Veterinary Diagnostic Care - Endoscopy
Veterinary Endoscopy
Endoscopy is an extremely useful diagnostic procedure that aids in the treatment of problems of your pet's gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This procedure is often used when routine laboratory tests, radiographs, and ultrasound do not give a full diagnostic picture of your pet's condition. An endoscope helps us visualize areas of your pets' body that would not be accessible without invasive surgery, particularly the the stomach, esophagus and some areas of the intestine. The Animal Medical & Surgical Center of Canton, GA is proud to use the advanced diagnostic technique.
An endoscope uses a rigid tube equipped with a lighted camera that transmit images to a monitor. The endoscope acts as the veterinarian's "eye" and allows for the diagnosis of GI disorders, cancerous growths, polyps and more. The endoscope also is useful in obtaining biopsy samples, especially biopsies of the stomach, small intestine and colon.
Endoscopy also assists us when removing foreign objects from your pet's body. Animals often swallow things they should not - toys, bones, and just about anything they can find. When patients arrive with this problem, we use the endoscope as a guide to remove the foreign object in order to prevent major surgery.
Anesthesia is required to keep your pet still during an endoscopic procedure; however, the amount of anesthesia and subsequent recovery time is far less than that required for a major surgical procedure.