Endoscopy
If your dog or cat isn’t feeling like themselves; such as having a poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, or unexplained respiratory or urinary symptoms, and the cause isn’t immediately clear, your veterinarian at Lifetime Veterinary Care may recommend an endoscopy.
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Endoscopy is a minimally invasive way for us to look inside your pet’s body and gather valuable information to help us reach a clear and accurate diagnosis. The procedure is performed under anesthesia, allowing your pet to remain comfortable and stress-free throughout.
What Is Endoscopy?
Endoscopy is a diagnostic procedure performed right here at Lifetime Veterinary Care that allows your veterinarian to view certain internal organs in real time using a small camera called an endoscope.
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We use a Flexible endoscope, which is used to evaluate larger structures such as the stomach and portions of the intestinal tract if your pet is having digestive problems.
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While many people associate endoscopy with gastrointestinal issues, it is actually a versatile tool that can help diagnose a wide range of conditions, such as:
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Abnormal discharge from the nose, yellow, green, or bloody discharge that does not go away with treatment.
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Chronic ear infections that get better with medication, but return as soon as medication is done. This is often because there is an infection inside the middle ear where the eardrum has ruptured. Once the eardrum is ruptured, infection can move into the middle ear. The only way to clean this out is with an ear flush with an endoscopy to make sure that all material that is causing infection has been removed. This is a very common issue.
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Pets with a chronic cough often may have an infection or abnormalities inside the lungs and trachea. The endoscope can look all the way down to visualize any problems in the respiratory tract.
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Chronic diarrhea or vomiting pets may have inflammatory bowel disease and the endoscope allows us to take a piece of tissue to send to a pathologist and find out exactly what the problem is. Once we know what the problem is, we know how to treat it!
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Endoscopy can be used to remove items that your pet may have swallowed if it is still in the stomach, and can be taken out without surgery.
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Endoscopy FAQ
Why Has My Veterinarian Recommended an Endoscopy?
Your veterinarian may recommend an endoscopy if your dog is experiencing ongoing or unexplained symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, coughing, urinary concerns, or difficulty swallowing - especially if initial testing like bloodwork, X-rays, or ultrasound has not provided clear answers.
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Endoscopy allows us to:
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Closely examine tissues that can’t be seen from the outside
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Collect small tissue samples (biopsies) if needed
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Obtain samples for culture or additional testing
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Identify inflammation, ulcers, masses, or other abnormalities
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In some cases, endoscopy can also be used to retrieve swallowed foreign objects from the esophagus or stomach without the need for more invasive surgery.
What Happens During an Endoscopy?
All endoscopies are performed under general anesthesia to ensure comfort and safety.
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Once your pet is anesthetized, the endoscope is gently guided into the area of interest. Your veterinarian views the images in real time and carefully examines the tissues. The procedure typically takes 30–60 minutes.
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If abnormalities are seen, tissue samples or photographs may be taken. In many cases, your veterinarian can identify the problem the same day, with final results confirmed once any lab tests (such as biopsies) are completed.
How Do I Prepare My Pet for an Endoscopy?
Before the procedure, your pet will receive a thorough physical exam to ensure they are healthy enough for anesthesia. Bloodwork may be recommended to help us choose the safest anesthetic plan.
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For gastrointestinal endoscopies, your pet will likely need to fast beforehand so the stomach and intestines are empty, allowing for the best possible evaluation. Our team will provide you with clear pre-procedure instructions.
What Is Recovery Like After Endoscopy?
Most pets are able to go home the same day once they have fully recovered from anesthesia.
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Because endoscopy is minimally invasive, complications are rare, and most pets recover quickly with little to no discomfort.