Veterinary endoscopy is a procedure that helps veterinarians see inside animals without needing to perform surgery. It uses a long, thin tube called an endoscope. It has a tiny camera and light at one end, with a lens at the other that allows veterinarians to see inside the body. This type of test is usually performed by a board-certified internal medicine specialist.

The pet is placed under general anesthesia or is “asleep” during the whole procedure. The veterinarian gently inserts the endoscope into the animal's body through a natural opening, like the mouth or anus. The endoscope sends images to a screen, allowing the veterinarian to see inside, in this example, the intestinal tract.

Many times endoscopy is recommended because the pet has signs of vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, or hasn’t been eating well. In some cases, it is used in pets that have an abnormal object stuck in the stomach. Pets eat all kinds of things they shouldn’t! 

The endoscope has a channel that allows the veterinarian to pass small cup-like instruments that can take tissue samples, called biopsies, or long graspers that grip onto things to pull them back out, avoiding surgery.

Endoscopy can be used to look inside different parts of the animal's body, such as the stomach, intestines, inside the nose or lungs, and in the urinary bladder. It helps veterinarians diagnose health problems like digestive conditions, tumors, infections, or foreign objects stuck in the animal's body.

Endoscopy is a safe and minimally invasive procedure, meaning it causes minimal discomfort to the animal and doesn't require any major cuts or incisions. It helps the veterinarian investigate what's happening inside the pet without the need for surgery.

The pet gently wakes up and in most cases, goes home the same day, just like a human patient would - it is considered an “outpatient” procedure. If biopsy samples were collected, the lab will analyze them and send a report to the veterinarian. Based upon the results, the veterinarian will develop a treatment plan. This may involve medications, dietary changes, or additional testing.