Laparoscopy combined with
Laser Surgery provides the best surgical experience for your dog or cat. Laparoscopic surgery offers
a remarkable reduction in pain for many surgeries including spays, gastropexies,
and liver biopsies. At PCAC, our veterinary surgeons perform the surgery
using a camera and tools inserted through one dime-sized hole leaving just a
tiny incision to heal. This choice allows for a much finer, more precise
technique - leading to less bleeding and tissue trauma - and much
less pain! Studies have shown up to a 67% reduction in pain for pets
whose spays were done with laparoscopy versus the traditional technique.
The surgery laser is used instead of the scalpel during all laparoscopic
surgeries at PCAC.
The
picture on the left is an internal picture after a
laparoscopic dog spay. Note the lack of bleeding
and tissue trauma - which means much less pain!
The picture on the right is an internal picture after a
traditional dog spay. Note the bleeding and tissue trauma.
The laser is used instead of
the scalpel for making incisions. The laser does not crush, tear, or
bruise as
it cuts but instead seals tissues as it cuts resulting in less pain for your pet.
Some procedures such as feline declaws are done only with the laser because it is
so much less painful.
What to Expect
For your pet's safety, we ask that he or she
have no food after 8pm the night before the procedure, but may have water
right up until the procedure. Typically, you will bring your pet in to
be admitted between 7 and 8am, and your pet will be ready to go home between
4 and 6 pm that evening. A specific discharge appointment time will be
scheduled with you that day.
The surgery
or recovery technician
will call you after the procedure to give you a progress report and keep you
updated. We will then continue to monitor your pet throughout the day
making sure your pet is warm and comfortable and monitoring for any signs of pain.
At your
discharge appointment, we will go over complete home care instructions (as
well as give you written instructions). We will
be happy to go over the procedure and answer any questions you have at any
time.
