Spaying: Laser vs. Scalpel

[DJ30]

I plan to get Angel spayed when she's at least 8 months old, which will be on Sept. 6. She was 2 lb. 12 oz. on July 4. Is this a safe weight? I'm sure she'll weigh more by the time she has the procedure done. I'm also going to ask the vet to remove all her baby teeth at the same time.

What are the pros and cons of using a laser and a scalpel?

The info I got from the vet's office says this:

"Assuming no problems are detected during the preanesthetic evaluation, a preoperative medication is given to relax your puppy and to allow for a smooth and safe induction of anesthetic." What preop meds are safe?

"About thirty minutes later a medication is given intravenously to induce sleep. This medication is called the induction agent and last only long enough to establish the maintenance of anesthesia with an anesthetic gas called Isoflurane." What meds are safe for this?

I'm not sure if my vet uses a laser or a scalpel. I'll find out at the next visit, which will be on Fri. Should I ask the vet to use internal sutures that dissolve, regular sutures that need to be removed, staples or cauterize if she uses laser?

What pain meds or antibiotics are safe? How long is recovery?

I've read that some people's babies got lumps at the incision site. Is this from both the scalpel and laser procedure? I only remember reading about it happening from a laser.

Thanks!

[LuvMySissy]

I'm definitely not an expert here, but Sissy had internal stitches only and didn't develop any lumps. A scalpel was used. She was not given any antibiotics, but did get pain meds. Her recovery was speedy - she was very back to normal in two days.

[kalina82]

hello again!

i don't know too much about the laser surgery because the vets i worked for didn't use it. they didn't like it too much and it's way more expensive. At the last clinic i worked at we usually used....lol i don't remember what pre-op meds we used.... but they'll use a really small dose on the puppy or sometimes they don't even use it at all if your puppy is already calm. They'll just start to induce the dog with propoflo which puts them to sleep so that they can put a trachea tube down their throat and hook the dog up to isofluorine gas.

internal stitches and external stitches are both good. i don't recommend getting staples or cauterizing the incision. its not pleasent for them.

[BLowry]

My vet uses a scaple or laser. He invested in the laser for cancer research and started doing surgery with it...It became very popular...I have discussed this with him as I haven't had Sadie fixed yet. I have to do it soon ...she is 2 1/2 yrs old...He told me that surgery with the laser is faster,( meaning less anethestia(sp?) less invasive, less bleeding, faster healing and no stitches.

[Kizzys Mom]

Kizzy will be getting spade the first part of August. not sure what day yet as I havent made the appt. I will dread it but i'll also be glad when its over and I feel sure she will be fine. She is very healthy and a good size, but I know anything can happen, you just never know but i'm betting on her being just fine.

[DJ30]

Originally Posted by LuvMySissy

I'm definitely not an expert here, but Sissy had internal stitches only and didn't develop any lumps. A scalpel was used. She was not given any antibiotics, but did get pain meds. Her recovery was speedy - she was very back to normal in two days.

I'm glad Sissy recovered quickly. Do you know what pain meds she got?

[DJ30]

Originally Posted by kalina82

hello again!

i don't know too much about the laser surgery because the vets i worked for didn't use it. they didn't like it too much and it's way more expensive. At the last clinic i worked at we usually used....lol i don't remember what pre-op meds we used.... but they'll use a really small dose on the puppy or sometimes they don't even use it at all if your puppy is already calm. They'll just start to induce the dog with propoflo which puts them to sleep so that they can put a trachea tube down their throat and hook the dog up to isofluorine gas.

internal stitches and external stitches are both good. i don't recommend getting staples or cauterizing the incision. its not pleasent for them.

Hi! Do you know why the vets didn't like it? Is propoflo a common drug used to induce sleep? I think I prefer the internal stitches. Thanks for the info.

[DJ30]

Originally Posted by BLowry

My vet uses a scaple or laser. He invested in the laser for cancer research and started doing surgery with it...It became very popular...I have discussed this with him as I haven't had Sadie fixed yet. I have to do it soon ...she is 2 1/2 yrs old...He told me that surgery with the laser is faster,( meaning less anethestia(sp?) less invasive, less bleeding, faster healing and no stitches.

From what you've said, laser surgery sounds good. Are you going with this procedure? Let us know how it goes.

[DJ30]

Originally Posted by Kizzys Mom

Kizzy will be getting spade the first part of August. not sure what day yet as I havent made the appt. I will dread it but i'll also be glad when its over and I feel sure she will be fine. She is very healthy and a good size, but I know anything can happen, you just never know but i'm betting on her being just fine.

Does your vet use a scalpel or a laser? How much does Kizzy weigh? I'm sure a lot of us feel the way you do about having our dogs undergo surgery. I'll probably be nervous about it when the time comes, but I'll also feel relieved as well. Let us know how it goes.

[BabyFidgette]

Baby was spayed with the laser. She had preop blood work, iv, anesthesia, and antibiotics. She did develop lumps (scars) on the incision, but they have gone away.

[alpayton]

OUCH! My vet did my Cairn terrier's spay & my little 2.5 lb Yorkie's neuter with the laser and didn't have to suture her OR him from the outside at all! They were both glued together and if you didn't know they'd had the surgery, you wouldn't have known at all. There's just a tiny little line left that's about 2 - 3 inches long on her and not a mark at all on him.

Benefits of the laser are and have already been mentioned - it's quicker, easier for the vet, less mess/blood and therefore less trauma on the pet, less recovery time, less pain afterwards, less chance of uncontrolled bleeding after surgery

Laser surgery at my vet's office is $30 more than general. It's totally worth it!

[catnayl]

My doxie had laser spaying and it was more but I feel like it was worth it.I cannot tell she ever had surgery because I do not see anything resembling a scar on her and less down time,faster healing,she did not need pain meds even though the vet gave her some just in case.Cathy andYoshi

[kalina82]

Originally Posted by DJ30

Hi! Do you know why the vets didn't like it? Is propoflo a common drug used to induce sleep? I think I prefer the internal stitches. Thanks for the info.

i don't remember why my vets didn't like the laser surgery, but he was very firm on it and refused to get one. (and he's not an old school doc who doesn't like new technology). he usualy gets all the latest tech stuff for easier and better results but not the laser. I think it had something to do with the cauderizing that he didn't like, and possible bleed outs. I"m going back there on the 3rd so i'll try to remember to ask him then.

[Hickey007]

We had it done with a laser on Reagan. I can't tell you if she recovered any quicker than she would have had we not used the laser because I don't have any recent experience with a scapel spaying. Our bloodhound was done with a laser as well a year earlier than Reagan. She had to have work done on her eyes with a laser so they went ahead and did the spaying with the laser as well. So when it came Reagan's turn Auburn had done so well I had them go ahead and do it with a laser too.

I'm pretty sure Reagan was glued as well. She also didn't get any kind of lumps. Do they get lumps right afterwards then they go away or do they stay forever or a long time? I couldn't even find the scar on Reagan. I don't even think they sent us home with any meds what so ever, she was fine.

[Kizzys Mom]

Originally Posted by DJ30

Does your vet use a scalpel or a laser? How much does Kizzy weigh? I'm sure a lot of us feel the way you do about having our dogs undergo surgery. I'll probably be nervous about it when the time comes, but I'll also feel relieved as well. Let us know how it goes.

I'm not sure what my vet uses yet as we havent talked about it. But I will let everyone know after its over.