Highcroft is one of the first veterinary practices in the country to offer laparoscopic, or "keyhole", bitch spays.

This is a safer, less invasive method of surgery that will give your pet much smaller wounds, less post operative pain and discomfort and a quicker recovery.

In a conventional spay a large incision is made to allow the surgeon good visualisation and handling and both the uterus and the ovaries are removed (ovariohysterectomy). Although this is an everyday procedure, it is major surgery as anyone who has had a hysterectomy will know!

However with keyhole surgery very small holes are made through the skin and muscles into the body (usually around 5mm diameter) through which a camera and long, slender, surgical instruments can be introduced to perform the surgery inside the body with maximum precision and minimal invasion.

The surgeon has excellent visualisation through the camera during the operation and can be certain that there are no complications before the wounds are stitched.

A keyhole spay is far less traumatic and only the ovaries are removed (ovariectomy).

There is no difference in the effect of the two operations and both techniques will stop the bitch from coming into season (what's more the uterine disease pyometra is still avoided as ovaries are required to contract the disease).

Please contact us for more information.