Endoscopy at The Animal Hospital at Lake Brandt

Cat

Maggie is a very good cat with a very bad habit.  Maggie is a beautiful, 2-year-old, Devon Rex with a very sweet personality.  She is a wonderful pet and a fantastic patient every time she comes to the vet's office.  There’s just one thing that keeps getting Maggie in trouble: she is addicted to eating Nerf darts.  That’s right. Those little foam darts with suction cups on the end that kids love shooting everywhere.  For some reason, Maggie seems to think they are quite tasty. 

Last month, Maggie came to The Animal Hospital at Lake Brandt for a visit because she wasn’t acting like herself.  This was not the first time she had eaten a Nerf dart, so we knew just what to look for.  On the x-ray above, you can see the suction cup from the dart in Maggie’s stomach.  The last time Maggie swallowed something similar, she needed surgery.  Luckily, this time the location of the foreign body made it accessible by endoscopy.  Maggie was anesthetized and the dart was removed without the need for surgery!  Maggie went home the same day and was feeling back to herself right away.

Endoscopy is a non-surgical procedure that gives access to the gastrointestinal tract.  The endoscope is a tube with a camera and a light at the end.  It can be used to look at the esophagus, stomach, and upper intestines, or the colon.  If needed, instruments can be passed through the endoscope to take samples of the GI tract, or to grasp objects that need to be removed.  If your pet has chronic gastrointestinal issues or has eaten something he or she shouldn’t have, schedule your appointment to see if endoscopy is a right choice!