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Louisa finishes her training to be our 2nd vet trained in Keyhole surgery

Spaying female dogs is an important component of responsible dog ownership and forms a large part of our routine surgery day to day at the vets. We spay dogs for several reasons; for the physical health benefits and for behavioural benefits too. Spaying before the 2nd season dramatically reduces the incidence of mammary cancers, and it also prevents uterine infections, known as pyometras and accidental pregnancies too.   

The keyhole spay, also known as a laparoscopic or ‘lap’ spay is an advanced technique used instead of the traditional method, to neuter female dogs. 

The traditional spay involves making a long abdominal incision, exteriorising the ovaries and the uterus, then using instruments to clamp and ligate the associated blood vessels to allow safe removal. The body wall is then stitched back together in three layers and strict rest is prescribed (along with some pain relief!) by the vet. 

With the keyhole spay, we make three incisions that are each about one centimeter in length. These entrances into the abdomen are for the endoscope and two portholes for the instruments to allow us to visualise all the abdominal organs in situ without applying any tension to ligaments or vessels which is deemed less painful. We are able to grasp onto tissue surrounding the ovary and use an electrosurgical device to seal the blood vessels and attachments to remove the ovary safely. The three small holes are then stitched up and again rest and pain relief are required at home. 

The keyhole spays prove to be superior to the traditional technique, particularly due to the speed of recovery; the animals generally appear more comfortable earlier on in the recovery period. In addition the postoperative complication rate is both reduced and less severe.

For three years, we at Shepton and Wells Vets have offered keyhole spays, a technique fronted and performed by Martin alone but for the past 17 months, I have been assisting Martin, learning the ropes myself. Together we have spent many hours in the surgical theatre, Martin carefully, methodically and patiently training me up to be fully competent and over the last few months I have been performing them solo. Our keyhole spay team is now two vets strong! This means we can add to the service we provide by offering more available dates to you, our clients and consequently keep the waiting list shorter!