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ENDOSCOPY

I have been told that my dog will have to have an endoscopy examination. What happens?

It depends where the examination has to be carried out.  An endoscope is really a miniature telescope, involving modern on fibre optics.  It is used for the direct visual inspection of any hollow organ or body cavity.

Specially designed endoscopes are used for specialised purposes. Thus for the examination of the airway a bronchoscope is used.  The endoscope used for the examination of the stomach is called a gastroscope or if at the other end of the rectum it is called a proctoscope.  The nasal cavity is examined with a rhinoscope and the bladder with a cystoscope.  In addition very small scopes can be introduced into joints.

These examinations are readily available at many veterinary hospitals and colleges today. 

Is general anaesthesia required?

For the majority of true 'scope examinations heavy sedation or a general anaesthetic is essential.  This is unlike with us where often we are asked to swallow a gastroscope tube while conscious.

Will my pet be cut at all?

The majority of 'scope examinations are carried out via a natural orifice, e.g. the urethral opening,  the mouth or  nose.  However if the abdomen is to be examined the 'scope is introduced through a small incision as it is when arthroscopy is carried out to examine a joint.  The incision is usually very tiny.

Will the examination take long?

Endoscopic examinations are usually combined with some other form of examination or physical `work up' as it is called.    The endoscope examination itself can sometimes be time consuming, particularly if a large area of the bowel has to be minutely examined.  If you are concerned about this aspect, contact the practice and we will do our best to give you an indication of what is involved.

How much will it cost?

Endoscopy, like ultrasonography involves the use of expensive, delicate equipment the initial cost of which is high as are maintenance costs.   Combine this with the time taken to secure the results and the expertise needed to interpret them and you will quickly appreciate why this type of examination has to be realistically priced.  All the major pet health insurance companies today realise the necessity of endoscopy as well as other modern diagnostic tools and if the dog is insured, there should not be any problems.

What are endoscopes used for mainly?

In dogs they are invaluable for locating foreign bodies such as grass seeds in nasal cavities, bones stuck in the gullet, particularly over the heart, foreign bodies in the stomach and intestines and bowel and tumours to mention but a few.

For the removal of a foreign body in the throat, an endoscope is worth its weight in gold.  It frequently will avoid the necessity for prolonged, costly and sometimes not entirely successful surgery.