{"id":4550,"date":"2021-05-21T14:49:38","date_gmt":"2021-05-21T14:49:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vetmed.iastate.edu\/vmc\/hixson-lied-small-animal-hospital\/specialty-care\/internal-medicine\/minimally-invasive-procedures\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T13:47:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T13:47:14","slug":"minimally-invasive-procedures","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vetmed.iastate.edu\/vmc\/small-animal\/specialty-care\/internal-medicine\/minimally-invasive-procedures\/","title":{"rendered":"Minimally Invasive Procedures"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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ectopic ureter ablation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Diagnostic Endoscopy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When investigating respiratory, urinary, or gastrointestinal issues in your pet, our clinicians may recommend endoscopy (also known as rhinoscopy, bronchoscopy, or cystoscopy). This procedure utilizes a camera to access the organ of interest and obtain samples for analysis. While endoscopy requires anesthesia, it is non-invasive, and most patients are discharged the same day or the following day with minimal activity restrictions.<\/p>\n

Beyond visualization and sampling, endoscopy can facilitate the removal of foreign bodies from the stomach or airways without resorting to surgery.<\/p>\n

Urethral Stenting<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For dogs afflicted by certain urinary tract cancers such as transitional cell carcinomas or prostatic carcinomas, tumor growth may obstruct urine flow, posing life-threatening risks. Previously necessitating surgery or euthanasia, this complication can now be managed by implanting a small metallic stent. Under general anesthesia, stent placement utilizes fluoroscopy and avoids invasive surgery.<\/p>\n

Ureteral Stenting<\/strong><\/h2>\n

In cases where stones, blood clots, or masses obstruct urine flow from the kidney to the bladder, placement of a ureteral stent may be necessary. This procedure, performed under anesthesia, can resolve urinary obstructions either temporarily or permanently, either surgically or minimally invasively using cystoscopy.<\/p>\n

Laser Ablation of Ectopic Ureters<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ectopic ureters<\/a>, a common congenital cause of urinary incontinence in dogs, can often be corrected without surgery. Using cystoscopy and a small laser, this procedure diagnoses and corrects the condition, with approximately half of treated dogs achieving continence, and additional improvement seen with medication in some cases.<\/p>\n

Laser Lithotripsy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Bladder and urethral stones can cause discomfort and complications for pets. While surgical removal remains the primary treatment, minimally invasive options exist. Utilizing a cystoscope and laser, stones can be fragmented without surgery, reducing the need for anesthesia.<\/p>\n

Tracheal Stenting<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Tracheal collapse, frequently observed in small breeds like Yorkshire Terriers and Pomeranians, can be managed with medical treatment but may necessitate stent placement for severe cases. While not a cure, tracheal stenting improves quality of life by maintaining tracheal patency. This procedure, performed under anesthesia with fluoroscopic guidance, does not require surgery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":4548,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4550","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMinimally Invasive Procedures - Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/vetmed.iastate.edu\/vmc\/small-animal\/specialty-care\/internal-medicine\/minimally-invasive-procedures\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Minimally Invasive Procedures - 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