Exotic Animal Endoscopy
At Harvest Pointe we want to ensure that our exotic pets are offered the same standard of care that more traditional pets can receive. While dogs and cats can be referred to specialty hospitals to have endoscopy performed, this is not often an option for exotics both due to comfort of the veterinarians and availability of special equipment.
Exotic Animal Endoscopy
At Harvest Pointe we want to ensure that our exotic pets are offered the same standard of care that more traditional pets can receive. While dogs and cats can be referred to specialty hospitals to have endoscopy performed, this is not often an option for exotics both due to comfort of the veterinarians and availability of special equipment.
At Harvest Pointe we have one of the few comprehensive set ups to perform exotic animal endoscopy in Western Canada, this includes incredibly small endoscopic equipment and staff training out of the University of Georgia on the use of surgical and non surgical endoscopy on exotic animals.
What is endoscopy?
Endoscopy is the practice of using a thin tube with a small high definition camera and light to assess internal structures of our patients up close. At Harvest Pointe Animal Hospital endoscopy allows us to both perform internal diagnostics and treatments but also minimally invasive surgical procedures.
What kinds of procedures can you do with endoscopy?
Endoscopes are extremely versatile depending on the set up. Some of our most common procedures in our patients includes…
Tracheoscopy
The assessment inside the trachea and airways in patients with chronic respiratory concerns either for visual assessment or sample collection. This is commonly performed in snakes and birds but to date we have performed this procedure in many different species.
Gastroscopy
The assessment inside the stomach to look for foreign objects that may have been consumed or to look for ulcers or other abnormalities
Rhinoscopy
The assessment of the inside of the nasal passages, for this procedure we utilize our smallest and most delicate endoscope to atraumatically get a look up the nose to diagnose complex and chronic nasal problems. We frequently perform these procedures in birds and small mammals such as rabbits.
Cystoscopy
This is where we pass an endoscope up the urethra into the bladder, this can be used for visual bladder and urethral assessment but is also commonly used in tortoises to facilitate bladder stone removal.
Endoscope assisted surgery
Sometimes, especially with our very small patients or patients who have anatomy that makes surgical access difficult we can sterilize the endscope and use it to assisst in an open surgery. This is something commonly done in turtles but can also be done in ear surgeries in rabbits or sinus surgery.
Endoscopic surgical procedures
In specific scenarios we may be able to do an entire surgical procedure with the endoscope alone. In these cases this results in a very small incision and in some cases a safer anesthetic procedure. The most common procedures that we do like this include liver, lung and kidney biopsies in birds.
Do you have one of the following exotic pets?
| Small Mammals | Birds | Reptiles | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabbits | Parrots | Snakes | Frogs |
| Ferrets | Songbirds | Bearded Dragons | Toads |
| Guinea Pigs | Pigeons | Chameleons | Axolotls |
| Chinchillas | Chickens | Geckos | Salamanders |
| Hedgehogs | Ducks | Uromastyx | Tarantulas |
| Degus | Geese | Iguanas | Scorpions |
| Gerbils | Pheasants | Turtles | Fish |
| Mice | Wild birds | Tortoises | Molluscs (Snails) |
| Hamsters | Peafowl | Tegus | |
| Sugar Gliders | Emus |
