Keyhole spay for large breed dogs, starting at $600.
What you'll pay depends on her weight, age, and body condition. Find your dog below.
30 to 50 lbs
You have a choice. Here's why a laparoscopic spay is worth a look.
See the differenceLaparoscopicSpay
Also called a keyhole spay
A minimally invasive spay for medium and large breed dogs, done through two or three small incisions instead of one large one. Less pain, a faster recovery. Pricing starts at $600. See her estimate below.
Performed personally by Dr. Steve Pelton at Hearthstone Animal Clinic in Houston.
Laparoscopic spay Cypress TX, laparoscopic spay Houston, and minimally invasive dog spay Northwest Houston care are available at Hearthstone Animal Clinic in Cypress, TX.
Dr. Steve Pelton
Founder & Veterinarian
Continuity of Care
Every Spay, Performed by Dr. Pelton Himself.
Dr. Steve Pelton has practiced veterinary medicine for over 26 years. At Hearthstone, he personally performs every laparoscopic spay, no hand-offs, no surgery rotation. You know who's operating on your dog.
Hearthstone Animal Clinic offers laparoscopic spay in Cypress, TX for families seeking a laparoscopic spay near Houston or a minimally invasive dog spay in Northwest Houston.
Trained By a Pioneer
Dr. Pelton was personally trained by Dr. John Schaaf, DVM, a veterinary laparoscopy pioneer with over 25 years of minimally invasive surgical experience — ensuring every laparoscopic spay at Hearthstone is performed with the same standards as the most experienced practitioners in the field.
Compare
A Better Way to Spay
Traditional Spay
The Conventional Approach
- Large incision, 3-4 inches
- Uterus and ovaries both removed
- Organ stretching during procedure
- 10-14 day restricted recovery
- More post-op pain medication required
- E-collar often needed
The laparoscopic spay
Minimally Invasive
- 2 (or 3) tiny incisions, about 1.5-2cm each
- Ovaries only, camera-guided precision
- Minimal tissue trauma
- 2-3 day recovery
- Significantly less pain medication
- Often no cone required
From the Surgeon
A note from Dr. Pelton
I've been spaying dogs for 26 years. Like most veterinarians, I performed traditional spays my entire career, because that's how we were trained and it was the standard approach.
Over the past year I added laparoscopic spay surgery to our hospital, and I've now performed more than 20 of these procedures. After seeing the recovery, the reduced tissue trauma, and how these dogs bounce back, I genuinely believe laparoscopic spays are a better option for many medium and large breed dogs. In fact, I think it may be one of the most underutilized surgical advances in veterinary medicine.
Because of that, I'd like more dog owners to have the chance to experience the benefits. If your dog is a good candidate, I'd be glad to talk it through with you.
Dr. Steve Pelton, DVM
2-3 days
typical recovery, versus 10 to 14 days for a traditional open spay.
Better Surgery. Better Recovery.
Large breeds benefit most
Bigger bodies mean larger traditional incisions, the laparoscopic spay eliminates that entirely.
Dramatically reduced pain
Significantly less discomfort, fewer medications, and a calmer recovery at home.
Faster return to normal
Most dogs are back to themselves within days, not weeks of restricted movement.
Less stress for everyone
A smoother recovery means less worry for you and a gentler experience for your dog.
The Procedure
What Happens During a Laparoscopic Spay
2 (or 3) Small Incisions
A tiny camera and specialized instruments are inserted through 2 (or 3) small incisions, about 1.5-2cm each, tiny, but not micro-tiny. No large abdominal opening.
Precision Removal
Dr. P removes the ovaries under magnified camera guidance, with minimal trauma to surrounding tissue.
Home the Same Day, Always
Every laparoscopic spay patient goes home the same day, we never keep patients overnight. Most dogs are comfortable, calm, and back to themselves within 48-72 hours.
Real Cases, Real Results
See It For Yourself
Actual photos from laparoscopic spay procedures performed at Hearthstone Animal Clinic — our laparoscopic equipment, the tiny incisions, and a full ovary removed through one of those small openings on an 85 lb dog.
Trained Together
A team that practices the technique — together.
Laparoscopic spay isn't a one-person procedure. Our surgical assistants, anesthesia tech, and circulating nurse all train side-by-side with Dr. Pelton so every role at the table is dialed in.
The result: smoother procedures, shorter anesthesia time, and the same calm, careful pace whether your dog is the first case of the day or the fifth.
Optional Add-On
Large Breed? Add a Gastropexy.
Deep-chested breeds, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Standard Poodles, Weimaraners, Great Danes, Dobermans, face elevated risk for GDV (bloat), a sudden and life-threatening emergency. During your dog's laparoscopic spay, Dr. P can simultaneously perform a preventive gastropexy (stomach tacking) through the same tiny incisions. One anesthesia. One recovery. Potentially life-saving.
Breed-Specific Guides
Spay timing by breed
Larger breeds benefit from a more deliberate conversation about when to spay. Read our breed-specific guides:
Investment
Honest Pricing, Based on Your Dog
Healthy, lean dog under 3 years
Most healthy, lean dogs under 3 years (roughly 30 to 70 lbs) land in this range, all-inclusive. Over that age, or for heavier or higher-risk dogs, pricing is more variable. You get an exact written quote once we know your dog. No surprises.
What's Included
- The laparoscopic spay procedure itself
- Anesthesia and surgical monitoring
- Use of the laparoscopic equipment
- Same-day discharge and recovery
Not Included (Optional Add-Ons)
- Pre-anesthetic bloodwork & labs
- Nail trim
- Microchip placement
- Add-on Pexy (preventive gastropexy), additional fee
Older, overweight, or higher-risk dogs take more time and more careful anesthesia, so they run higher. We'll always quote you up front. Questions? Call or text (281) 859-9244.
