The advantage with an endoscope is the removal of a potentially life-threatening obstruction without surgery. There is no pain and no surgical incision.

The biggest disadvantage is that only the stomach and a small part of the intestine can be visualized. Foreign objects stuck in the intestines are not amenable to endoscopy. Another disadvantage is that dogs/cats can have more than one foreign object. You and the veterinarian may be misled if a large foreign object is removed from the stomach. There still may be another obstruction elsewhere. This cannot be visualized with an endoscope and surgery may be required.

Despite the disadvantages, endoscopy should be attempted, when available, to remove a gastric foreign object before going to surgery.