Minimally Invasive Surgery. Less Pain. Faster Recovery.
At Animal Hospital of Rowlett, we offer advanced laparoscopic and laparoscopic-assisted surgery for dogs, including:
- Laparoscopic spay
- Preventive gastropexy
- Cryptorchid neuter for abdominal retained testicles
- Laparoscopic liver biopsy
Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical technique that uses a tiny camera and specialized instruments inserted through small openings in the abdomen. The camera provides a magnified view of internal organs and blood vessels, allowing our veterinarian to perform certain procedures with excellent visualization and significantly less manipulation of abdominal tissues.
For many patients, the result is less pain, smaller incisions and a faster, more comfortable recovery.
Laparoscopic Spay
A Better Way to Spay
A traditional spay is a safe and well-established procedure, but laparoscopic surgery gives us a less invasive option.
During a traditional spay, an abdominal incision is made and the reproductive tract is brought outside the body so the ovaries and, often, the uterus can be removed.
During a laparoscopic spay, our veterinarian uses a small camera and specialized instruments to visualize and remove the ovaries while they remain inside the abdomen. This eliminates much of the pulling and manipulation of tissues associated with traditional surgery.
Why Choose a Laparoscopic Spay?
Less Pain
One of the most important advantages is patient comfort. Veterinary studies have found significantly less postoperative pain following laparoscopic spay compared with traditional open surgery, with studies reporting reductions in pain of up to approximately 65%.
Smaller Incisions
Our laparoscopic spay is performed through two very small openings rather than one larger abdominal incision. The previous AHR material describes these ports as approximately 3/16 inch.
Less Internal Tissue Manipulation
The ovaries are visualized and removed internally rather than pulled through an abdominal incision. That means less stretching, manipulation and trauma to surrounding tissues.
Magnified Visualization
The laparoscopic camera gives the surgeon a magnified view of the ovaries, blood vessels and surrounding anatomy.
Faster Recovery
For an uncomplicated laparoscopic spay performed by itself, our postoperative activity restriction is typically only 2–3 days, compared with approximately 7–14 days following a traditional spay.
That can make a major difference—particularly for young, active dogs whose owners would otherwise have to keep them quiet for nearly two weeks.
What Is Actually Removed?
Our laparoscopic spay is typically an ovariectomy, sometimes abbreviated OVE.
Both ovaries are removed while the healthy uterus remains in place. Removing the ovaries eliminates the hormones responsible for heat cycles and reproduction, so your dog cannot become pregnant and will no longer experience heat cycles.
For healthy dogs, ovariectomy is an accepted spay technique and provides the same reproductive benefits as removing both the ovaries and uterus.
Preventive Laparoscopic-Assisted Gastropexy
Help Protect Your Dog From GDV — Before It Becomes an Emergency
Certain large, giant and deep-chested dogs are at increased risk for gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), commonly called bloat.
GDV occurs when the stomach becomes enlarged with gas or fluid and then twists. Once the stomach twists, blood supply can be compromised very quickly, making GDV a life-threatening surgical emergency.
A preventive gastropexy surgically attaches a portion of the stomach to the abdominal wall so it is much less likely to twist.
Gastropexy Prevents the Twist — Not the Bloat
It is important to understand that gastropexy does not prevent your dog’s stomach from ever becoming distended.
Its purpose is to prevent the stomach from rotating or twisting, which is the life-threatening component of GDV.
The American College of Veterinary Surgeons recommends considering prophylactic gastropexy for dogs at increased risk, including large and giant breeds, deep-chested dogs and dogs with a close relative that has experienced GDV.
Why Laparoscopic-Assisted Gastropexy?
Traditionally, preventive gastropexy required a much larger abdominal incision.
With our laparoscopic-assisted technique, the previous AHR protocol describes the procedure being performed through approximately a 1½-inch incision plus a small camera port of approximately 3/16 inch.
