Nashville Veterinary Specialists

Depending on what your pet has been referred for, our neurological team may recommend one or more of the following procedures:

• Cerebrospinal fluid analysis: evaluation of spinal fluid is often used when looking for inflammation in the central nervous system but can also be used in conjunction with other tests to diagnose conditions such as cancer in the nervous system.

• Myelography: this is a procedure where a dye is injected into the space around the spinal cord in order to better visualize the spinal cord and look for disorders such as a disc herniation or cyst that may be affecting the spinal cord.

• Computed Tomography: CT is often used to visualize parts of the nervous system that are not visible on radiographs and for evaluating conditions such as spinal fractures.  The is also one of the most common ways to diagnose intervertebral disc disease in specific breeds of dogs.

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging: MRI is the best way to evaluate the majority of the nervous system, especially disorders that involve the brain as it provides a much more detailed picture of the soft tissues of the nervous system.

• Electrodiagnostics: electrodiagnostics are most often used to evaluate disorders of the nerves and muscles and is most helpful when combined with nerve and muscle biopsies. Auditory evoked testing is also available and is used to evaluate animals for deafness.