Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Through our collaboration with an Institute of Higher Education and a world-wide telediagnostics company we are proud to be able to offer our patients advanced diagnostics using a 3 Tesla MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine. The cost of this machine is over 1 million pounds, so it is a rare service to be found provided by a local veterinary practice – usually these machines are only available if your pet is referred to a specialist centre and even then, the machine will be usually 1.5 Tesla which offers inferior detail.

The ability to offer MRI to our patients means we can diagnose a variety of conditions without having to refer your pet. In addition to the convenience, for you, this service offers, it also saves you both time and money, as you do need to take time off work to travel to a referral centre and you do not need to pay a referral centre consultation fee.

MRI can be used to investigate changes in your pet’s mentation or behaviour; neurological signs such as seizures, ataxia (incoordination) and abnormal gait issues; and, on occasion, lameness issues.  This can help us diagnose a wide variety of brain, spinal column and soft tissue disorders including:

  • Tumours
  • Abscesses
  • Intervertebral disc herniation
  • Stenosis (narrowing) of the vertebral column
  • Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
  • Meningitis (inflammation of the brain covering – meninges)
  • Nerve root impingement

Rest assured if we recommend an MRI for your pet we have exhausted all other diagnostic investigations and feel the MRI would be in your pet’s best interests. We do not use MRI as a general screening test.