Endoscopy

An endoscope is a long, thin, flexible tube that has a light source and camera which enables the images of the inside of the body to be relayed to a monitor.

We currently have two fibre-optic endoscopes of different diameters.

1. The larger unit is used to see inside an animals gastrointestinal (digestive) tract and makes it possible to take biopsy samples without the need for major surgery.
2. The other, thinner scope, called a bronchoscope, is used to visualise much narrower passages such as the airways of cats and small dogs and, similarly, can collect tissue or fluid samples from the airway or from within the lung.

Endoscopy is not usually a painful procedure, but it can be uncomfortable, so our patients will require a sedation or general anaesthetic for this procedure.