Veterinary MRI is a powerful diagnostic imaging tool that can be used when X-ray and ultrasound are unable to provide clear insight into your cat's health issue. Below, we delve into why and when an MRI scan for cats can be beneficial.
What is MRI for cats?
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been widely used to help diagnose human health issues since the early 1980s, but veterinary MRIs have only recently become more widely used.
Veterinary MRI scans provide your vet with high-resolution, detailed images of soft tissues in your cat, such as the brain, spinal cord, ligaments, tendons, and abdominal organs. Veterinary MRIs can provide a more detailed image of your cat's body than other diagnostic imaging tools, such as X-rays or CT scans, for many types of soft tissue injuries or diseases.
If your cat is limping, lame, having seizures, or experiencing joint pain, neck pain, back pain, or paralysis, an MRI may be recommended to help diagnose the cause of your pet's symptoms.
MRIs for cats usually take 45 minutes to an hour to complete. For an MRI to be successful, the patient must be completely still. A general anesthetic will be administered to your cat prior to the MRI scan to ensure its success. Blood tests and X-rays are typically recommended prior to the MRI to ensure that your cat is healthy enough to be sedated.
When is an MRI scan for cats useful?
For cats, an MRI may be useful in the following situations:
- To identify brain and spinal cord issues
- Examination of the nasal cavity, sinuses, and ears
- To better visualize internal organ abnormalities
- In cases where a simple X-ray or ultrasound did not reveal enough information to make a diagnosis
MRI is non-invasive, does not use radiation, and is thus considered very safe. It can provide critical diagnostic information for your cat's condition, assisting you in determining what is wrong with them.
They are, however, quite expensive because the equipment used is highly technical. An MRI is usually a last resort, used only if other diagnostic imaging techniques are ineffective.
How do vets perform MRI on cats?
An anesthetized cat is placed on a moving table before being placed inside a tube-shaped machine. An MRI on cats usually takes 10-15 minutes, and the pet's vitals are monitored throughout. Images are displayed in real-time for a veterinary specialist to assess, and they are also recorded for later viewing.
What is the difference between an MRI scan and a CT scan?
CT scans produce images using X-rays, whereas MRI does not. Soft tissue MRI images can be more clear and detailed than CT scan images. CT scans frequently produce better images of bony structures than MRIs.
Your veterinarian will recommend which test for your cat based on the structure to be examined and what the doctor hopes to discover.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.