ENDOSCOPY

At Peasebrook we regularly perform respiratory tract endoscopy as well as gastroscopy.

These examinations are performed in the standing horse and allow thorough examination of the respiratory tract, looking at laryngeal anatomy and function. This is often followed by a dynamic endoscopy with a short scope fixed in the horse’s airway whilst he is strenuously exercised. Many problems only come to light when the horse is getting tired.

Equine Gastric Ulceration Syndrome is a very common disease within the horse population.It can present as weight loss but more commonly, it can show up as mild colic or reluctance to be girthed-up and rideability issues. After 24 hours starvation, to empty the stomach, we pass our 3 metre endoscope up the nose, into the oesophagus and down into the stomach. This allows close examination of the stomach wall and grading of any ulcers present. This procedure is done under sedation and is well tolerated by all horses.