We are proudly the first and only veterinary center in Southern California to offer state-of-the-art stereotactic neuro-navigation that allows us to perform minimally invasive brain and spinal biopsies and perform less invasive and more accurate brain surgeries.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
An MRI is useful for finding problems in a pet’s brain or spinal cord and is beneficial in determining why your pet may be experiencing seizures or is unable to walk normally due to musculoskeletal issues. Because your pet is unable to remain still for up to two hours, a general anesthesia will be administered to keep the pet calm and to get a clean reading from the scan. The way an MRI works is by transmitting radio waves from a very strong magnet into the pet’s body. The waves are read by a scanner that forms an image of the problem. An MRI is usually best when used to diagnose problems in soft tissues. Recovery time form this non-invasive procedure will generally take about two hours, about the time it takes your veterinarian or imaging specialist to read the results.
MRI is the preferred imaging modality for brain and spinal cord disease but is also useful in diagnosis of:
- Orthopedic conditions (arthropathies, such as tendinitis, cranial cruciate ligament ruptures, meniscus tears)
- Muscle strains/tears (i.e. iliopsoas tear) or myositis (inflammation/infection of muscle)
- Soft tissue neoplasia (tumors)
CT-Scanning (Computed Tomography)
A CT Scan is recommended for pets who may have any of the following problems or problem areas: nasal and sinus, head trauma, orthopedic, abdominal, ureters, and spine, to name a few. It is beneficial to narrowing down neurological problems in pets. A general anesthesia will be given to the pet in order to keep it from moving and to make the pet more comfortable. A X-ray tube will rotate around the pet to get images of the location and is sent to a computer or can be printed out as an X-ray image. CT Scans can be used to track the progress of treatment administered by your veterinarian and to establish a historical point for treatment. A CT Scan is useful to view damage caused by acute trauma and to diagnose bone tumors.
CT is an excellent imaging modality for:
- Ear disease (middle, and inner ear disease)
- Nasal cavities & frontal sinuses (such as rhinitis vs. nasal tumors)
- Orthopedic conditions (joint disease, long bone tumors)
- Diagnosis of masses/tumors and metastatic disease (CT of thoracic and abdominal cavity)
