiting laparoscopic spays to dogs over 5kg, as larger dogs are the patients that derive the greatest benefit from laparoscopic spays.
What Happens During a Laparoscopic Spay?
The procedure begins with your pet being fully examined by one of our veterinarians to ensure that they are healthy and that there are no contra-indications to either anesthesia or surgery. A small blood sample will then be taken in order to assess internal organ function and make sure that the anesthetic drugs we use will be metabolized appropriately.
On the day of surgery your pet will be anesthetized and the surgical area will be shaved and prepared aseptically. Once in surgery, their abdomen is gently inflated with carbon dioxide to allow an unobstructed view of the abdominal organs, which can then be manipulated. A small 5 millimeter incision is then made into the abdomen to allow introduction of the camera that will be used to visualize organs. Following this, a second incision is made, through which the instruments are placed that will be used to perform the procedure.
First the ovaries are identified, elevated and suspended next to the abdominal wall. An instrument is then introduced that both cuts and cauterizes tissue. The tissue surrounding the ovary that attaches it to the body is cauterized and cut away, freeing it so that the ovary can then be removed through one of the small incisions. After removing the ovary, the instrument is re-introduced and the procedure is repeated with the ovary on the opposite side. Once both ovaries are removed, the abdomen is deflated. A single suture is placed to close the body wall and the skin incisions are so small that they are closed with simple tissue glue. The patient is typically up and fully alert within just a couple of hours, and is ready to go home that same evening. Unlike the 2 weeks of enforced quiet time to heal after an invasive traditional spay surgery, pets can get back to many of their normal activities as soon as 2-3 days after a laparoscopic spay – particularly helpful with active puppies!
Laparoscopic Spay Videos
Please click here to watch Dr. Mark Kinghorn perform an actual laparoscopic spay surgery.
