MRIs For Pets

Magnetic Resonance Imaging--or MRI for short--has come full circle since it was first tested on rats by its inventor, Raymond V. Damadian, in the early 1970s. For more than thirty years, it was used on human patients to discover abnormalities in the body that normal radiography could not "see." Since animal anatomy and physiology is virtually the same across species, it was only a matter of time before MRIs were used on companion animals.

  1. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Defined

    • MRIs can be used to detect urinary bladder stones or infectious drainage tracts.

      MRI is a diagnostic tool used by doctors--including veterinarians--to discover problems within the body of an unhealthy human or animal. Like radiography, or X-rays, it is a method of seeing inside the body. Unlike X-rays, MRIs can see soft tissue. X-rays are the tool of choice for determining problems like broken bones, bladder stones or other hard-surface anomalies. The limitations of X-ray machines are in their ability to only illuminate dense materials such as bones, stones and other foreign objects.

    Use of an MRI

    • In 2007 an anaconda named "Sir Mix a Lot" underwent an MRI to detect a cancerous tumor in his tail.

      As with pediatricians, veterinarians must be part detective because they cannot simply ask their patients to tell them where "it hurts." Veterinarians must rely on a number of skills and tools to make their diagnosis and thus be in a position to help the patient. Animals can exhibit signs of pain and foul health, but they cannot express what is ailing them to the doctor. MRIs have the ability to discover where there is a problem with soft tissue injuries such as muscles, ligaments, tendons, abscesses, tumors and infection.

    How MRI Works

    • Pet rabbits are candidates for MRI diagnostic testing.

      According to Advanced Veterinary Care Group, MRI works by emitting a "powerful magnetic field to align the natural spinning of water molecules within body tissues." Radio signals are transmitted and picked up by receiving coils placed outside what veterinarians believe is the area of concern. Through this technology, images are sent back that display a cross-section of tissue in exquisite detail from any angle and with equal resolution.

    About Veterinary MRI

    • MRIs were first tested on rats before being used on humans, and are now used on pet rats to diagnose health disorders.

      MRI can be used on a variety of companion animals including dogs, cats, birds, snakes, rabbits and rats. It can detect everything from musculoskeletal disorders to lymph node enlargement and foreign objects inside a wound. It can also be used to diagnose cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Pets are necessarily anesthetized in order to ensure there is no movement that would alter the MRI's veracity of results. The test usually takes about 60 to 90 minutes. Preliminary blood work may be required under certain circumstances. MRI is non-invasive and does not hurt the patient.