Normal spay vs laparoscopic spay

[SpamhappyTootsie]

Our Lab is 10 months old and having her first and only season.
We are inclined towards a laparoscopic spay, but the vet we are registered with doesn’t do them. For unrelated reasons I am thinking of changing vets and there is one in our area that has done laparoscopic spays for years, so pretty experienced at them.
Does anyone have any experience of the less invasive spay, good and bad?

My last dog had a normal spay and when zooming around the house the following day bashed her wound and ended up in emergency vets very very poorly. Because it stemmed from spaying insurance wouldn’t cover treatment. It was really awful she had internal bleeding but was ultimately fine.

Laparoscopic seems offered a lot more widely now so when it came to my next dog we chose that. I think it was worth the price difference personally. Barely any sign of wound, no recovery period and returned to her zooming nutty self the same day.

I know most get spayed the traditional way and are fine but I just think the smaller the entry, the less trauma, the less recovery time the better. It’s what we’d want for any other family member if they had to have surgery so I chose the best for my dog too 🙂

As a human who’s had a laparoscopic hysterectomy I can tell you recovery was quicker, and pain was a lot less, than having open abdominal surgery!

I've been doing a bit of research ahead of time (our lab pup is only 6 months). If it was exactly the same op it would be a no brainer for me, but a laproscopic spay only removes the ovaries not the uterus as well. I need to do some more research about the pros and cons

@Gribbit987, thank you, I agree most normal spays go absolutely to plan. Our first dog was fine after the anaesthetic wore off and coped well with a cone, but this one is a permanent whirlwind and a right fusspot. I’d be worried she would hurt herself and cause complications like you experienced!
I’m surprised current vet doesn’t offer it as it’s a big practice (but not a national chain) whereas the one who does offer it is a single, small practice. They looked after our cats for many years so I know they are good and clients speak highly of them.

@MeetMeAtOurSpot exactly! As surgical procedures evolve I think I owe it to my dog to choose what I’d ideally prefer myself for recovery etc.

@tizwozliz

I've been doing a bit of research ahead of time (our lab pup is only 6 months). If it was exactly the same op it would be a no brainer for me, but a laproscopic spay only removes the ovaries not the uterus as well. I need to do some more research about the pros and cons

Yes, that’s a huge consideration too. I’m planning ahead for early Spring next year. I definitely don’t want her to have another season but she wasn’t physically mature enough at 6 months and the (slightly) increased risk of osteosarcoma when spaying a large breed pre-season isn’t a chance I’d take again (last dog died very suddenly of it).

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that her first season is late enough that we can spay 3 months after that. Her mum had her first season at 7 months though and if she follows in her footsteps we prob won't spay until after her second season.

@tizwozliz

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that her first season is late enough that we can spay 3 months after that. Her mum had her first season at 7 months though and if she follows in her footsteps we prob won't spay until after her second season.

It’s not been too bad so far. She’s even more of a Cuddle Monster than usual and I have a large collection of throws for the furniture I can just chuck in the washing machine. Pavement walks only in this glorious Nov sunshine are a complete pita though!

I didn’t realise the laparoscopic spay was different and only removed the ovaries. Hmm what would be the disadvantage here