MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a very advanced form of diagnostic imaging that enables the radiologist to obtain very detailed pictures of the inside of the body, particularly useful for looking at the brain and the spine where conventional x-rays can only show us bone and not soft tissue detail. The technology is gradually becoming available for veterinary surgeons via the use of mobile units operated by specialist service providers.

Burgess Diagnostics is a company that supplies mobile MRI scanners for veterinary referral centres and University Hospitals. The mobile scanning unit visits the practice for one day a month, and to provide this facility we have had to enlarge the car park, widen the road access and upgrade to a 3-phase electricity supply.

The scanner is mainly used for cases seen in our orthopaedic and spinal referral service. It is particularly useful in the investigation of neurological and spinal disease.

The scanning procedure is entirely non-invasive and carries no known side effects to patient or operators. It relies on exposing the patient to a powerful magnetic field. MRI has been used in medicine for many years with thousands of examinations performed daily, world-wide.

Animals are anaesthetized prior to scanning, as it is necessary for them to lie completely still for up to 60 minutes in the scanner. The scanning process takes place in a small tunnel and the machine is quite noisy!

We use an RCVS / ECVS specialist radiologist for interpretation of images where necessary.