Helpful Reference
Body Condition Score (BCS)
The inquiry form will ask you to rate your dog's body condition on a 1–9 scale. This helps us give you the most accurate estimate — heavier dogs need more anesthesia, longer surgery time, and stronger sutures. Use the chart below as a guide.
Chart courtesy of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.
FAQ
Your Questions, Answered
From Our Families
Real Recoveries. Real Relief.
Our Golden was up and wagging the next morning. The laparoscopic spay recovery was nothing like what I expected, Dr. P walked us through every step.
Megan
Golden Retriever
We chose the laparoscopic spay because of the smaller incisions, and within 48 hours she was back to herself. Dr. Pelton's care was unmatched.
Carlos
Vizsla
No cone, barely any pain meds, and back to normal in three days. The laparoscopic spay made a stressful decision feel so much easier. Thank you, Dr. P.
Hannah
Standard Poodle
Our Golden was up and wagging the next morning. The laparoscopic spay recovery was nothing like what I expected, Dr. P walked us through every step.
Megan
Golden Retriever
We chose the laparoscopic spay because of the smaller incisions, and within 48 hours she was back to herself. Dr. Pelton's care was unmatched.
Carlos
Vizsla
No cone, barely any pain meds, and back to normal in three days. The laparoscopic spay made a stressful decision feel so much easier. Thank you, Dr. P.
Hannah
Standard Poodle
See It In Action
Camera-Guided Precision
Give Your Dog the Gift of a Gentler Surgery.
laparoscopic spay appointments are available now. Contact Hearthstone to schedule or ask questions.
Schedule a Laparoscopic SpayOr call us at 281-859-9244
Laparoscopic Spay in Cypress & Houston, TX (laparoscopic spay)
A laparoscopic spay is a minimally invasive surgery that removes a female dog's ovaries through two or three small keyhole incisions using a camera and specialized sealing instruments. Hearthstone Animal Clinic in Cypress, TX (Northwest Houston) performs this procedure — called the laparoscopic spay — for dogs of all sizes. The single biggest benefit: dramatically less pain and a much faster recovery than a traditional open spay, with most dogs back to normal within 2–3 days.
Laparoscopic Spay FAQ
Common questions about the laparoscopic spay at Hearthstone Animal Clinic in Cypress, TX.
What is a laparoscopic (keyhole) spay?
A laparoscopic spay — what Hearthstone Animal Clinic calls the laparoscopic spay (Laparoscopic OVarioEctomy) — is a minimally invasive spay performed through two or three small keyhole incisions using a high-definition camera and specialized sealing instruments. Only the ovaries are removed, which is the modern standard of care used by board-certified veterinary surgeons. Dr. Steve Pelton performs every laparoscopic spay personally in Cypress, TX.
How is it different from a traditional spay?
A traditional spay uses one long abdominal incision (often 2–4 inches) and the ovaries and uterus are pulled out and torn away from their attachments, which causes significant bruising and post-op pain. A laparoscopic spay at Hearthstone Animal Clinic uses 2–3 incisions roughly the size of a pencil eraser (about 5–10 mm), the ovarian blood vessels are sealed under direct camera visualization, and there is no tearing of tissue. The result is dramatically less pain and a faster return to normal activity.
How much does a laparoscopic spay cost in Houston?
At Hearthstone Animal Clinic in Cypress, TX (Northwest Houston), the laparoscopic spay is priced as an all-inclusive package that covers pre-anesthetic bloodwork, IV fluids, multi-modal pain management, the laparoscopic procedure itself, and recovery monitoring. Pricing depends on your dog's weight. Specialty/referral hospitals in the greater Houston area typically charge $2,000–$3,500+ for the same procedure; our pricing is significantly less because Dr. Pelton performs it in-house. Call (281) 859-9244 or submit the laparoscopic spay inquiry form for a written quote specific to your dog.
How long is recovery compared to a traditional spay?
Most laparoscopic spay patients are bright, alert, and eating the same evening and back to normal energy within 2–3 days. Traditional spay recovery typically requires 10–14 days of strict activity restriction. Because the incisions are so small and no tissue is torn, most dogs need far less pain medication and rarely require an e-collar for more than a couple of days.
How big are the incisions?
Two to three incisions, each roughly 5–10 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser). They are closed with absorbable suture under the skin and surgical glue — no skin staples and no external stitches to remove.
What size and age dogs is it best for?
The laparoscopic spay is available for female dogs of essentially any size — small, medium, and large breeds. It is especially valuable for large-breed dogs over 50 lb, where a traditional open spay creates a much larger incision and a significantly more painful recovery. Hearthstone Animal Clinic recommends spaying after the first heat cycle for most large breeds; Dr. Pelton will give you a breed-specific recommendation at your consult.
Can you do a gastropexy at the same time?
Yes. A prophylactic laparoscopic gastropexy — which tacks the stomach to the body wall to prevent life-threatening GDV (bloat/twisted stomach) — can be performed through the same small incisions during your dog's laparoscopic spay. This is strongly recommended for deep-chested large and giant breeds (Great Danes, Standard Poodles, Weimaraners, German Shepherds, Boxers, Dobermans, Setters, etc.) and is far less invasive than a traditional open gastropexy.
How do I schedule a laparoscopic spay at Hearthstone?
Call or text Hearthstone Animal Clinic at (281) 859-9244 or submit the laparoscopic spay inquiry form. We'll confirm your dog's weight and heat-cycle history, give you a written all-inclusive quote, and get you on Dr. Pelton's surgery schedule at our Cypress, TX hospital.
Ready to schedule your dog's laparoscopic spay in Cypress or Northwest Houston?
Call or text Hearthstone Animal Clinic at (281) 859-9244 or submit the laparoscopic spay inquiry form.