MRI Scanning

Service Description

A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan is a procedure that uses radio waves and magnets to create a detailed image of an animal's internal structures. MRI's are most commonly used to assess the brain and spinal cord. The procedure is also done at a local hospital, but takes much longer than a CT scan (typically 20-45 min). Patients are anaesthetised because the machine makes a racket and they need to keep perfectly still. Like with CT our patients are done at the end of the human list, they're dropped off at the practice earlier in the day, we take them to the hospital and owners collect later the same day from the practice in almost all cases. We usually need a few days' notice to set up a scan but waiting times may be longer during busy periods eg over Christmas. Sometimes the answer is blindingly obvious like in the image (the dog had tapeworm cysts in the brain). Sometimes we refer the images on to a Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging specialist for review.