Minimally Invasive & Laparoscopic Surgery for Pets in Ogden, Utah
At Wasatch Hollow Animal Hospital, we’re proud to specialize in minimally invasive surgery, including laparoscopic procedures that reduce pain, speed recovery, and improve outcomes for your pet. This advanced surgical approach allows our veterinarians to perform precise procedures through tiny incisions using specialized instruments and a high-definition camera.
Laparoscopic surgery provides a detailed internal view without the need for large incisions. Common minimally invasive procedures include spays, biopsies, and exploratory surgeries—all performed with less trauma to surrounding tissues and greater comfort for your pet.
Because these surgeries are minimally invasive, pets experience shorter recovery times, reduced post-operative pain, and a lower risk of complications. Our team has extensive experience with laparoscopic techniques and is dedicated to providing the safest, most comfortable surgical experience possible.
If your pet needs surgery and you’re seeking a gentle, high-tech alternative to traditional methods, contact Wasatch Hollow Animal Hospital in Ogden or call us today to schedule a consultation about minimally invasive and laparoscopic surgery.
What is Laparoscopy?
Laparoscopy, or minimally-invasive surgery, is a way to explore the organs of your pet’s abdomen using only tiny key-hole incisions. Using these incisions (generally 3/16”), we can insert a camera and our surgical instruments to perform surgery. Laparoscopy is a safer method of surgery because everything that is done is under direct magnified visualization. Organs, such as your pet’s ovaries, do not need to be pulled out of the body to allow the surgery to be performed so there is less trauma to the internal structures of your pet’s abdomen. Recent studies have shown the use of laparoscopy to be a less traumatic and less painful alternative to traditional procedures, such as a spay.
Traditional Spays
With traditional spays, a 1–4” incision is made in the abdominal wall. The ovaries are then blindly hooked and the ovarian ligament is torn from the body wall. This tearing causes pain and can cause bruising. In traditional spays, most vets also unnecessarily remove the uterus. Due to the location of the uterus and the attempt to minimize the surgical incision, significant tension is placed on the body of the uterus which may cause trauma and bleeding.
LAP Spays
A LAP spay is short for a Laparoscopic OVE (ovariectomy). This is a minimally-invasive spay that removes the ovaries from healthy dogs and has been shown to be a less painful alternative to traditional spays. With this technique, 2 small keyhole incisions are made into the abdomen and our laparoscopic equipment is used to perform the surgery. The ovarian ligament is not torn from the body but carefully cut and cauterized with virtually no bleeding or pain. No tension is placed on the uterus (which is not removed). Because of the enhanced visualization, there is less of a chance of leaving ovarian tissue behind. Laparoscopic spays have been shown to offer 65% less pain than traditional spays which means a faster recovery and less trauma to their body. Activity restriction is only recommended for the first 2–3 days after a LAP spay versus 7–14 days for a traditional spay.
Preventative Gastropexy
Laparoscopy is also a less invasive alternative for preventative gastropexy. This surgery is the only proven method for preventing Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), which is common in deep-chested dogs such as Great Danes, German Shepherds, Irish Setters, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Saint Bernards, Weimaraners, and Boxers. A preventative gastropexy anchors the stomach to the body wall, preventing torsion. Normally this surgery requires a long incision of at least 8–12 inches, but with laparoscopy-assisted surgery, the incision is less than 2 inches.
Cryptorchid Neuter
Laparoscopy is also a less invasive alternative for a cryptorchid neuter. A cryptorchid male is an animal whose testicles (one or both) have not descended into the scrotum. Finding these testicles in the abdomen can be difficult and requires a large incision to safely perform the surgery. Laparoscopy allows great visualization and magnification of the internal organs without the need for a large incision.
What are the Advantages of Laparoscopy?
Laparoscopic spays have been found to cause 65% less pain compared to traditional open spays.
The entire surgery is performed through two tiny incisions (generally 3/16”). Smaller incisions reduce pain, recovery time, and complications.
A magnified view of internal organs allows precise cauterized incisions with no tearing or bruising.
Laparoscope-assisted gastropexy can be performed with a 1.5-inch incision instead of an additional 8–12 inch incision needed in traditional gastropexy.
Laparoscopy Surgery for Pets in Ogden FAQs
Yes. Even though the incisions are tiny, they can still become infected if your pet licks them. However, pets are generally less interested in these smaller incisions compared to traditional spays due to reduced pain.
Only 2–3 days of activity restriction are recommended after a LAP spay, compared to 7–14 days for a traditional spay. However, if your pet also has a preventative gastropexy performed, they’ll need about 3 weeks of restricted activity for proper healing.
No. Studies show no benefit in removing the uterus in young, healthy animals. European veterinarians have long performed ovariectomies (removal of ovaries only), which result in less pain and faster recovery.
No. Pyometra is hormonally driven by progesterone from the ovaries. Once the ovaries are removed, the condition cannot occur.
No. A laser spay only uses a laser to make the skin incision. The main source of pain in traditional spays comes from tearing the ovarian ligament, which still occurs in laser spays. Laparoscopy avoids that entirely.
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