Use of Capsule Endoscopy for Routine Health Screening in Five Special-Purpose Dogs: A Preliminary Study

초록

Special-purpose dogs, including working and blood donor dogs, require rigorous health monitoring to maintain their performance, welfare, and donor safety. However, subclinical gastrointestinal diseases may remain undetected by conventional screening methods. This preliminary study evaluated the feasibility and diagnostic yield of real-time video capsule endoscopy (RT-VCE) as a routine gastrointestinal screening tool in clinically healthy, special-purpose dogs. Five dogs (three police dogs and two blood donor dogs) underwent capsule endoscopy using a veterinary-specific system (MiroVET®, VC1200 or VC2000, Intromedic, Seoul, Republic of Korea). Four dogs were clinically asymptomatic, and one police dog exhibited intermittent hematochezia, which was suspected to be stress-related. Capsule endoscopy identified inflammatory mucosal changes, including gastric erythema and edema, in all police dogs. Two police dogs presented with gastrointestinal endoparasite infections. Occult gastrointestinal bleeding was detected in one asymptomatic police dog. One blood donor dog showed mild regenerative anemia upon hematological examination; however, both donor dogs had gastrointestinal bleeding despite the absence of clinical signs. RT-VCE enabled direct visualization of mucosal lesions that were not detected by routine diagnostic methods. These findings indicate that subclinical gastrointestinal pathology may be prevalent in high-value canines. Capsule endoscopy appears to be a feasible, noninvasive, and anesthesia-free screening modality that may facilitate early detection and intervention in veterinary preventive care. © The Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics.

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