MRI scans

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a very advanced form of diagnostic imaging that enables radiologists to obtain very detailed pictures of the inside of the body. MRI’s are particularly useful for looking at the brain and the spine where conventional X-rays can only show us boney detail.

MRI is gradually becoming more available for veterinary surgeons. Burgess Diagnostics is a company that supplies mobile MRI scanners for human hospitals and they now have a veterinary arm called Vet-MRI.

The Grove has been able to offer an MRI facility since October 2004. A 23 tonne Vet-MRI mobile scanning unit visits the practice every other week.

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’s have been used in medicine for many years with literally millions of examinations performed world-wide.

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

CT scanning

We are lucky enough to have our own CT scanner in house.

Computed tomography (CT) is essentially an advanced form of X-ray producing a series of images (slices) of the patient. Advances in technology now means that CT is the most holistic imaging modality, combining fast data acquisition with high resolution images in any part of the body.

We also offer a referral service for other practices for CT scanning.