Anal probing is the insertion of an instrument into the anal cavity of a human or animal to assess the conition of the lower bowel. Instruments used include pliers, tongs, fiber-optic cables, syringes, eye droppers, thermometers, and specialized balloons. Anal probing is used most often to identify digestion problems; however, it can also be used to identify parasites, organ damage, and foreign objects in the rectal cavity.