Neutering and Keyhole Spay

Neutering pets has many benefits:

• Preventing unwanted pregnancies
• Preventing dogs and cats wandering and in cats in particular reduce the incident of accidents on the roads.
• Health benefits such as preventing mammary tumours and uterine infections (pyometra) in female dogs in particular
• Preventing prostatic enlargement and testicular tumours in male dogs

We aim to neuter cats from around 4-6 months of age depending on weight – it can be performed earlier in certain cases.

The decision to neuter male dogs is partly dependant on behaviour and this is best discussed with one of our vets beforehand. Should you decide that you wish to neuter your male dog, we recommend the following: 

• Small dogs with an expected adult weight of less than 20kg can be done from 6 months old. 
• Medium to large breed dogs with an expected adult weight of 20-40kg can be neutered after 11 months of age 
• Giant breed dogs with an expected adult weight of over 40kg are best delayed until after 23 months of age.

We recommend all female dogs are neutered before they are two and a half years old unless they are used for breeding.  The age at which we recommend neutering female dogs is as follows:

• For small female dogs, with an expected adult weight of less than 20kg, we recommend spaying them after their first season. 
• For female dogs with an expected adult weight of over 20kg, we recommend delaying neutering until after 11 months.

In all cases, we wait until four months after their last season before undertaking the procedure, as this is the safest time to perform the operation.

Special considerations should be given to Rottweilers and Golden Retrievers of both sexes. These breeds are best discussed with the vet prior to making the decision to neuter. 

We are pleased to announce that the Stocks Veterinary Centre is now able to offer the laparoscopic technique for bitch spays in addition to the conventional surgical approach.

How are bitch spays traditionally performed?

In the conventional surgical technique, a midline incision is created approximately 5-10cm in length. The ovarian attachments to the body wall are broken down, the blood vessels are tied off to prevent bleeding and the ovaries are removed. Most frequently, the remaining uterus is left in tact (ovariectomy) as the hormones produced by the ovaries are what predispose a bitch to uterine infections (pyometra). However, if the the dog is older, if there are any obvious anatomical abnormalities, or at the owner's request, occasionally both the ovaries and the uterus will be removed (ovariohysterectomy).

How are laparoscopic bitch spays performed?

In this technique two or three small incisions are made into the abdomen (2-3cm). A special camera is passed through one of these ports and special instruments are then used to perform the surgery through the ‘keyholes’. Only the ovaries are removed in this technique as long as the uterus is healthy. Please be aware that the clip patch is quite large for these procedures, the whole abdomen and up both sides. Occasionally it is not possible to complete the procedure laparoscopically, and in these cases they can be converted to the conventional approach

What are the advantages of laparoscopic spaying?

• Less pain post operatively
• Quicker recovery time on the day of the operation
• Quicker return to exercise (5 days vs 10 days)
• Less trauma to tissues
• Generally considered safer
• Currently available for dogs heavier than 10kg only
• Smaller surgical wounds meaning less risk of problems with wounds