Endoscopy in dogs: what it is used for and what it detects
Veterinary Diagnosis · Silo Veterinaria · Colombia 2026
Endoscopy in dogs: what it is used for, what it detects, and what the procedure is like
Endoscopy in dogs allows visualization of the inside of the stomach, intestine, airways, and colon without open surgery — it removes foreign bodies, takes biopsies, and diagnoses digestive diseases in a single session under anesthesia
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GSMED Imaging technical team — veterinary endoscopy Colombia
Based on: WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) Gastrointestinal Standardization Group Guidelines 2023, Tams TR — Small Animal Endoscopy 3rd ed. 2022, and gastrointestinal endoscopy practice in veterinary clinics in Colombia 2024–2026.
A dog that swallowed a toy, a sock, or a chicken bone is much more likely to survive without surgery if its veterinarian has an endoscope. Canine endoscopy allows foreign bodies to be removed from the esophagus and stomach in 80–90% of cases without opening the abdomen — avoiding surgery with prolonged anesthesia, scars, and weeks of recovery. That is just one of the reasons endoscopy has become an essential tool in small animal veterinary medicine.
1. What endoscopy in dogs is used for
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Foreign body removal — the most common indication
Dogs (especially puppies and breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Beagles) are notorious for swallowing objects: toys, socks, ropes, buttons, coins, chicken bones, and chopsticks. If the object is in the esophagus or stomach and has been there for less than 24–48 hours (before it moves into the intestine), endoscopy can remove it with forceps or retrieval baskets. This avoids surgical esophagotomy or gastrotomy in most cases.
→ Most common · Esophagus + stomach · <48h · Avoids surgery
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Intestinal biopsy — diagnosis of IBD and enteropathies
Canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — which includes protein-responsive enteropathy, antibiotic-responsive enteropathy, and immune-mediated enteropathy — can only be confirmed with histological biopsy of the intestinal mucosa. Endoscopy takes multiple biopsies from the duodenum, jejunum, and colon without surgery. It is the diagnostic standard recommended by the WSAVA 2023 before starting immunosuppressive treatment.
→ Canine IBD · Duodenum/jejunum/colon biopsy · WSAVA 2023
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Bronchoscopy — airways
Canine bronchoscopy evaluates the trachea, main bronchi, and bronchial lobes — it diagnoses tracheal collapse (common in toy breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, and Poodles), chronic bronchitis, endobronchial foreign bodies, and atypical bronchopneumonia. It also allows bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) for cytological analysis and microbiological culture.
→ Tracheal collapse · Bronchitis · BAL · Toy breeds
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Colonoscopy and proctoscopy
Canine colonoscopy evaluates the colon and rectum — it diagnoses chronic hematochezia (blood in the stool), rectal polyps (common in older dogs of certain breeds such as German Shepherds), chronic colitis, and colorectal masses. It allows targeted biopsy of visible lesions and evaluation of the colonic mucosa in IBD.
→ Hematochezia · Rectal polyps · Chronic colitis · Biopsies
2. What the endoscopy procedure in a dog is like
| Step | What happens | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-procedure evaluation | Preoperative labs (complete blood count + biochemistry) · X-ray if a radiopaque foreign body is suspected · Fasting for at least 8–12 hours before upper gastrointestinal endoscopy · Colon preparation if colonoscopy is performed | 24–48 hours before |
| General anesthesia | Intravenous induction (propofol) + maintenance with inhalational gas (isoflurane or sevoflurane) · Endotracheal intubation · Continuous monitoring of SpO₂, heart rate, temperature, and blood pressure | 10–15 min |
| Endoscopic procedure | Introduction of the endoscope through the mouth (upper endoscopy) or anus (colonoscopy) · Systematic examination · Foreign body removal or biopsy collection as indicated | 15–45 min |
| Recovery | Extubation when the dog regains swallowing reflexes · Observation for 1–2 hours at the clinic · Discharge with an additional 2–4 hours of fasting | 1–2 hours |
| Biopsy results | Sent to a veterinary pathology laboratory · Results in 7–14 business days | 7–14 days |
3. Breeds with the highest indication for endoscopy
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Gluttonous breeds (foreign bodies)
Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Beagles, and English Bulldogs — breeds with a compulsive tendency to swallow objects. They are the most frequent candidates for foreign body removal endoscopy.
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Toy breeds (tracheal collapse)
Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, Toy Poodles, and Pomeranians — bronchoscopy for evaluation and classification of tracheal collapse. Grades I–IV based on the reduction of tracheal diameter.
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Breeds predisposed to IBD
German Shepherds (protein-responsive enteropathy), Basenjis, Shar-Peis, and Boxers (granulomatous colitis) — colonoscopy with biopsy for the diagnosis of chronic IBD.
How much does endoscopy in a dog cost in Colombia?
The cost of veterinary endoscopy in Colombia varies by city, type of procedure, and clinic. Approximate ranges in 2026: upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (canine gastroscopy) with anesthesia: COP 400,000–800,000. Endoscopy with foreign body removal: COP 600,000–1,200,000 (depending on complexity). Bronchoscopy: COP 500,000–900,000. Colonoscopy: COP 450,000–850,000. These prices include anesthesia and recovery, but generally do not include the analysis of biopsies sent to veterinary pathology (an additional COP 80,000–150,000 per sample).
Veterinary endoscopes in Colombia — GSMED
Small animal endoscopy equipment with a working channel suitable for biopsies and foreign body removal — with local technical support.
Request information →Related articles
Sources
- WSAVA GI Standardization Group. Guidelines for the Diagnosis of IBD in Dogs and Cats. wsava.org. 2023. WSAVA 2023
- Tams TR, Rawlings CA. Small Animal Endoscopy. 3rd ed. Elsevier. 2022. Tams 2022
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