SportHorses.vet is an independent equine veterinary service based in Bocholt (3950), Belgium.
Specialized in equine orthopedics, sport horse medicine and performance-oriented veterinary care across Europe.
Equine Endoscopy – Advanced Airway & Gastrointestinal Diagnostics for Sport Horses in Belgium
Endoscopy is an essential diagnostic tool in sport horse medicine, allowing us to thoroughly evaluate the upper airways, gastrointestinal tract, urinary system and other internal structures. As an equine orthopedic and sports medicine veterinarian (PhD) based in Belgium, I use high-definition endoscopy to diagnose conditions that directly impact the performance, breathing efficiency and overall health of sport horses competing across Europe.
Endoscopy enables direct visualization of the nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, trachea, esophagus, stomach and bladder, and allows us to obtain fluid or tissue samples for laboratory analysis. This is crucial for detecting gastric ulcers, respiratory infections, urinary tract diseases, tumors, and other performance-limiting conditions.
Types of Equine Endoscopy Offered
- Urethral endoscopy
- Gastric endoscopy (gastroscopy)
- Upper airway endoscopy
We perform both:
- Static endoscopy: evaluation while the horse is at rest.
- Dynamic endoscopy: evaluation while the horse is in motion (exercise endoscopy).
Both modalities are complementary and provide a complete understanding of airway function, especially in sport horses experiencing decreased performance or abnormal respiratory noises.
Dynamic Endoscopy – Essential for Diagnosing Performance-Limiting Airway Disorders
Obstructions of the upper respiratory tract are a major cause of reduced athletic performance in sport horses. During intense exercise, the pressures inside the airway increase dramatically. Any structural weakness or instability results in:
- Reduced airway diameter
- Increased airflow resistance
- Higher breathing effort
- Reduced ventilation
- Lower oxygen availability to the muscles
These issues cannot always be detected at rest, making dynamic endoscopy the gold standard for diagnosing airway collapse during exercise.
Common Conditions Diagnosed With Dynamic Endoscopy
- Soft palate dysfunction (DDSP)
- Pharyngeal wall collapse
- Left arytenoid cartilage collapse
- Vocal cord collapse
- Intermittent dorsal displacement or entrapment of the epiglottis
Identifying these pathologies allows us to guide treatment decisions, improve breathing efficiency, and restore the performance capacity of competition horses.