That means:
- Smaller incisions
- Less tissue trauma
- Less postoperative discomfort
- Excellent visualization of the abdomen
- Smaller scars
- A less invasive alternative to traditional open gastropexy
Which Dogs Should Consider Gastropexy?
We particularly recommend having the conversation for large, giant and deep-chested breeds, including dogs such as:
- Great Danes
- German Shepherds
- Standard Poodles
- Doberman Pinschers
- Weimaraners
- Irish Setters
- Bernese Mountain Dogs
- Saint Bernards
Breed is only one factor. Chest conformation, family history and other individual characteristics can also affect GDV risk.
Combine Procedures During One Anesthetic Event
For an at-risk dog already undergoing a spay or neuter, it is often an ideal opportunity to perform a preventive gastropexy at the same time.
Female dogs can have a laparoscopic spay and laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy during the same anesthetic event.
Male dogs can have a gastropexy performed along with their routine neuter.
This allows your dog to undergo anesthesia and recovery only once while addressing two preventive health needs.
Important: When a gastropexy is performed in addition to a spay or neuter, our postoperative activity restriction is approximately 14 days, even though an uncomplicated laparoscopic spay alone generally requires much less restriction.
Laparoscopic Cryptorchid Neuter
Minimally Invasive Surgery for an Abdominal Retained Testicle
Most male dogs do not need a laparoscopic neuter.
When both testicles are normally descended into the scrotum, a traditional neuter is already performed through a very small incision, so there is generally no meaningful benefit to using laparoscopy.
Laparoscopy becomes much more valuable when a dog is cryptorchid, meaning one or both testicles have failed to descend normally.
If the retained testicle is inside the abdomen, traditional surgery may require abdominal exploration and a larger incision to locate it.
With laparoscopy, our veterinarian can use the camera to examine the abdomen, identify the retained testicle and remove it through small surgical openings.
Benefits May Include:
- Smaller abdominal incisions
- Magnified visualization
- Easier identification of the retained testicle
- Less abdominal exploration
- Less tissue manipulation
- A more comfortable recovery
Retained testicles should be removed because they carry an increased risk of problems later in life, including testicular torsion and testicular cancer.
Laparoscopic Liver Biopsy
More Information With a Minimally Invasive Approach
Sometimes bloodwork and ultrasound can tell us that something is wrong with the liver—but they cannot tell us exactly what is happening.
A liver biopsy allows tissue to be examined microscopically and can be an important step in diagnosing conditions such as chronic hepatitis, abnormal copper accumulation and other liver diseases.
Laparoscopy gives us an excellent way to obtain those samples without performing a traditional open abdominal surgery.
Why Choose Laparoscopic Liver Biopsy?
A laparoscopic camera allows our veterinarian to directly examine the liver and surrounding abdominal structures rather than relying only on an ultrasound image to guide a needle.
It also allows the veterinarian to:
- Visually inspect multiple areas of the liver
- Target abnormal areas for biopsy
- Obtain larger diagnostic tissue samples
- Collect samples from multiple liver lobes when appropriate
- Directly observe the biopsy site for bleeding
- Avoid the larger incision required for traditional open abdominal surgery
This isn’t simply a convenience. The ACVIM consensus guidelines identify laparoscopy as the method of choice for liver biopsy in dogs with suspected chronic hepatitis because it allows direct evaluation of the liver and surrounding structures and allows large, targeted samples to be collected from multiple liver lobes.
Published veterinary research has also found laparoscopic liver biopsy to be an effective, minimally invasive diagnostic technique with a low complication rate.
Why Not Just Do a Needle Biopsy?
Ultrasound-guided needle biopsy can be appropriate for some patients and is even less invasive.
However, the sample obtained is smaller, the veterinarian cannot directly inspect the liver, and smaller samples can sometimes limit diagnostic accuracy. For certain liver diseases, obtaining larger samples from multiple areas can provide much more useful information.
Your veterinarian will determine which type of biopsy is most appropriate based on your dog’s condition, bloodwork, ultrasound findings and individual risk factors.
