Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy
Minimally invasive adrenal gland surgery for dogs
Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the removal of a diseased adrenal gland through small ‘keyhole’ incisions rather than a single large surgical wound. At Queensland Veterinary Specialists, this advanced, minimally invasive technique is available for carefully selected dogs with an adrenal tumour. Adrenal masses are diagnosed more often than in the past – frequently as an incidental finding on imaging – and early specialist assessment offers the best chance of a safe surgery and a good long-term outcome.
What are the adrenal glands?
The adrenal glands are two small glands, one sitting just in front of each kidney. Despite their size they are essential, producing hormones that regulate blood pressure, salt and water balance, metabolism and the body’s response to stress. A tumour in an adrenal gland can cause problems in two ways: by producing excess hormones, or by growing large enough to affect nearby organs and major blood vessels.
Types of adrenal tumour
Identifying the type of tumour before surgery is important, because it determines the medication and preparation your dog needs for anaesthesia and surgery to be safe.
The main types are:
• Cortisol-producing tumours – cause Cushing’s disease, with increased thirst, appetite and urination, a pot-bellied appearance, hair loss and panting.
• Phaeochromocytoma – arises from the core (medulla) of the gland and releases adrenaline-type hormones, causing high blood pressure, episodic weakness or collapse, and a racing heart.
• Aldosterone-producing tumours – cause high blood pressure and low blood potassium, which can lead to muscle weakness.
• Non-functional tumours – do not overproduce hormones and are often found incidentally, but may still need removal because of their size or growth. Importantly, size alone does not reliably predict whether a tumour is benign or malignant.
How is it diagnosed?
A thorough work-up allows us to confirm the diagnosis, determine the tumour type and plan for safe surgery.
This typically includes:
- Blood and urine tests, including specific hormone testing to characterise the tumour
- Blood pressure measurement
- Abdominal ultrasound to assess the gland and surrounding structures
- A CT scan – considered the gold standard for planning – to measure the tumour and check whether it involves the caudal vena cava (the large vein beside the glands) or nearby organs
Why surgery – and why timing matters
For most dogs, surgical removal offers substantially better long-term survival than medication alone, and acting early – before advanced signs develop – allows the safest, keyhole approach and time for proper preparation.
Recent veterinary studies illustrate this clearly:
- Surgery improves survival. In a 2025 multicentre study of 255 dogs with phaeochromocytoma, median survival was 927 days after adrenalectomy, compared with 247 days with medication alone.
- Preparation before surgery saves lives. In the same study, dogs given appropriate medication before surgery had a 97.8% survival to discharge, compared with 85.2% without it – and this preparation takes time to do properly.
- Smaller, non-invasive tumours do best. Tumour size is the strongest predictor of outcome, and the likelihood of needing to convert to open surgery increases with larger tumours and heavier dogs.
Is my dog suitable for laparoscopic surgery?
Not every adrenal tumour is suitable for keyhole removal, and careful assessment – usually including a CT scan – is essential.
In general:
- Well suited: a tumour affecting one gland, without invasion into the caudal vena cava or surrounding organs, in a dog that has been medically stabilised and is not severely overweight. The keyhole approach is generally reserved for smaller masses (broadly up to around 5 cm).
- Requires discussion: a moderately sized tumour, moderate obesity, a right-sided tumour (technically more demanding), or manageable heart-rhythm and blood-pressure issues.
- Better suited to open surgery: a tumour growing into the vena cava, invasion of nearby organs, active bleeding, or a very large tumour.
Following a full assessment, our specialist team will advise which approach is safest for your dog.
The laparoscopic (keyhole) procedure
Under general anaesthesia, the affected gland is removed through a few small keyhole incisions. The adrenal glands lie deep in the abdomen, immediately alongside the caudal vena cava and major kidney vessels, so specialist laparoscopic expertise and meticulous planning are essential. The laparoscope provides around 10-times magnification, allowing our surgeons to precisely identify and preserve the surrounding vessels while completely removing the tumour. The gland is submitted for laboratory analysis (biopsy) after removal.
Laparoscopic view of a left adrenal gland tumour being carefully dissected free at QVS, under magnified visualisation.
Why choose laparoscopic surgery?
For suitable dogs, the keyhole approach offers meaningful advantages over traditional open surgery, while providing long-term results comparable to open surgery in selected cases:
- Less pain after surgery
- Smaller incisions and minimal tissue trauma
- A shorter hospital stay and faster return to normal activity
- A lower risk of wound-related complications
Preparing for surgery
Adrenal surgery requires careful preparation. Depending on the tumour type, your dog may need medication for several weeks beforehand to control blood pressure and stabilise hormone levels – for example, alpha-blocker therapy (such as phenoxybenzamine) before removal of a phaeochromocytoma, or trilostane for a cortisol-producing tumour. This preparation, combined with an experienced surgical and anaesthesia team, is key to a safe outcome.
Recovery and outlook
Most dogs are hospitalised for close monitoring for one to three days after surgery, with careful attention to blood pressure, hormone levels and electrolytes. Activity is restricted while the incisions heal, then normal activity is gradually resumed over two to three weeks. For dogs that recover well from surgery, the long-term outlook is often very good, and removing a functional tumour can resolve the hormone-related signs.
As with any major surgery the peri-operative period carries the greatest risk, which is why careful case selection and specialist care matter so much – our team will discuss your dog’s individual prognosis with you in detail.
Take home points
- Adrenal tumours can cause disease by overproducing hormones, by growing large, or both – and even small tumours can be malignant.
- Many are found incidentally on ultrasound, before a dog shows clear signs.
- Surgical removal offers substantially better survival than medication alone for most dogs, especially when performed early.
- Careful preparation and a CT scan are essential, and the keyhole approach suits smaller tumours without vascular invasion.
- Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is available at QVS for suitable cases, supported by specialist anaesthesia and 24-hour monitoring.
Next steps
Having multiple specialists working across our hospitals allows us to offer timely assessment and surgery. If your general practice vet has recommended specialist referral, or you would like to discuss treatment, please contact us to arrange a consultation. Our team will also provide a detailed estimate of costs, tailored to your dog’s individual needs.
If you have concerns for your pet in connection to this condition we recommend discussing it with your primary care vet in the first instance, or get in touch with our team for more info.
Dr Guy Bird
BVSc GradDipEd MVetClinStud MVetSurg DipECVS
Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
If you have concerns for your pet in connection to this condition we recommend discussing it with your primary care vet in the first instance, or get in touch with our team for more information.
If you need urgent medical help, contact our 24 hour Pet Emergency team at Stafford, North Lakes, or Sunshine Coast on 1300 QLD VET (1300 753 838)