Gastroscopy is an endoscopic procedure in which a flexible camera endoscope is passed through the mouth into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. The examination allows real-time viewing of the mucosal lining on a monitor, tissue biopsy collection, and foreign body removal — all without a surgical incision. Gastroscopy is one of the most common endoscopic procedures in veterinary medicine and is an especially valuable tool for investigating chronic gastrointestinal symptoms and removing foreign bodies.
Foreign Body Removal — An Alternative to Surgery
Foreign body removal is one of the most common indications for gastroscopy. Studies show that endoscopic removal succeeds in 83–88% of cases. In dogs, the most common foreign bodies are socks, plastic fragments, cloth, bones, and toys. In cats, needles, threads, shoelaces, and rubber bands are most typical. Endoscopic removal is significantly less invasive than surgery: the complication risk is markedly lower, recovery is faster, and the pet can often go home the same day. After swallowing a foreign body, seeking prompt veterinary care is important — vomiting for more than 24 hours significantly worsens the prognosis.
Investigating Chronic Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Gastroscopy is an essential tool for investigating the cause of chronic vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and loss of appetite. During the examination, tissue biopsies are taken from the mucosa. Biopsies are always taken even when the mucosa appears normal — in many significant diseases, the mucosa can look visually healthy. Gastroscopy also reveals stomach tumors, polyps, ulcers, and inflammatory changes.
The Procedure
Gastroscopy is performed under general anesthesia. The pet fasts for 12–18 hours before the procedure. A flexible endoscope is passed through the mouth into the esophagus and onward to the stomach and duodenum. The camera transmits high-definition images to a monitor in real time. Through the endoscope's working channel, biopsy forceps can be used for tissue sampling, grasping forceps for foreign body removal, and flushing catheters. Diagnostic gastroscopy typically takes 15–30 minutes, foreign body removal approximately one hour on average.
Advantages Over Surgery
Gastroscopy is minimally invasive — no incision, no sutures to the stomach or intestine. The pet recovers faster, there is less pain, and the infection risk is lower. Most patients go home the same day and can eat within a few hours. The complication risk is very low: the perforation rate is only 0.1% in dogs and 1.6% in cats. Gastroscopy is both diagnostic and therapeutic — in the same procedure, the doctor can examine, take biopsies, and remove foreign bodies.
When to Seek Examination?
Contact us if your pet vomits repeatedly, has lost weight unexpectedly, avoids food, has blood or mucus in the stool, or if you suspect it has swallowed a foreign object. At Eläinklinikka Saari, we perform gastroscopy examinations and endoscopic foreign body removals — book an appointment for examination.