Arizona Veterinary Internal Medicine Endoscopy

What to expect if your pet is referred for endoscopy...

Endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that requires general anesthesia; therefore, we require our patients have no food after 10:00 PM the night before the procedure. Water may be given any time before the procedure. Equipment used for endoscopy allows visualization of areas within the body thought to be the source of problems. Tissues may also be biopsied and sent to a laboratory for histopathology (results of these biopsies can take several days to return). In many cases, your pet can go home the same day of the procedure.

Some endoscopic procedures include:

Endogastroduodenoscopy- commonly referred to as "endoscopy"- the evaluation of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestines
Colonoscopy- the evaluation of the large intestines
Rhinoscopy- the evaluation of the nasal passages
Bronchoscopy- the evaluation of the trachea and lungs