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Cat Endoscopy: Cost, Procedure, Side Effects & Recovery Explained
Created on 10.28
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Your furbaby has a cat endoscopy scheduled – panic-mode activated. You have no clue what’s going to happen, how long it’ll take, and how well it’ll heal after. And god forbid, side effects. What about costs? Your headspace is now a big jumble.
Worry less, pet parent. Because we have a quick and easy guide to quench all your worries about a cat endoscopy procedure. Let’s jump in.
Feline Endoscopy – What To Expect?
An endoscopy is a quick and painless veterinary diagnostics procedure. A professional inserts a long tube with a tiny camera – usually through the mouth – to take a look into the body cavity. Done under safe doses of general anesthesia, this procedure helps the vet accurately deduce what’s making your pet sick.
Vets usually do this when they :
· Suspect illness or injury
· Want to take some tissue samples (or a biopsy)
· Need to remove foreign objects
· Are facing pets with long-term symptoms, like vomiting or diarrhea
While the mouth route is the general practice, some cat endoscopies are nasal or rectal – so up the nose or up the back end.
Why Would My Cat Need An Endoscopy?
Your veterinary expert might suggest an endoscopy when they’ve done the physical and still can’t pinpoint a cause. Minimally invasive and requires no surgery, feline endoscopy is usually ordered when your vet notices or suspects :
· Chronic vomiting or diarrhea – the endless ones that go on for weeks and don’t get better with over-the-counter (OTC) solutions.
· Trouble swallowing or eating – when your cat suddenly has difficulty swallowing, gags while eating, or completely avoids meal times.
· Sudden, drastic weight loss – unexplained drops in weight are often the first sign of something funky going on on the inside.
· Persistent coughing or gagging – any hacking or choking, accompanied by labored breathing and wheezing, could indicate inflammation or obstruction in the breathing tract.
· Foreign object blockage – everyday stuff like bits of string, stray hair ties, or plant matter – cats LOVE these and then go right ahead to choke on them.
An endoscopy for a cat is the most effective way to an accurate diagnosis of what is going on wrong. The routine procedure is swift, usually using a flexible endoscope for maximal viewing power. Even a single look around into the body tells your vet exactly what they need to know – no expensive surgeries needed.
What Happens During A Feline Endoscopy Procedure?
Now, let’s teleport straight into your trusted vet’s examination room – here’s how a typical endoscopy for a cat goes down :
1. To avoid regurgitation during the procedure, kitty would be under strict doctor’s orders to fast – usually between 8-12 hours.
2. A safe, monitored dose of general anesthesia is administered for the best scoping conditions – without your cat trying to get away every 2 seconds.
3. Depending on the area to be examined, your vet gently inserts a flexible vet endoscope through the mouth, nose, or rectum.
4. As the camera travels through the body cavity, it sends a live video feed to a nearby monitor. The vet examines your kitty’s insides – usually for things like swelling, ulcers, growths, or obstructions.
5. In some cases, small, supporting instruments are passed through the scope. This is to aid examination, remove a foreign object, or collect a tissue sample for lab testing.
6. Once done, the endoscope is withdrawn, and your cat is moved to a recovery area. They’ll be placed under monitoring until the sedative wears off. Most cats go home on the same day.
Here’s a little video of an actual feline endoscopy procedure to help you better understand what to expect during a scope diagnostic :
Is Endoscopy Safe For Cats?
Yes — a feline endoscopy is widely regarded as the safest diagnostic route in feline veterinary medicine. It is minimally invasive, requires no cuts or stitches, and your cat can go home in just about an hour – that’s if the sedative’s worn off.
Here’s why vets trust this procedure as a go-to:
· No large incisions: The scope goes through a natural opening — like the mouth, nose, or rectum — no surgery needed.
· Quick recovery: Most kitties are sent home the same day and are back at their cat antics in just a few hours from discharge.
· Extremely low risk: It’s common practice at vet clinics. When done by a trained animal specialist, there are nearly no complications whatsoever.
When it comes to endoscopy in cats, risks are rare — but not zero. Usually, risks of sedative-allergens affect older or gravely ill cats. But, rest assured that your vet professional is monitoring vitals at all times during the active procedure.
How Long Does A Feline Endoscopy Take?
If we’re strictly talking about the endoscopy procedure itself, you’re looking at a good 20 to 40 minutes – conservatively. Some, more complex endoscopy might take more time. Add to that some buffer time for prep and sedative recovery, around 1-2 hours.
Overall, this procedure would take you anywhere between 2-3 hours at the vet clinic.
Cat Endoscopy Recovery: Key Things
Your kitty will likely bounce back from the endoscopy in hours. Once the anesthesia wears off, you’ll observe :
· Slight grogginess or wobbliness for a couple of hours after – this is as the body expels the sedative.
· The indoor rule. They’ll want to jump and climb, avoid that.
· The 24-hour soft food guidance. After the 24-hour window, you’re safe to resume your usual food options.
Keep a close watch on your furbaby and ring the vet if you notice :
· Vomiting or refusing to eat, eve after the 24-hour surveillance period.
· Any form of bleeding with your cat.
· Signs of lethargy – slow walking, no active play, sleeping all day – that won’t improve.
Does It Have Side Effects?
Most cats go right back to their daily chaotic lives in hours, without any side effects. But we can’t rule them out in cases where the procedure’s done on an elderly cat or one with a chronic illness.
In this case, the most common cat endoscopy side effects are:
· Mild sore throat and intermittent coughing
· Disorientation – even days after the procedure
· Diarrhea or minor rectal irritation
How Much Does a Cat Endoscopy Cost?
The procedural cost for this can vary greatly – depending on how experienced your vet is, where you live, and what needs to be done. On average, pet parents fork out between US$50 - US$200 for a feline endoscopy session.
Here are some things that can rack up a bill :
· After-procedure medication
· Pre-screening tests – x-rays, blood tests, and ultrasounds
· A need for a biopsy to diagnose further
It’s best to always ask your vet about the charges even before you get the procedure done. Most pet insurance policies also cover endoscopy – check the claim limit before settling on a vet clinic.
Endoscopy For Cats: A Routine Veterinary Diagnostic
An endoscopy for your pet cat is one of the simplest, most effective diagnostics methods you can opt for – without surgical intervention. When done with a quality, function-specific endoscope, the procedure takes just under an hour and can be performed with minimal risks.
So don’t worry, pet mom/dad. Your kitty is in safe hands.
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