Equine Health

Equipment & Technology

Video Endoscopy

By definition an endoscope in an optical instrument designed to allow visual inspection of the interior of hollow bodies with small entrances (i.e., nasal passages, the uterus, etc.) Originally these instruments consisted of a telescope housed in a rigid sheath with an electric bulb for illumination. In the late 1980s the fiberoptic endoscope was developed and became available to veterinary referral practices, and then eventually to general practitioners. If people have had their horses “scoped" it was with this conventional fiberoptic device. Now, through advancements in technology, video endoscopes, which have been used in human medicine for several years, has just become available for use in large and small animal practices for both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Electronic imaging, present in the video endoscope systems, provides a much clearer image than does the conventional fiberoptic system.

There are many common applications for the video endoscope in horses. The nasal cavity, sinuses, pharynx, guttural pouch, larynx, trachea and bronchi, esophagus, stomach and small intestines, urinary tract, and the mare’s genital tract are all areas of the body that are almost impossible to visualize non-invasively without endoscopy. Recently, there has been an increase in the demand for endoscopy during pre-purchase examinations, especially for performance, breeding, or exceptionally high priced horses. Endoscopic examination of the upper respiratory tract and genital tract as part of a purchase examination is done to identify any abnormalities that could adversely affect the ability of that horse to perform as intended. This includes conditions that, in the judgment of the veterinarian, could cause an immediate problem or develop into a future problem.

One of the most common uses for endoscopy is diagnosing upper airway diseases. Horses with chronic thick nasal discharge, nasal bleeding, chronic coughing, or headshaking syndrome can have diseases which can only be properly localized with endoscopy. Many of the above problems can be associated with the sinus cavity, which can be affected with infection, polyps, and tumors. The ethmoid turbinates, used for filtering air, are prone to hematomas, or large blood filled sacs. The guttural pouch, located below the inner ear, is a structure unique to horses, and can be viewed only with an endoscope. This area of the body is prone to chronic infection, especially from fungi. Another common use for the endoscope is to diagnose equine gastric ulcer syndrome. Here the scope is placed in the horse’s stomach and the lining inobserved for signs of ulceration.

If you would like to schedule an appointment please contact us. We encourage clients to participate in viewing the endoscopy session on the television monitor and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.