Spaying can have significant health benefits for your pet in addition to also preventing the unexpected arrival of kittens, or puppies, which can add to the homeless pet problem. There are effectively two types of spaying: traditional and laparoscopic.
Keyhole surgery, otherwise known as laparoscopic surgery, is a form of minimally invasive surgery. It is considered by many to be the gold standard for neutering female dogs in particular.
Traditional Spay. While veterinary experts agree on the benefits of laparoscopic spay, they have different views on which method provides the best protection to the patient. Adam says laparoscopic spay remains safest because there's less trauma to tissues, less risk of infection, and less bleeding.
In a laparoscopic spay, there are two small incisions. A traditional spay requires a 2-4 inch long incisions. Compare that to a lap spay that requires two separate incisions that are each only one-fifth-inch to two-fifth-inches long. You can see why laparoscopy is considered less invasive.
By incorporating the same techniques seen in human minimally invasive surgery, the laparoscopic spay or “lap spay” allows you to give your pet the same care you would expect for yourself. It is a safer, less painful, faster healing alternative to traditional spays.
This involves two small incisions made in the skin, through which the instruments and camera are inserted. The ovaries are removed leaving the uterus in place. As with conventional spays, we recommend that this procedure is performed either when your dog is 6 months of age or 2-3 months following a season.
The short answer is- yes it will. Spaying and neutering both involve making permanent changes to your dog's reproductive system, whether male or female. Dogs' hormonal systems change based on their reproductive system, just like in humans! Hormones are in part responsible for some of our behaviors.
Q: Should I let my dog have a heat before I spay her? A: Medically, it's better to spay your dog before their first heat. It greatly reduces the risk of mammary tumors. People who wait to spay their dogs until after their second heat greatly increase the risk of mammary tumors in their pets.
A Laparoscopic Spay Is Less Invasive
A traditional spay requires a 2-4 inch long incisions. Compare that to a lap spay that requires two separate incisions that are each only one-fifth-inch to two-fifth-inches long. You can see why laparoscopy is considered less invasive.
There are effectively two types of spaying: traditional and laparoscopic.
When should I spay my female dog? We recommend waiting until your dog is at least over 6 months and likely even older for larger dogs. The benefits are much more pronounced in larger dogs, but there is not a lot of difference for lap dogs.
An age of six to nine months of age may be appropriate for neutering or spaying a toy breed puppy or small breed puppy but a larger or giant breed may need to wait until they are near or over 12-18 months of age.
Recovery After Spaying Surgery
Most pets will start to feel better in 24 - 48 hours, but full recovery takes between 10 to 14 days. During this period you should aim to keep your pet calm and refrain from allowing them to jump, as this could cause the incision to reopen.
Length of The Spay Procedure
Spaying your dog or cat can last anywhere between 30 minutes and an hour, depending on the condition, size and species of your pet. This includes preparatory work for your pet and administering anesthesia before the procedure itself begins.
What is a laparoscopic (keyhole) spay? A laparoscopic spay is often described as a 'minimally invasive' procedure. This procedure involves making 2-3 small incisions into your dog's tummy and removing your dog's ovaries only using cameras and fine surgical instruments, this is known as an 'ovariectomy.
Most pets will stay at the hospital the night after they are spayed or neutered for observation. However, some pets may be allowed to go home that evening. Remember, your pet had a major surgery with anesthetic and they may be drowsy or may try to hide. This is when the crate can be very handy.
Hormones play a large role in your dog's emotional state, and when surgical procedures disrupt your pet's hormone levels, depression often follows. Dogs who've been spayed or neutered are the most likely to suffer hormonally triggered depression, thanks to the removal of their reproductive organs.
DOES SPAY/NEUTER CAUSE NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR CHANGES IN DOGS? Many guardians of spayed dogs report significant behavior changes (skittish, aggressive, anxious) after their dog fully recovers from the spay surgery.
Potential Side Effects of Spaying Your Dog
A small number of studies report that unspayed female dogs who are aggressive to family members may become more aggressive after they're spayed. This could be caused by a decrease in estrogen and oxytocin, both of which may have calming, anti-anxiety effects.
Keep your pet confined where it will be quiet and warm. DO NOT place it on a bed or other high place. Keep your pet away from other animals and children for at least 12 hours. Offer water and food in very small amounts for the first 12 hours.
The benefits of keyhole spay compared to a traditional open approach are: There is significantly reduced postoperative pain. Halves the recovery time compared to a traditional spey (4-5 days as opposed to 10-14 days) meaning your dog can go back to normal exercise quicker.
However, most people are unaware of the different types of spay procedures available. When both ovaries are removed it is an ovariectomy surgery (OVE) versus when both ovaries AND the uterus are removed in a surgery it is a ovariohysterectomy (OVH).