What is endoscopy?
Endoscopy is a procedure in which our veterinarians at Instituto Medico Veterinario de Alava (IMVA) in Álava introduce a tube incorporating a camera and a light source through the body’s natural orifices, such as the respiratory tract or the intestinal tract, or through surgical incisions in, for example, the abdominal cavity or a joint, to observe internal body cavities. It can also incorporate instruments to perform sampling or minimally invasive surgical interventions at the same time (cauterisation of tissues, removal of cysts, polyps or tumours…).
Endoscopy requires anaesthesia and therefore does not cause any pain or trauma for the patient. It can be used to explore the nose, ears, digestive system, respiratory system, reproductive system and urinary system.
When should endoscopy be considered?
It is recommended for understanding the cause of sneezing, vomiting, diarrhoea or urinary problems in pets and can be used to remove objects from the nose, lungs, stomach or oesophagus without painful surgery.
Recovery time is immediate, so once it is done, the pet can resume its daily life right away.
