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Keyhole spay- is this normal?

4 replies

SirVixofVixHall · 23/04/2015 22:55

My dog was spayed today. She has a heart condition so had to go to a vet hospital a long way from here, DH took her and so I haven't been able to chat to the vet myself. It was a keyhole spay, as that was supposed to be less invasive- i was expecting scars much like the ones my friend has from her keyhole hysterectomy, or smaller, but the scars are much larger than I was expecting, the biggest is at least an inch and a half, I was expecting a cm at the most. Is this normal for keyhole surgery? She has two scars I think, I don't want to look at her too closely, there may be three. It that what one would expect?
She is very zonked out and quiet too. (Op was at about 1pm, DH has only just got in with her). I expected subdued of course, but perhaps not this blank. I'm really worried now.

OP posts:

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yesbutnobut · 24/04/2015 20:05

Hi, my dog had a keyhole spay and she also had 2 scars. I can't remember the size of them but I don't think they were as small as a cm. She was initially really knocked out but she definitely bounced back within 24 hours, Although it cost more I was pleased I'd chosen this option as my dog did recover very quickly.

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lougle · 24/04/2015 20:28

I think 3 scars make sense. In human surgery, you'd have one port (plastic tube that goes into the hole to keep it open, so that you can put things in and out) for the camera, one for gas inflation, and 1 for the instrument.

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lougle · 24/04/2015 20:30

Also, if you think of the shape, the hole had to be quite long to stretch and accommodate a circular port.

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SirVixofVixHall · 24/04/2015 21:23

Yes, i imagine that must be it then. There is one bigger scar, and two small ones. She looked in such a state last night that I felt absolutely terrible for having put her through it. She'd had hours in a car too which can't have been much fun. She was slightly brighter this morning, ate her breakfast, had a wee in the garden. And has improved through the day, she isn't jumping about as normal obviously, and she is quieter than she would be, but she did pick up a slipper to play with an hour or so ago so she must be feeling more herself. Hopefully she will be a lot better tomorrow. I still feel dreadfully guilty though...She is shaved all over her underneath, from her elbows back, as she needed ultrasound on her heart. 3 of her legs are shaved. So she does look very pathetic indeed. She is licking her wounds very slightly but hopefully won't need the horrible plastic collar as she isn't a dog that would take that at all well.....Thanks for the posts.