Endoscopy

Our hospital provides Endoscopy Services. Endoscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic medical procedure that is used to assess the interior surfaces of an organ by inserting a tube into the body. It is an essential diagnostic tool for pets with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The endoscope instrument has a built-in camera at the end of either a rigid or flexible tube, allowing for both visual inspection and photography. Many endoscopes have a channel through which biopsy or retrieval forceps may be placed to perform many different procedures including foreign body removal from the esophagus and stomach.

The most common types of endoscopy procedures performed in veterinary medicine include:

• Rhinoscopy – to examine the nasal passages
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (Upper GI endoscopy) – to examine the esophagus, stomach and upper GI tract
• Colonoscopy (Lower GI endoscopy) – to examine the colon and lower GI tract
  
• Bronchoscopy – to examine the lower (lung) and upper airways
• Otoscopy – to examine of the deep ear canals
• Cystoscopy – to examine the bladder and lower urinary tract
• Arthroscopy – to examine the joints and is often used for surgical procedures
• Laparoscopy – to examine the abdominal cavity and internal organs, often used as an alternative to open surgery for taking biopsies and performing some minor surgeries
• Thoracoscopy – to examine the chest cavity

Ask your veterinarian if endoscopy may be right for your pet.