Penny has just been for her booster and we discussed our options regarding speying. I was always planning to have her speyed, but I didn't have a specific time in mind. However now that we've discovered that she is going to be one of those dogs who has a season every 3-4 months I want to get her done sooner rather than later as her hormones seem to be sending her haywire and having a season so often is going to mess with her training. The vet recommend we Spey her 9-10 weeks after the discharge stops, instead of the usual 12 weeks because she comes into season so often. My practice offers both kinds of procedure - the traditional Spey where the ovaries and womb are removed, and also the keyhole procedure where only the ovaries are removed. I have no experience with the keyhole procedure as all the rescue dogs I have worked with have had the traditional Spey done as it is cheaper. I know the recovery time is shorter with keyhole and they only have three small wounds instead of the large incision. But that's all I know about it. I worry, with the keyhole procedure, that because only the ovaries are removed this still leaves her with the risk of a pyometra, and with a traditional Spey this risk is eliminated altogether. What are your experiences with both kinds of Spey? I know all the complications associated with a traditional Spey, having experienced them all during my time working in kennels, but I know relatively little about keyhole procedures. Pros and cons?
Re: Traditional Spey Vs. Keyhole I have had several bitches spayed, most the usual hysterectomy, but one abroad had the keyhole method . I also worried about Pyometra but was told that because no eggs were being produced , and therefore no thickening of the lining of the uterus , the risk was extremely slight, if at all . When Millie was spayed in January , she had the usual spay as my Vet didnt offer keyhole, she recovered well with no problems . Having said this , had I had the option , I would have gone for keyhole as by bitch who did have it recovered so much more quickly .
Re: Traditional Spey Vs. Keyhole Hi Lauren, this is my report on the laprascopic spay - I had one of my cockers done recently
Re: Traditional Spey Vs. Keyhole My vet does the tiniest wound when she spays a bitch, just under an 1". I remember my first dog done in 1972 and done by a "large animal vet" and the poor dog had a very long wound cobbled up by thick nylon. Times change. If I had had the opportunity of a keyhole I would probably have chosen it.
