Keyhole Spay

[Jelinga]

I have just heard that Flicka has a date for her keyhole spay on 17th March. I had booked her in for a conventional spay at my vet, but got worried about her jumping and licking her wound, she is a great licker! She lets herself in and out of dog flap to do her toileting and doesn't understand about asking to go out. She does two lots of 'poos' overnight, so I guess that will be done inside! When I had her I spent hours in the garden waiting for her to pee so I could reward, never happened. She is so entrenched as a kennel dog, that she is in the habit of dog flap. So the dog flap was the final thing that made me contact another vet for keyhole spay. Anyone else had their bitches spayed this way?

 

[MellowYellow]

Yes, Poppy was spayed with a keyhole spay. It was great - she recovered very quickly, and actually after the first day did not need to wear her body suit as she is not a great licker.

 

[Jelinga]

Thanks @MellowYellow, that is very encouraging. I have had five bitches spayed over the years and not one needed a buster collar or body suit! I just have the feeling that this one will!

 

[Cath]

Anyone else had their bitches spayed this way?

Yes Annie was, You would not of believed she had anything done. She didn't need a collar either. Would always have my girls done this way.

 

[Jelinga]

Thanks @Cath. Flicka jumps on the sofa in the evening, just once to sleep the evening away. Would that be OK?

 

[MellowYellow]

Thanks @Cath. Flicka jumps on the sofa in the evening, just once to sleep the evening away. Would that be OK?

I would say that is not ideal, but if you cant stop her... maybe you could encourage her to step up on to the sofa, rather than jump?? You may find though that she is a little groggy still and happy to stay on a bed on the floor.

 

[Cath]

Could you lift her up or help her up onto the sofa @Jelinga, we were told try and not let Annie jump up for 4 days. It was very hard to stop her. Have a word with your vet about it.

 

[Jelinga]

Could you lift her up or help her up onto the sofa @Jelinga, we were told try and not let Annie jump up for 4 days. It was very hard to stop her. Have a word with your vet about it.

I could provide a step up. Rourke would never, ever go on the sofa and chose to lay on his bed at my feet! I am just a worry guts and will probably manage to keep her on the floor - I hope!

 

[Cath]

A step up would be a good idea, but you would have to help her down. Is she use to the step up. Maybe you could do
some training before hand. It's only for a few days, could you keep her in the kitchen for a few days.

Found this on line, I don't know if this help you or not Sonia

A dog's recovery from a keyhole spay, also known as a laparoscopic spay, is usually quick and smooth.

Post-operative care

• Pain medication: Your dog will likely be given a short course of anti-inflammatory pain medication.
• 
  
• Rest: Keep your dog quiet and confined to one room for the first 24 hours.
  
  
• 
  
• Exercise: Limit exercise for a couple of days, and keep very active dogs on a lead for 7 days.
  
  
• 
  
• Wounds: Check the wounds after 2 and 10 days. You can clean the wounds until they heal.
  
  
• 
  
• Clothing: Your dog may wear a bodysuit or buster collar to protect the wounds.

Recovery time

• Most owners report their dogs are back to normal within 24-48 hours.

You can resume training sessions or canine activity classes after a couple of days.

Keyhole spay benefits

• Keyhole spay is less invasive than traditional open surgery.
• It's about 65% less painful than a conventional spay.
• It has a faster recovery time.
• It has less post-operative infections or other complications.

https://www.parksidevets.com/pets/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/03/Parkside-Vets-Post-Operation-Care-Care-For-Your-Dog-After-Laparoscopic-Spay.pdf

 

[Jelinga]

@Cath, thank you, that is very helpful, more than I have found on other sites.

 

[Jelinga]

The instructions from the vet who did the keyhole spay say no walking, even in the garden, for at least three days, so confined to the house. I favour the instructions that @Cath posted for me. It is the most glorious day and I feel like a caged Lion stuck in the house, makes me feel very sluggish.

 

[Selina27]

I feel like a caged Lion stuck in the house,

Only for a short time though!
I take it Flicka has had the surgery?

 

[Jacqui-S]

no walking, even in the garden,

Surely this just means off lead?
So as long as she IS on the lead, I would say that should be OK?

 

[Candy]

Surely this just means off lead?
So as long as she IS on the lead, I would say that should be OK?

Joy's spay surgery wasn't keyhole, but the post op instructions for her were for on lead exercise only for a few weeks (can't remember exactly how many). It could be worth ringing the vet to check .

 

[Jelinga]

Only for a short time though!
I take it Flicka has had the surgery?

She had the surgery yesterday 17th March.

 

[Jelinga]

Joy's spay surgery wasn't keyhole, but the post op instructions for her were for on lead exercise only for a few weeks (can't remember exactly how many). It could be worth ringing the vet to check .

I have had five bitches spayed over the years, but cannot remember anything about it, how I coped etc.! I don't think they had to be on the lead that long, hope not!

 

[Joy]

Hope you've had a good night @Jelinga . Your vet's instructions sound very over-cautious. After Molly's spay, which was a full hysterectomy (and after her much more invasive lump removal) we walked her on lead twice a day for about 20 minutes each time for a week and then back to normal. (Actually after the lump it might have been 2 weeks I think, but I'm sure it was only a week after the spay.)

 

[Jelinga]

Thanks @Joy had a good night, I actually left the dog flap open and she let herself out twice for poos and pees. She is so full of ENERGY, I have such a job stopping the zoomies this morning. She is now chomping through a frozen kong, hope it doesn't give her toothache with the cold. The whole point of me having keyhole spay was a quick recovery and back to normal life, I think you are right, the vets are overcautious, but if anything goes wrong it will be my fault!

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

Thanks @Joy had a good night, I actually left the dog flap open and she let herself out twice for poos and pees. She is so full of ENERGY, I have such a job stopping the zoomies this morning. She is now chomping through a frozen kong, hope it doesn't give her toothache with the cold. The whole point of me having keyhole spay was a quick recovery and back to normal life, I think you are right, the vets are overcautious, but if anything goes wrong it will be my fault!

She sounds like she’s doing really well, hopefully as the days go on you’ll worry less and life will go back to normal.

 

[Jelinga]

Had the three day check this morning, the leaflet said she could now have 10 minute lead walks, but vet said no! Have to wait another two days..

I hate their car park (not my usual vet) and today I thought there was a space at the end, when I got there - not! I am not good at reversing at the best of times and this was very tight. Had to get the male receptionist to back it out for me!