Diagnostic testing enables our team to pinpoint the underlying cause of your pet’s symptoms, diagnosing their condition(s). We want our pet parents to be involved in the decision-making process, and we thoroughly discuss the diagnostic testing we recommend for your pet and their diagnostic test results. Personalizing your pet’s diagnostic plan ensures we avoid unnecessary tests and procedures while leading us to a more personalized and effective treatment plan.

Diagnostic Overview

Bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure used to visualize the trachea and lower airways in dogs and cats. It involves using a flexible fiberoptic endoscope that is inserted into the pet’s airways under general anesthesia. This allows for a thorough visual assessment of the airways, allowing veterinarians to diagnose and investigate problems such as trauma, infection, tumors, ulceration, bleeding, or foreign material such as plant debris. Biopsies and other samples can be collected during the procedure for further analysis, providing valuable information about the underlying disease process.

While bronchoscopy can be a valuable diagnostic tool, it is usually only performed at specialty centers by veterinarians with specialized training and equipment. Pet parents can expect their pet to be admitted to the hospital for the procedure and must follow pre-operative instructions such as fasting and withholding certain medications. Post-operative care and monitoring will also be required. However, the procedure is generally considered safe, and most pets recover quickly from the anesthesia with minimal complications.