Important update to our Out of Hours service
From Friday 3rd – Monday 6th October, our out of hours service will be temporarily moving to Pennard Vets Tonbridge, while essential maintenance work takes place at our Sevenoaks practice.
Here’s what this means:
Thank you for your understanding!
From,
All the team at Pennard Vets
Pennard Vets
Laparoscopy: Bringing cutting edge keyhole surgery to the pets
We understand and appreciate how important and special your pet is, and we know that you always want the best for them.
This is why we are thrilled to offer an alternative way to carry out a variety of operations, which is less invasive, reduces discomfort and has a quicker recovery time.
Laparoscopic surgery, better known as keyhole surgery, is a modern surgical technique that is proving ideal for many abdominal procedures, including spays.
You may have heard of keyhole surgery in humans, but it is a relatively new advancement in veterinary medicine – and one that we’re keen to make use of. We are always looking for ways to improve our level of expertise and the care that we can provide, and we are pleased to be able to bring you this new service!
It involves two small 0.5mm incisions that are made to allow the laparoscope, the name for a surgical camera, and specialised instruments to be inserted into the abdomen, meaning the procedure can be performed with significantly less manipulation.
This greatly reduces the size of the wound, as well as reducing pain and speeding up recovery.
This reduces discomfort, as only two small wounds are left, which are less likely to be noticed by your pet. In turn, this reduces the risk of infection and allows a faster return to normal activity.
There is a significantly reduced risk of complications, bleeding from the surgical site is reduced due to the vet having a much better view of the organs and it allows samples to be taken where necessary.
We are proud to offer keyhole spays for dogs at our Sevenoaks and Tonbridge branches.
We recommend to all owners not thinking of breeding from their pet that they get their pet neutered.
Not only does it prevent unplanned additions to the nation’s pet population, but it provides a range of health benefits, that you can read more about here !
In female pets, neutering is called spaying, and involves going into the abdomen to remove reproductive organs. The smaller incisions and reduced risks of keyhole spaying means that your dog has a less invasive procedure and can get back to doing what they love sooner.
We don’t offer keyhole surgery for cats as the incision required for this is generally very small and there are not the additional benefits we see for dogs. This may also be the case for particularly small dogs – which is something we will discuss with owners on a case by case basis.
Laparoscopic procedures are available at our Sevenoaks and Tonbridge branches.
If you’re registered at another branch, our team can coordinate the necessary arrangements for your pet’s surgery.
Currently, keyhole surgery is not routinely performed on cats due to their smaller size and the minimal benefits over traditional techniques.
We will evaluate each case individually to determine the most appropriate surgical method.
Before surgery, ensure your pet fasts as advised and arrives at the clinic at the scheduled time.
Our team will provide detailed pre-operative instructions tailored to your pet’s needs.
After surgery, your pet may experience mild discomfort.
Provide a quiet, comfortable space for recovery and follow any medication or care instructions provided.
Most pets resume normal activities within a few days, but it’s essential to monitor the surgical site and limit strenuous activity as advised.
Get in touch with our team if you have any concerns.
Keyhole surgery offers several advantages:
Laparoscopic techniques are suitable for various abdominal surgeries, including:
Laparoscopic spaying is ideal for most medium to large-sized female dogs.
However, for very small breeds, traditional spaying may be more appropriate.
Our veterinary team will assess your dog’s suitability and discuss the best surgical option.
Laparoscopic surgery, commonly known as keyhole surgery, is a minimally invasive technique that uses small incisions and specialized instruments to perform procedures inside the abdomen.
This approach reduces tissue trauma, leading to less pain and faster recovery for your pet.
Featured team member
Available Practices
Within Pennard Vets, we are delighted to be able to offer laparoscopy and keyhole surgery at the above branch. We appreciate that this might mean a journey from your usual site but we can assure you the level of service is just the same and the team will be delighted to look after you.
What we’re talking about
Small animals only
cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs etc
Diagnostic imaging
Dental services
Pet passports
24-Hour Emergency
Care and hospitalisation
Vet and nurse consultations
FREE puppy parties
held by our qualified nurses
Pet Health Club
Hydrotherapy
Access to expert referrals
Nurse Clinics
Surgical services
Microchipping
Laboratory services
Animal Health Certificate
Euthanasia services
Cattery
