Veterinary Endoscopy
Veterinary endoscopy is used for diagnosing and treating problems of the upper and lower gastrointestinal system. An endoscope is a specialized piece of equipment that works like a camera at the end of a long tube. Insertion of the endoscope is considered a minimally invasive technique and allows our veterinarians to get a closer look inside the gastrointestinal tract without creating a large incision. The endoscope can be inserted orally to look at the esophagus, stomach and duodenum (also known as gastroscopy) or inserted rectally to look at the colon and rectum (also known as colonoscopy). Use of the endoscope allows our patients to experience less pain, faster recovery times and fewer surgical complications.
In addition to complete examination of gastrointestinal tract, the endoscope can be used to take samples for biopsy without the need for surgery. This is useful when diagnosing diseases of the intestinal tract such as intestinal lymphoma or inflammatory bowel disease. It also allows us to remove foreign bodies (for example when a dog swallows a sock, toy or bone) from the stomach or duodenum without the need for surgical incisions.
