What is the cost of a key-hole spay / lap spay?
£550
If you're searching for a key-hole spay / lap spay in Battersea, Nine Elms, Fulham, Wandsworth, Chelsea, Kensington, or further afield, we're here for you
We believe every dog deserves the gentlest, safest care - without the high London prices.
Fair, transparent pricing
The cost of a a key-hole spay at Battersea Square Vets in London is £550, when you register by 31st December 2025.
This price applies to bookings made before 31st December 2025, with surgery available up until 31st March 2026.
A laparoscopic spay (lap spay) is a modern, minimally invasive alternative to traditional open spay surgery. We're proud to offer:
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Smaller incisions - less discomfort and 65% less pain after surgery
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Faster recovery - most dogs are back to normal within a couple of days
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Advanced surgical technique - performed by our experienced husband-and-wife vet team
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Transparent, fair pricing - no hidden extras, just expert care in a family-run clinic
We're so pleased to be able to bring the benefits of a key-hole spay to the female dog population of London and the Home Counties, for little more than the cost of an open spay.
Will the same level of service be provided?
Yes - we're proud to be able to offer exactly the same premium level of service. The only difference is the price you pay. All of our key-hole spays include the following:
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Pre-anaesthetic blood testing
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IV fluids as standard
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Post-operative checks including suture removal
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All post-operative pain relief medication
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A medical pet T-shirt or buster collar
Think of it like business-class service - all for a standard price
About key-hole spays
Surgical techniques have advanced, making procedures much kinder for pets.
However, many clinics still use an 'open' spay technique. Sometimes referred to as a 'traditional spay', this involves making a larger incision, carries a risk of arterial bleeding and has been shown to cause significantly more post-operative pain. It's a 'tradition' we're keen to leave behind.
In human surgery, key-hole surgery went from being doubted in the 1980s to becoming the standard way to operate by the mid-1990s. Yet many vets still use the old open technique. At Battersea Square Vets we think every dog deserves the same gentler recovery people have benefited from for decades.
A key-hole spay uses fine instruments through tiny skin openings. Because the surgeon doesn’t place their hands inside the abdomen or pull on abdominal organs, dogs feel far less discomfort during and after surgery.
Please note: A keyhole spay is only available for female dogs. Male dogs and cats are neutered by castration, and female cats by a standard spay. Dr Tristan performs all of these procedures using very small incisions, but only female dogs are suitable for the keyhole method.
About Dr Tristan, key-hole spay surgeon
Dr Tristan Martin MA VetMB MRCVS qualified from Cambridge Univeristy 20 years ago, and worked as a surgical internal and resident in a hospital in northern England. He owns and runs Battersea Square Vets - an independent clinic in London.
He has vast surgical experience, and for the last 8 years has been performing key-hole spays on dogs of varying sizes from 4kg all the way up to 60kg!
He has also completed further training in key-hole surgical techniques at The Royal Free Hospital in London, along with human surgeons.
He uses only the latest and best surgical equipment and techniques and would love to chat to you about choosing a key-hole spay for your dog.
Choosing when to spay is dependent on your circumstances and your dogs breed, so get in touch with Tristan to discuss the best plan.
About key-hole spays at Battersea Square Vets
Dr Tristan owns and runs Battersea Square Vets in London.
He has built a brand new, state of the art clinic, with a fully equipped theatre for keyhole spays.
Battersea Square Vets has easy parking, and is walking distance from Clapham Junction station.
You can stay with your pet throughout their procedure in our spacious, comfortable and client friendly clinic; or if you can't stay, we can keep you up to date via WhatsApp.
Why is key-hole spay a kinder choice?
A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association compared post-operative pain after key-hole spays and open spays. The authors found that an open spay is up to three times more painful than a key-hole spay when post-operative pain scores were assessed.
The authors found that in 'open' spays, 90% of dogs in their study showed signs of feeling the surgeon pulling on their ovaries whilst under anaesthetic. With the key-hole method, no dogs showed any signs of feeling discomfort or waking during this part of the surgery.
None of the key-hole spayed dogs in this study showed any complications, whereas one of the 'open' spays suffered a torn artery which needed emergency management.
The relative risk of requiring morphine after surgery in the 'open' spay group was 10 times greater than in the key-hole group.
What equipment do we use?
Our endoscopy equipment is supplied by Karl Storz SE & Co. KG, an internationally renowned family-owned company headquartered in Germany. Karl Storz have been making world-class lenses and endoscopes since 1945 and offer unparalleled image quality.
We’ve chosen human-grade surgical equipment because it offers the highest level of safety and precision. The Covidien LigaSure FT10 system seals blood vessels in under two seconds with a burst strength over three times normal systolic blood pressure, providing a secure seal even under stress, while cutting with pinpoint accuracy for zero bleeding and to speed up recovery.
Most key-hole surgeons use a spiked hook pushed though the body wall to hold the ovaries in position while they are sealed and cut. This requires more fur to be clipped off, and leaves a small puncture wound in the abdominal wall where the spike is inserted. We use the EndoGrab Virtual Ports system instead. This uses a tiny metal spring to hold the ovaries in position, and does not puncture the body wall. It also allows us to complete a key-hole spay via 2 incisions.
Testimonials
"Dr Tristan looked after my dog incredibly well during her key-hole spay. She was back to her usual self so quickly, and I'd definitely choose a key-hole spay again, so much better than the old style"
James, Border Collie pet parent
"...would recommend them to anyone looking for a friendly, helpful, highly skilled vets, who you can trust to have both the animals and your best interests at the centre of their ethos"
Catherine, Google review
The key-hole spay process explained:
Consultation
During the pre-operative consultation with you and your dog, we perform a full clinical examination and answer any questions you may have. We also carry out a pre-operative blood test. This consultation can be done on the morning of the procedure, provided we've already had a phone discussion with you.
Key-hole spay
The spay is a day procedure, with a morning admission and and afternoon discharge (with the pre-spay consultation done on the morning). IV fluids are given as standard during the procedure, and we include all post-operative pain relief and a medical pet t-shirt within the fee.
Follow-Up
We normally see patients for the first check-up 3-5 days later, with a final check-up 10-14 days post surgery. Any stitches are removed at the final post-op check. These are also included free of charge with us and we offer complimentary K-laser incision treatment at both checks.
Aftercare
Proper aftercare is essential for a speedy recovery and long-term health. Patients should be walked on the lead until the sutures are removed, with no walking, jumping, swimming or baths until signed off at the final post-op check.
Emergency Care
If you have any concerns, you can live-chat with our team via WhatsApp during our opening hours, or speak to us on the phone.
If the clinic is closed, then you can speak to one of our independent out of hours vets by phone, video or in person if needed.
Back to the park!
Once we've done the spay and discharged you, then that's it! Your dog can go back to her normal activities!