Study links laparoscopic spay to lower stress markers in dogs

Version 1

A new prospective randomized clinical trial in Veterinary Surgery found that laparoscopic elective ovariectomy in anestrus dogs produced a milder, shorter-lived systemic inflammatory and oxidative stress response than open surgery. The study enrolled 26 healthy bitches and compared biomarkers after laparoscopic versus laparotomic ovariectomy, adding to a growing body of evidence that minimally invasive spay techniques may reduce surgical stress. PubMed’s summary describes it as the first study to apply both canine-specific inflammatory biomarkers and canine-validated oxidative stress markers to this comparison in dogs in anestrus. Earlier related work has also pointed in the same direction, including a 2025 study from the same research group on postoperative recovery and inflammatory biomarkers, and prior reports linking laparoscopic ovariectomy with lower cortisol or oxidative stress than open approaches. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the study strengthens the case that laparoscopy may offer physiologic as well as recovery-related advantages in routine sterilization procedures, at least in appropriately selected canine patients and in practices equipped to perform minimally invasive surgery. That could matter for perioperative pain management, client communication with pet parents, and decisions about investing in laparoscopic capability. At the same time, the evidence base is still relatively small, and this trial was limited to anestrus dogs, so the findings shouldn’t be overgeneralized to every patient, reproductive stage, or practice setting. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: Watch for full-text publication details, follow-on studies in broader canine populations, and whether these biomarker findings translate into stronger consensus around when laparoscopy should be preferred in general practice. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)