The Dowling Spay Retractor (Patent Pending) is distributed through Butler Animal Health Supply, 1-800-922-8767 and Concord Surgical Supply in Canada, 1-877-330-3335 and 604-467-2510 as well as Spectrum Surgical Instruments Corp., 800 444-5644.
In addition to Butler in the USA, spay retractors can be ordered from Vetimpex Ltd in Hungary and Concord Surgical Supply in Canada. Also Kruuse in Denmark is considering carrying them so call them and let them know you want them to carry the Dowling Spay Retractor.
If you prefer to order your Dowling Spay Retractor directly from Dr. Brian Dowling for either U.S. Domestic or International orders you may do so by clicking on the Add to Cart button below. You will be charged $5 for S&H regardless of how many you order for both US and International orders. (Orders within Washington State have .083 added for sales tax.)
"Brian: As you see, we have placed another order! Can't live without these now . . . I dont know how we did spays before! These spoil you to no end! Now when that 130 pound in heat rotty comes in . . . no fear! Thanks." -
Mark Justice, Double J Animal Hospital
"My name is Dr. Luke Proctor and I can't live without my spay retractors. We will not let a vet spay an animal in our clinic without learning to use this instrument. The exposure of the ovaries and its blood suplie is superior to any hemostat . Its like an extra two hands holding the ovary and keeping tissue out of the way. Genius and simple. Thanks." - Luke Proctor DVM
"I just tried one and must say it was the most fun I've had spaying in 27 years!!!" - Jackie Greenwood DVM, Toronto
"You're absolutely welcome to quote me. We REALLY enjoy using these. We've tried several others and been disappointed." - Michael Dahlman DVM, California
"Today, came into one of my relief jobs and found a 98# Lab-mix that had been dropped off by animal control for spaying...in heat of course. Now I usually make a large incision to do my spays but decided to keep the incision down to about 2", it looked like your retractor would be more effective the smaller the incision. Anyway, needless to say, it went extremely well, no problems, the retractor worked as it should and the fat guards were very effective and the spay went smooth, smooth, smooth. Now, I am usually slinging colorful phrases around pretty freely after doing a large in-heat dog spay... but not this time. Thanks alot for a great instrument. Only improvement (suggestion) I can see the need for a larger version... say based on a Carmalt clamp." (This was his second use of the retractor) - Todd Westin DVM
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Note that Dr Dowling has some imperfect instruments that he is giving away to nonprofit spay organizations and Veterinary schools. Again contact Dr Dowling directly not Butler for these imperfect samples.
Dr. Brian Dowling, the inventor, has now been using the Dowling Spay Retractor for over four years and has performed 1,000 successful proceedures. You can ask questions by sending an email to info@spayretractor.com.
The Dowling Spay Retractor
The retractor is placed to maintain exposure "hands-free" without rupturing the ovarian ligament.
Better exposure allows:
- Better ligature security
- Less post op pain without tearing the ovarian ligament
- No tissue damage, therefore no leakage from proximal to the ligatures
- Faster, more consistent, surgery
Other Benefits:
- Quickly becomes second nature
- One size fits all
- Inexpensive - includes the body with both a large and small foot)
Simply Effective
- The retractor streamlines the whole process of solo spays.
- "I haven't had to religate an ovarian stump for over 3 years (800+ procedures) using the Dowling Spay Retractor."
- Routine spays can be routine.
Instructions for Use
- Assemble the Dowling Spay Retractor by inserting the tapered end of the foot into the tapered socket and twist to seat firmly. (The retractor comes in two pieces for ease of packing with other instruments in a spay pack).
- Push the tip of the foot through the window in the broad ligament and around the ovarian pedicle to engage the curved part of the foot against the base of the pedicle.
- While pushing down on the skin and pulling up the ovary, clamp the hemostat near the ovary, (that tough bit of tissue between the ovary and the tip of the uterine horn holds well).
- Apply ligatures (I use Millers knots here and take advantage of the immobile tissues to get great knot security).
- Sever the pedicle, replace the retractor with another clamp and go on to the other side and uterine body.
- Dr. Brian Dowling
Inventor of the Dowling Spay Retractor
Helpful Ideas:
- Some dogs have very deep chests which cause the body wall to be tightly strung between the Xiphoid and the Pubis. This tension can be lessened (making it easier to get the body wall down where you want it) if you tilt the pelvis cranial by tucking a towel, or ideally, a foam wedge under the tail head.
- Brian Dowling, DVM
- Dr Dahlman, DVM, suggested that a smaller foot than the current small size might work better on the under 5#ers. I've tried the new smaller size and have to agree it's easier to maneuver. I am in the process of testing to see if the small foot just needs to be smaller or if a 3rd size foot is needed. In the mean time if you already have retractors and think that a smaller foot would be easier then it's a simple matter of tightening the bend on the smaller curve will decrease the gap between the foot and the jaws of the clamp (put it in a vice, don't bend it while it's attached to the socket and don't change the bend repeatedly).
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