FAQs

As for every procedure that requires general anaesthesia, the patient needs to be fasted prior to surgery. It is advisable to withhold the food for 6 hours before the admission. Water can be offered until the time the patient reaches the practice.

Yes. You will need to bring your pet in the morning, when they will receive an admission appointment involving a full general check. A blood test will be offered, to help to rule out internal medical conditions that can affect the general anaesthesia. When it is confirmed that the patient is suitable for the surgery they will be admitted. The surgery will be performed during the day. When the patient has recovered from the anaesthesia our nursing team will contact you for an update and to organise a discharge appointment  

Due to the special instruments and the high level of expertise that this surgery requires, we offer it in our main hospital on Saville Road, Dewsbury.

Your pet will receive general anaesthesia. Following this, a wide surgical site will be clipped and cleaned to guarantee sterility throughout the surgery. A special needle will be inserted close to the umbilicus and a medical gas will gently inflate the abdomen. At this point two mini-invasive incisions are performed to allow the abdominal access of the camera and of the instruments. The ovaries are identified and removed after sealing the vessels with advanced special forceps. The gas is gently removed from the abdomen and the incisions closed.

Usually the procedure is performed as previously described. Rarely some patients can have anatomical peculiarities that can require 3 instead of 2 mini-invasive accesses.

During the discharge appointment one of our nurses will guide you through the post operative care treatment tailored for your pet, and written instructions will be given. If you have any queries or concerns our nursing team will be happy to answer and help you.

While the keyhole spay is advisable for most female dogs, there can be some exceptions. One factor that can be decisive if the patient is suitable for a keyhole spay is the size. Sometimes very small breeds or severely overweight dogs the traditional procedure can be more advisable. Because overweight dogs have an increased risk also with the traditional procedure, a pre-surgical weight loss programme can be suggested. Particular conditions such as pyometra or uterine disease require a traditional technique.

The main disadvantage is that the procedure requires an extended clipping of the hair to guarantee the sterility of the surgical field. The clipping usually goes from the sides of the back to the last ribs and to all the ventral abdomen. Complications can happen with any procedure, but they are very rare. In the worst case, keyhole surgery is converted to the traditional spay technique, with no long-term consequences

The removal of the ovaries alone is less traumatic than the one combined with the uterus. Uterus disease in dogs are mainly hormonal dependent, so when the ovaries are removed the risk of uterine disease is very small.