Comparison of outcomes between laparotomic and laparoscopic elective ovariectomy in anestrus dogs: postoperative recovery, pain and inflammatory biomarkers

Objective: This study compared the outcomes of laparoscopic ovariectomy (LOVE) and open ovariectomy (OVE) in dogs, assessing pain, quality of recovery, and systemic inflammatory biomarkers. Study design: A prospective clinical study. Animals: Twenty anestrous female dogs, ten for each group. Methods: The parameters compared between the two groups were: incision length, surgical time, pain, along with concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and substance P (SP), measuring one hour before surgery (T0), two hours (T1), 24 h (T2), and seven days post-surgery (T3); quality of recovery (QoR-15) at T0, T2 and T3. Results: LOVE results in a longer surgery time, while a shorter incision length. CRP was higher (P < 0.05) at T1 but lower (P < 0.001) at T2 and T3 in LOVE than in OVE group. At T1 and T2 lower SAA concentrations were found in OVE groups compared to LOVE group (P < 0.001); and at T3, SP was higher (P < 0.05) in the OVE group compared to the LOVE group. Pain at T1 and T2, and QoR-15 at T2 and T3, showed better scores (P < 0.01) in LOVE compared to OVE group. Conclusion: This study showed that laparoscopic ovariectomy resulted in moderate surgical trauma and postoperative pain, reducing the time for recovery compared to a laparotomic procedure. Serum concentrations of CRP and SP, predictive biomarkers of postoperative systemic inflammation, confirm a greater inflammatory response in the LOVE group, which may explain the prolonged recovery times observed in these group. Our results indicate that SAA is not a reliable marker of mild surgical stress, whereas CRP remains a valid indicator of postoperative inflammation in canine ovariectomy. SP showed promising consistency with the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale, supporting its potential as a biomarker for perioperative pain. Preliminary findings also suggest the feasibility of using the adapted QoR-15 scale in dogs. Overall, laparoscopic ovariectomy confirmed clear advantages over open laparotomy, including reduced inflammation, lower pain levels, and faster recovery. Further studies with larger cohorts and long-term follow-up are needed to validate these tools and assess the broader welfare implications of different surgical approaches. Clinical significance: This study supports the advantages of laparoscopic techniques for ovariectomy, particularly in terms of the patient’s recovery quality.