In recent years, laparoscopic surgery in veterinary medicine has become a more common clinical practice. It has been applauded because of its obvious benefits: less tissue trauma, fast healing, less postoperative pain and consequently less postoperative care. This minimally invasive surgery can however lead to serious physiological changes and complications. In this review, the advantages of laparoscopy and the side-effects of the anesthesia are analyzed. The major problems encountered during laparoscopic surgery are related to the cardiopulmonary effects of the pneumoperitoneum, systemic carbon dioxide absorption, extraperitonineal gas insufflation, venous gas embolism and accidental injuries. Appropriate anesthetic equipment to monitor the patient is necessary, as it allows the anaesthesiologist to recognize and treat eventual complications. An understanding of the basic pathophysiology of laparoscopy is required before dealing with the individual problems of the patient. The surgeon should be adequately trained before undertaking any surgical procedure with a laparoscope.