We have all heard the stories (or lived the nightmare): The Labrador who ate a sock. The cat who swallowed a sewing needle. The dog that won’t stop sneezing after running through a paddock.
In the past, solving these mysteries often meant major exploratory surgery—opening the abdomen or chest just to “have a look.”
At Horsham Veterinary Hospital , we prefer a less invasive approach. Using high-tech Veterinary Endoscopy, we can look inside your pet, diagnose the problem, and often cure it, all without making a single incision.
Here is how this “magic camera” works and why it is a game-changer for your pet’s recovery.
What is Endoscopy?
Endoscopy (from the Greek words endo meaning “inside” and skopein meaning “to look”) involves using a specialized medical camera to view the internal organs.
There are two main types we use in veterinary practice:
Flexible Endoscopy: A long, snake-like tube with a camera and light on the tip. It can bend and turn to navigate the twists of the stomach and intestines.
Rigid Endoscopy: A straight, hard tube with excellent optics. This is used for “straight shots” like looking into the nose (Rhinoscopy) or the bladder (Cystoscopy).
The images are projected onto a high-definition monitor in the operating theater, allowing our vets to see the tissue magnified and in full color.
When Do We Use It?
Endoscopy is versatile, but it shines in three specific areas:
1. The “Foreign Body” Retrieval (The Fishing Trip)
This is the most common—and dramatic—use. If your dog swallows a golf ball, a bone, or a fish hook, and it is still in the stomach, we can often go in with the scope. Using tiny “grabbers” or “baskets” that slide down a channel in the scope, we can latch onto the object and pull it back out through the mouth.
The Benefit: Your pet wakes up with no stitches and can go home the same day, avoiding major abdominal surgery.
2. Investigating Chronic Tummy Troubles
If your pet has had vomiting or diarrhea for weeks and blood tests are normal, we need to look at the lining of the gut. We can use the scope to visualize ulcers or inflammation and take tiny biopsies (tissue samples) to test for IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease) or cancer.
3. The Sneezing Dog (Rhinoscopy)
If your dog suddenly starts sneezing violently, they likely have a grass seed or twig stuck deep in their nasal passage. An X-ray often won’t see a grass seed, but a scope can find it and pluck it out instantly.
What to Expect During the Procedure
Our Horsham Clients often ask if we can “just have a quick look” while the pet is awake. Unfortunately, unlike humans who can be told to “say ahhh,” a dog or cat will not tolerate a tube down their throat or nose!
- General Anesthesia: Your pet must be fully asleep under general anesthesia. This ensures they are safe, still, and feel no discomfort.
- Intubation: We place a breathing tube to protect their airway (ensuring no fluids get into their lungs).
- The Procedure: Depending on the complexity (e.g., trying to grab a slippery ball vs. just looking), it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
- Recovery: Because there are no cuts or stitches (unless we converted to surgery), recovery is incredibly fast. Most pets are eating dinner that same night.