Advanced Endoscopy Services in Arcata

Advanced imaging services for dogs and cats.

What is Endoscopy? Endoscopy is a medical procedure wherein a small camera is able to be passed into an area of the body to magnify internal structures for examination.  The images are evaluated on a TV monitor which provides a clear, magnified view of the structures. Additional instruments may be passed through the endoscope to obtain biopsies, culture samples or to remove foreign bodies.  At Arcata Animal Hospital, we are able to provide flexible endoscopy services as well as rigid endoscopy services.  Endoscopy has many advantages over regular surgery including: less pain, excellent visualization of internal structures, fewer complications, faster recovery and the ability to access otherwise inaccessible areas in the body.

Types of endoscopic procedures we perform include

With this type of endoscopy, a flexible endoscope is passed into the stomach and intestinal tract.  We are able to evaluate the full length of the esophagus, including the entrance into the stomach.  In many cases we are able to remove foreign objects from the stomach, we can evaluate the stomach and upper intestinal tract for the presence of ulcers, tumors and obtain biopsy samples from the gastrointestinal tract.

With otoscopy, we are able to very clearly evaluate the entire ear canal and ear drum (tympanum).  For chronically infected ears, we are able to do a much more thorough job of cleaning the ears and we are able to obtain culture samples if needed deep in the canal next to the eardrum. We can evaluate tumors, obtain biopsies and if there is disease in the middle ear, we are able to perform a procedure called a myringotomy to obtain samples from the middle ear.

Rhinoscopy uses a rigid endoscope to image the nasal cavity the entire length until it reaches the oral cavity. We are able to look for and remove foreign bodies like foxtails, evaluate for the presence of certain types of infections, we can obtain samples deep in the nasal cavity for culture and we can obtain biopsies deep in the nasal cavity. We can also use the flexible endoscope to look above the soft palate back toward the direct of the nasal cavity to evaluate for masses or foreign bodies.

Vaginoscopy uses a rigid endoscope to examine the vaginal canal for masses, polyps, foreign bodies such as foxtails and to evaluate for the presence of abnormal ureter openings causing urine incontinence.

In larger female dogs in select cases we are able to perform cystoscopy where a rigid endoscope is passed into the bladder through the urethral opening.  This allows us to evaluate for abnormal urethral openings, and evaluate for migrating foreign bodies like foxtails.

Types of endoscopic procedures we perform include

With this type of endoscopy, a flexible endoscope is passed into the stomach and intestinal tract.  We are able to evaluate the full length of the esophagus, including the entrance into the stomach.  In many cases we are able to remove foreign objects from the stomach, we can evaluate the stomach and upper intestinal tract for the presence of ulcers, tumors and obtain biopsy samples from the gastrointestinal tract.

With otoscopy, we are able to very clearly evaluate the entire ear canal and ear drum (tympanum).  For chronically infected ears, we are able to do a much more thorough job of cleaning the ears and we are able to obtain culture samples if needed deep in the canal next to the eardrum. We can evaluate tumors, obtain biopsies and if there is disease in the middle ear, we are able to perform a procedure called a myringotomy to obtain samples from the middle ear.

Rhinoscopy uses a rigid endoscope to image the nasal cavity the entire length until it reaches the oral cavity. We are able to look for and remove foreign bodies like foxtails, evaluate for the presence of certain types of infections, we can obtain samples deep in the nasal cavity for culture and we can obtain biopsies deep in the nasal cavity. We can also use the flexible endoscope to look above the soft palate back toward the direct of the nasal cavity to evaluate for masses or foreign bodies.

Vaginoscopy uses a rigid endoscope to examine the vaginal canal for masses, polyps, foreign bodies such as foxtails and to evaluate for the presence of abnormal ureter openings causing urine incontinence.

In larger female dogs in select cases we are able to perform cystoscopy where a rigid endoscope is passed into the bladder through the urethral opening.  This allows us to evaluate for abnormal urethral openings, and evaluate for migrating foreign bodies like foxtails.