A vet MRI can potentially save your pet’s life. Nobody likes to think about their beloved pet in distress. Whether you have a dog or a cat, they are like family to you. But when they develop complicated health issues that are hard to diagnose, it can be very upsetting.
There is a wide range of different neurological conditions that may affect your pet. Just like in humans, neurological health concerns can affect your beloved pet at any time of their life. They can also be hard to spot. It is, therefore, vital that your pet gets the right type of testing in order to identify these complex and difficult to diagnose conditions.
To make an assessment, a vet MRI can be done, and this can help to save your pet’s life.
What Is A Neurological Condition?
Neurological disorders are illnesses that affect your pets’ peripheral nervous system. Neurological conditions can affect three areas, the nerves, spinal cord, and the brain. Several neurological conditions may affect pets, and spotting the symptoms of a neurological condition early is vital for their treatment. Where the nerves are affected by neurological disorders, facial paralysis or a loss of function in the tongue may occur. Your pet may not be able to blink.
Problems in the spinal cord may cause your pet to lose feeling in their limbs. They may have problems passing water and might struggle with walking. Brain disorders could lead to your pet suffering from seizures, tremors, blindness, or always tilting their head.
To spot all of these, a vet MRI can be used.
What Is An Vet MRI?
MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It is a technology that is commonly used in humans to identify health problems. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the inside of the body.
A vet MRI can be used to examine any part of the animal’s body, including:
- Their brain and spinal cord
- Their bones and joints
- The heart and blood vessels
- The internal organs
A vet MRI scan can be very beneficial in finding problems in a pet’s brain or spinal cord. By using an MRI scan, your vet will be able to determine exactly why your pet may be experiencing seizures or is unable to walk normally due to musculoskeletal issues.
How Long Does A Vet MRI take?
Your pet’s MRI could take up to two hours to complete. During this time, in order to get a clear image, they will need to remain perfectly still while they are being scanned. Because pets generally cannot remain still for that length of time, your pet’s vet will put them under general anesthetic to keep them calm while the scan is carried out.
How Long Does A Pet Take To Recover From A Vet MRI?
Following the vet MRI, your pet will need to recover for around two hours. Needed recovery is due to the anesthetic, which will take time to wear off. During your pet’s recovery time, your vet will be able to assess the results of the MRI scan to figure just what is going on.
How Does A Vet MRI work?
A Vet MRI transmits radio waves from a strong magnet into your pet’s body. These waves are read by a scanner, which in turn creates an image based on the information. The vet can look at this information and spot problems based on what they see.
What Type Of Conditions Can A Vet MRI spot?
Problems with soft tissues are one of the things that a vet MRI can diagnose best. The MRI scanner generally is used to identify conditions such as brain or spinal cord disease.
What Other Conditions Can A Vet MRI Diagnose?
Your pet’s MRI can be useful for assessing a range of different health problems, including orthopedic conditions such as tendinitis, cranial cruciate, meniscus tears, and more. It can also help examine muscle strains and tears as well as soft tissue neoplasm or tumors.
How Can Our Experience Help You?
Our board-certified vet neurologist, Dr. Gorgi, has been practicing veterinary neurology and neurosurgery in California for over a decade. He is an experienced and compassionate excerpt who used all of his skills and knowledge to create the most advanced veterinary neurological center in Southern California.
Your pet will be in the safest hands. When it comes to an understanding of the specific problems that are affecting your pet, we will ensure that they get the care and assistance they need. For more information and to book an appointment, call today on 949 716 9270. You can also check out our Brightcare Animal Neurology & Imaging Website.
