Veterinary Endoscopy for Dogs and Cats
Minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment using flexible and rigid endoscopes, often avoiding open surgery and shortening recovery to a matter of hours.
Procedures we perform
- Gastroscopy and duodenoscopy with biopsies
- Foreign body removal from the oesophagus and stomach
- Rhinoscopy for chronic sneezing, nasal discharge and epistaxis
- Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage
- Cystoscopy for lower urinary tract disease
- Colonoscopy for chronic large-bowel diarrhoea
Emergency Foreign Body Removal by Endoscopy
If your dog or cat has swallowed a toy, a bone, a fish hook or another object, endoscopy can in selected cases retrieve it from the oesophagus or stomach without open abdominal surgery. Recovery is usually a matter of hours rather than days.
Whether endoscopic retrieval is possible depends on the size, shape and position of the object and on how long it has been there. Imaging is performed first, and our team is prepared to convert to surgery in the same anaesthesia if endoscopic removal is not safe. This service is available as part of our 24-hour emergency care.
Anaesthesia and safety
Every endoscopic procedure is performed under general anaesthesia with full monitoring, individualised protocols and pain control. Biopsies taken during the procedure are submitted for histopathology, and results are discussed with you in a written report.
When endoscopy is the right next step
- Chronic vomiting or diarrhoea without a diagnosis
- Suspected gastrointestinal foreign body
- Chronic nasal discharge, sneezing or nosebleeds
- Persistent cough unresponsive to treatment
- Recurrent lower urinary tract signs
Frequently asked questions
Is endoscopy safer than surgery?
It is less invasive and recovery is faster, but it still requires general anaesthesia. Whether it is the better option depends entirely on the case, and our team will explain the alternatives before proceeding.
Can biopsies be taken during the same procedure?
Yes. Tissue samples are routinely collected during gastroscopy, colonoscopy, rhinoscopy and bronchoscopy and sent for laboratory analysis.
How soon can my pet go home?
Many endoscopy patients go home the same day, once fully recovered from anaesthesia. Cases with complications or underlying disease may be hospitalised.
Related services
Talk to Our Team
Send your pet's medical records and diagnostic imaging for a case review, or contact our hospital in Madrid directly.