Keyhole Surgery

Becky was one of the first vets in Scotland to perform keyhole surgery 10 years ago. She has extensive experience in these procedures, meaning that they are efficient and safe for your pets. A keyhole spay at Heritage Vets takes no longer, and if often faster, than an open spay.

Keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery is minimally invasive surgery, using a camera and long instruments to access the body via 0.5-1.2cm incisions. It offers great benefits for our animal patients, in a similar way to what we see in human surgery.

Advantages:

  • Faster recovery time (keyhole spay only requires 2-3 days rest!)
  • Significantly reduced pain post-operatively
  • Smaller incisions
  • Usually no need for a buster collar (no stitches in the skin to be chewed)
  • Less risk of complications during and after the surgery, such as bleeding or infections
  • Safer surgery as the surgeon can see a clear view of the organs

Keyhole spay:

  • The most common procedure we perform
  • Allows us to spay dogs and cats through much smaller incisions
  • Much less painful as less tension placed on the internal ligaments
  • We examine the uterus with the camera, if it looks normal we leave it behind. It will not cause any issues as the ovaries (which produce the troublesome hormones) have been removed – so there is NO risk of pyometra
  • If the uterus is abnormal, we can usually still remove is with the ovaries in a minimally invasive way

Other procedures available for dogs and cats:

  • Cryptorchid castration
  • Ovarian remnant removal
  • Liver biopsy
  • Laparoscopic assisted gastropexy (deep chested breeds, can be performed at the time of spay or castration)
  • Exploration of the abdomen or chest

We can accept referrals for these cases – if you are a veterinary surgeon, please get in touch to enquire.

For more information, or to book in for a keyhole procedure, please call or email us!