Endoscopy

At Gentle Care, we are proud to be one of the few hospitals the Triangle area to offer advanced endoscopic procedures as a means of providing minimally invasive diagnostics and treatments for a variety of diseases or problems. Procedures that are less invasive mean decreased pain and shorter recovery time for your pet.

Using an endoscope (a small, long tube that contains a tiny camera) we can enter and examine the esophagus, stomach and a portion of the small intestine. We can also use this camera to examine the colon. This specialized equipment helps us to determine the extent of a disease process, take samples from specific areas, and remove certain foreign objects without surgery.

We offer the following types of endoscopy:

• Upper GI Endoscopy – examination of the esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine. This is performed for evaluation of pets with chronic gastrointestinal disease or for removal of foreign objects.
• Lower GI Endoscopy (Colonoscopy) – examination of the colon.

Endoscopic procedures require general anesthesia but usually can be performed on an out-patient basis.