Endoscopy Services
What is an endoscopy?
An endoscope is a long, thin and flexible or rigid instrument used to perform investigations in difficult to access cavities or compartments. Through an endoscopic procedure we are able to investigate and diagnose, luminal diseases and illness. Endoscopy is less invasive than surgery but works to complement it. In some cases, surgery can be avoided. At Animal Medical Centre, endoscopy services have been available since 2005.
What can endoscopy be used for?
As well as diagnosing illness and disease, endoscopy is used to identify  foreign bodies, tumours, functional studies and diagnose pathogenic and histologic conditions via biopsy for further investigation.
Is endoscopy an option for my pet?
Our veterinary surgeons will determine whether an endoscopy is an option for your pet, however, some of the following symptoms are suitable for endoscopy. Here are some common reasons for the procedure.
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Chest pain
  • Persistent nausea and vomiting
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Vomiting blood
  • Persistent diarrhoea
  • Blood in stools
  • Foreign bodies
  • Tumours
Once our veterinary surgeon has established endoscopy as an option, we will select the best scope for your pet. We offer endoscopy to both our regular clients and as an outpatient service.

We have a range of endoscopic equipment here at Animal Medical Centre, however most commonly we use rigid and flexible scopes, depending on the body cavity of interest. Our flexible fiberoptic endoscope is suitable for gastrointestinal, oesophageal, small intestines, stomach and colon, where our rigid scope is used for investigation in the vagina, nasal cavities, bronchi amongst other cavities. Our endoscope also has a biopsy facility so that we can take a sample of the area of interest to send to our pathology specialists for further investigation.
Pros/cons of endoscopy
Pros of endoscopy
  • Less surgically invasive
  • Real-time imaging
  • Ability to record the procedure and take still images
Cons of endoscopy
  • An anaesthetic is required
  • Specialist knowledge is required so being can be more expensive
  • Recovery from anaesthetic
For more info, visit Dr. Elise