Why Choose Laparoscopic Surgery?
Less Pain
Smaller surgical openings and reduced tissue manipulation can significantly decrease postoperative discomfort. Multiple veterinary studies have found dogs undergoing laparoscopic reproductive surgery experienced less postoperative pain than dogs undergoing comparable traditional open procedures.
Faster Recovery
For an uncomplicated laparoscopic spay alone, our patients typically require just 3 days of significant activity restriction rather than 14 days after a traditional spay.
Smaller Incisions
Instead of one larger abdominal incision, laparoscopy uses small openings for the camera and surgical instruments.
Better Visualization
The high-definition camera magnifies the structures inside the abdomen, giving the surgeon a detailed view of organs, tissues and blood vessels.
Less Tissue Manipulation
Many procedures can be performed without pulling abdominal organs through a traditional surgical incision.
Advanced Capability Without Leaving Your Veterinary Hospital
Laparoscopic equipment allows us to perform procedures that historically required larger abdominal surgeries while keeping your pet’s care with the veterinary team you already know and trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big does my dog need to be for a laparoscopic spay?
- Laparoscopy can benefit small, medium and large dogs. Because of the size of our equipment, our current minimum weight for laparoscopic spay is 8 pounds.
How long will my dog need activity restriction after a laparoscopic spay?
- For an uncomplicated laparoscopic spay alone, we typically recommend 2–3 days of significant activity restriction, compared with approximately 7–14 days for a traditional spay.
- Your veterinary team will give you specific instructions for your dog.
Does my dog still need a cone?
- Yes. Smaller incisions are still incisions!
- We need to prevent licking until the skin has healed. Our existing protocol recommends protecting the incision for approximately 10 days and avoiding swimming during that period. Depending on your dog, alternatives to a traditional plastic e-collar may include an inflatable collar or recovery suit.
How old does my dog need to be for a preventive gastropexy?
- Our current protocol requires dogs undergoing laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy to be at least 6 months old.
Can we do a gastropexy at the same time as the spay?
- Yes. This is actually an ideal time to consider it for an at-risk dog. A laparoscopic spay and laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy can be performed during the same anesthetic event.
Can male dogs have a gastropexy?
- Yes. Gastropexy has nothing to do with sex—it is based on GDV risk. It can be performed along with a routine neuter or as a standalone procedure.
Does gastropexy mean my dog can never bloat?
- No. A gastropexy is designed to prevent the stomach from twisting, not necessarily from becoming distended.
- A dog that has had a gastropexy can still develop gastric distention and should still be evaluated promptly if concerning signs occur.
Why don’t you routinely perform laparoscopic neuters?
A routine male neuter is already minimally invasive and performed through a very small incision, so laparoscopy generally does not offer an advantage.
The exception is certain dogs with an abdominal retained testicle, where laparoscopy can be very beneficial.
Can you perform a laparoscopic liver biopsy even if my dog isn’t being spayed or neutered?
Yes. Liver biopsy is a diagnostic procedure and can be performed independently when medically indicated.
Whether laparoscopy is the best option will depend on your dog’s health, laboratory results, imaging findings and what information your veterinarian needs from the biopsy.
Is Laparoscopic Surgery Right for Your Dog?
Not every dog or every surgery requires a laparoscopic approach.
Our veterinarians consider your dog’s:
- Age
- Size and breed
- Anatomy
- Medical history
- Procedure being performed
- Anesthetic considerations
- Individual risk factors
Advanced technology is valuable when it improves the care we can provide—but the right surgery is ultimately the one that is safest and most appropriate for your individual pet.
Specialty-Level Care With the Doctors You Know and Trust
From minimally invasive preventive procedures to advanced diagnostics such as laparoscopic liver biopsy, our goal is to bring sophisticated surgical options to the same hospital where your pet already receives their everyday care.
Ask our team whether laparoscopic surgery is right for your dog.
