Endoscopy

Surgery isn’t always the best option to help us examine specific areas of your pet’s body more deeply. Endoscopy is a less invasive method that allows us to see inside your pet’s body in real-time, which helps us diagnose any health issues. If you’re interested in learning more about our endoscopy procedures, please contact us at 604-464-6666.

What is endoscopy?

Endoscopy uses an endoscope, a small device with a camera and light attached at one end, to help us see inside your pet’s body. It’s connected to a monitor, which gives us the visuals in real-time. It’s usually inserted via your pet’s mouth or anus. It’s a helpful diagnostic tool to catch the early stages of health issues as well as examine any foreign objects your furry friend swallowed. 

How is it useful for my pet?

Endoscopy is less invasive than surgery since we’re not using surgical tools to operate on your pet. We can see what’s going on inside their body without a surgical procedure, which greatly reduces the recovery time or pains your pet would have to deal with. Below are some of the instances where endoscopy may be required: 

• Gastrointestinal issues affect areas like the stomach, esophagus or small intestine
• Unusual lumps
• Sudden weight loss 
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhea 

What happens when a pet gets an endoscopy?

Your pet will need to be placed under general anesthesia for the procedure to ensure their safety and comfort. If we’re examining your pet’s gastrointestinal tract, your furry friend will need to fast for a few hours prior. An empty stomach helps us to make the best assessment of any issues they’re having. Throughout the procedure, we’ll be sure to monitor your pet’s vitals to ensure they’re responding well to the endoscopy and anesthesia.