Endoscopy allows our doctors to get a look inside your pet's digestive tract in a minimally-invasive manner, and frequently helps in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal illnesses. It is possible to take tiny tissue biopsies in the process of endoscopy, which can further aid in determining the cause of your pet's GI troubles.

How Endoscopy Works

First, anesthesia is induced and the pet is intubated and connected to a machine supplying oxygen and a small percentage of inhalant gas to keep the pet anesthetized for the duration of the procedure. Just as in any other surgery, a dedicated surgery technician monitors all the pet's vital signs throughout the anesthesia period. Next, the doctor introduces a long, very thin flexible tube containing a light source, a camera, and a tiny pincer (for very small tissue biopsies). The doctor gently advances the endoscope along the GI tract, looking for evidence of illness or abnormal tissues. If any are found, the tiny biopsy pincers can take minute tissue samples which can then be sent off to be analyzed by a veterinary pathologist. The process generally takes between one and two hours.

Common Reasons for Endoscopy

Endoscopy is an extremely minimally-invasive procedure used as a diagnostic aid, typically for otherwise unexplainable vomiting, diarrhea, IBS, or other gastrointestinal problems.