Frequently Asked Questions
What is an MRI?
When should one consider an MRI?
Are MRIs safe?
Are there any contraindications?
How long does it take to peform an MRI?
How do I make an appointment to schedule an MRI?
How much does an MRI cost?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a safe, non-invasive, advanced diagnostic test used to produce high quality images of an animal's internal organ. Images are computer generated, produced by recording the signal emitted from the organ following a radio wave stimulus while the animal lies safely in a high-powered magnet. The interpretation of the MRI images by the veterinary specialist helps diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of your animal's problem.
The MRI can be an effective diagnostic tool when the following symptoms are present:
- Neurologic - behavior, mentation changes, seizures, episodes, cranial nerve defecits, ataxia, paresis, lameness, pain
- Orthepedic - lameness, cruciate tears (ACL), tendon/ligament disorders
- Oncologic - presurgical planning
- Ophthalmologic - exophthalmos, blindness, pupillary disorders
- Other - nasopharyngeal signs, bullae disease, nasal disease, medical disease (Cushings)
Yes. The general anesthesia that accompanies MRIs carries limited risks, which are minimized by pre-anesthetic tests and patient monitoring.
Are there any contraindications?
Pacemakers and pregnancy. Metallic implants adjacent to the anatomic region imaged may obscure image quality.
How long does it take to peform an MRI?
The average scan takes one hour. The duration may be longer or shorter depending on the region(s) of the pet that are imaged and the associated findings.
How do I make an appointment to schedule an MRI?
A specialist at one of our affiliate referral centers should first evaluate your pet. The specialist should be chosen based on referral from your primary care veterinarian based on the nature of your pet's problem. Click here for more information.
The cost of a complete MRI study normally ranges from $1,600-1800, depending on the facility. This cost includes customized analysis and interpretation by our specialists, anesthesia, hospitalization, and other related services