DR. HODGES VET MIP SERVICES

While traditional spays are effective, our minimally invasive laparoscopic option offers a superior experience for your pet by replacing the large open incision with precision technology.

• Smaller Incisions: We use a tiny 1cm incision and a camera, avoiding the 3–4 inch abdominal opening required for traditional surgery.
• Gentler Technique: Instead of stretching and tearing soft tissues to remove the reproductive tract, we use instruments to cauterize and cut.
• Less Pain: Cauterization seals nerve endings and blood vessels instantly. This results in minimal bleeding and prevents the transmission of pain sensations common with traditional sutures.

BENEFITS:

• Less painful - a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association showed an average of a 65% decrease in pain scores when compared to traditional spay methods.
• Less bleeding
• Less complications
• Faster recovery - back to the park in 3 days!
• Day surgery - your pet goes home the same day.

Laparoscopic Assisted Gastropexy offers a minimally invasive way to prevent life-threatening GDV (Bloat) in at-risk breeds. While the invasiveness and long recovery of traditional surgery often deterred owners in the past, our modern laparoscopic approach makes this essential protection much easier on your pet.

• How It Works: We tack the outer lining of the stomach to the abdominal wall. Once healed, this creates a strong, permanent bond that physically prevents the stomach from twisting.
• Smaller Incision: Traditional methods require a full open abdominal surgery. We achieve the same result through a single small incision approximately 2 inches long.
• Easier Recovery: Because the procedure is minimally invasive, your dog will experience significantly less post-operative discomfort and a much faster recovery compared to traditional methods.

Testicles typically descend by 2–3 months of age, but when one or both remain "retained" (cryptorchidism), special care is required. While testicles near the skin (inguinal) are easily removed, those retained in the abdomen traditionally require a large incision to locate. Laparoscopy transforms this into a simple, precise procedure.

• Why Removal is Essential: "Out of sight, out of mind" is dangerous here. Abdominally retained testicles have a 10 times higher risk of tumor formation than normal testicles and can occasionally suffer from painful torsion (twisting).
• Precision Diagnosis: Instead of a large open surgery to "hunt" for the missing testicle, laparoscopy allows us to quickly identify and remove it using a camera.
• Minimally Invasive: Because we avoid a full abdominal opening, the incision is significantly smaller. This leads to much less pain and a faster return to normal activity compared to traditional abdominal surgery.

Biopsies are often essential for determining a diagnosis and guiding the right treatment. While skin growths are easy to sample, internal organs like the liver or small intestine present a challenge. When non-surgical options (like ultrasound) aren't suitable, laparoscopy provides the ideal minimally invasive solution.

• Superior Visibility: Unlike "blind" needle biopsies, laparoscopy allows us to visualize the organ directly. This ensures we sample the specific area of concern for a more accurate diagnosis.
• Minimal Incision: We collect the necessary tissue samples through a very small incision, avoiding the need for a large, open exploratory surgery.
• Gentler Recovery: This targeted approach results in significantly less pain and a much faster recovery time for your pet.

Potential Reasons to Biopsy Liver:

• Elevated liver values on bloodwork with no known cause
• To confirm a diagnosis (eg: hepatic lipidosis/fatty liver, hepatitis)
• To help diagnose possible liver shunt
• To look for types of potential cancer
• Any other abnormality found on x-ray or ultrasound

Bladder stones are a common issue for both dogs and cats, often caused by genetics or diet. While a cystotomy is the standard surgery to remove them, using a cystoscope (a specialized camera) significantly improves the outcome compared to traditional methods.

• Complete Stone Removal: Traditional surgery often relies on feeling for stones. The cystoscope allows us to see inside the bladder clearly, ensuring we find and remove every stone—even the tiny ones that are easily missed.
• Detailed Health Check: The camera provides a high-definition view of the bladder wall, allowing us to screen for other abnormalities, such as tumors or congenital defects, that might otherwise go unnoticed.
• Faster Healing: This technology allows us to operate through a much smaller incision. This leads to less post-operative pain and a quicker, more comfortable recovery for your pet.

Possible Signs of Bladder Disease

• Blood in urine
• Increased frequency of urination
• Urine dribbling
• Poor urine stream
• Licking at back end/genital area (especially in male cats)

Urethrocystoscopy allows us to examine the lower urinary tract using a specialized camera (endoscope) passed naturally through the urethra. This minimally invasive approach lets us diagnose and treat conditions without making a single surgical incision.

• Advanced Diagnostics: We can identify the cause of chronic urinary issues, including tumors and congenital defects (such as ectopic ureters) that are difficult to see on X-rays.
• Non-Invasive Treatment: In many cases, we can correct issues or remove small bladder stones during the exam itself.
• Avoids Major Surgery: By using the body's natural pathways, we can often avoid the pain and recovery time of a traditional open exploratory surgery.

Possible indications for urethrocystoscopy or vaginoscopy

• Blood in urine
• Urine dribbling
• Increased urinary frequency
• Straining to urinate

Standard physical exams often struggle to see deep into the ear canals or complex nasal passages. Using high-definition endoscopes, we can visualize these small, difficult-to-reach spaces clearly to identify issues that are otherwise impossible to see.

• Deep Access: Our specialized scopes navigate the unique anatomy of your pet's ears and nose, allowing us to find deep-seated infections, tumors, or foreign objects (like grass seeds) that standard tools miss.
• Effective Diagnostics: While advanced imaging (like CT or MRI) is sometimes required for complex cases, endoscopy is a powerful, less expensive diagnostic step that can often pinpoint the problem right here in our clinic.

Potential Reasons for Rhinoscopy:

• Recurrent or chronic nasal discharge
• Bleeding from the nose
• Examine for foreign bodies or tumors

Flexible endoscopy allows us to examine internal organs without invasive surgery by passing a long, flexible camera into the body. This advanced tool gives us a clear view of areas that are otherwise hidden, helping us diagnose chronic issues like vomiting, diarrhea, or breathing difficulties.

• Digestive Health: We primarily use this to visualize the gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, upper small intestine, and colon, to identify blockages, ulcers, or inflammation.
• Respiratory Exams: The flexibility of the scope also allows us to navigate the complex structures of the back of the throat and nasal passages.
• Non-Surgical Biopsies: In addition to visualization, we can often collect tissue samples (biopsies) or remove swallowed foreign objects during the same procedure, sparing your pet a major operation.  

Common Reasons for GI Endoscopy:

• Removing some foreign objects from the esophagus or stomach
• Investigation in cases of chronic vomiting or diarrhea that is not responding to treatment
• To collect biopsy samples, often to try to differentiate between GI diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and lymphoma
• Inappetance
• Trouble swallowing
• Drooling
• Straining to defecate
• Blood in stool
• Evaluating vocal chords in suspected laryngeal paralysis