Endoscopy and gastroscopy at your yard

An endoscope is a flexible camera that lets us look inside your horse without surgery. Our portable long scope (for gastroscopy) and short scope (for the airway and guttural pouches) mean examinations take place at your yard.

Gastroscopy: checking for gastric ulcers

Gastric ulcers (equine gastric ulcer syndrome, or EGUS) are common, especially in horses in work or under stress. Signs can be vague: picky appetite, weight loss, girthiness, behaviour changes, mild colic or poor performance. Gastroscopy is the only reliable way to confirm ulcers and judge their severity; a repeat scope shows whether they have healed.

Upper airway endoscopy

For horses that make a noise when working, cough, have a nasal discharge or are underperforming, we examine the nasal passages, throat, larynx (voice box), guttural pouches and windpipe. If an exercising (overground) endoscopy is needed, we’ll arrange referral.

Guttural pouch examination and flushing

The guttural pouches are air-filled spaces at the back of the throat. We can examine them and flush them through the scope, for example to screen for or treat horses carrying strangles or to investigate nosebleeds.

Preparing your horse

For a gastroscopy the stomach needs to be empty, so your horse will need to go without food for roughly 12 to 16 hours beforehand, and without water for about the last 2 hours. We’ll give you instructions when you book, including keeping your horse off edible bedding. Airway endoscopy doesn’t usually need any starving.

On the day

Most horses have light sedation, and the procedure is painless. We’ll discuss the findings and a treatment plan before we leave. Your horse can eat again once the sedation wears off.

Book an examination

To book, call us on 01270 660014 or email info@tomwaltersequine.com. New to the practice? Please register with us online first.