News Articles

Pet MRI gives owners new view

Machine dedicated to animals offers options and peace of mind

Albany Times Union, March 11, 2008

By Cathlene F. Crowley, Staff Writer

COLONIE — Isaac, a German shepherd, was depressed and barely walking. His owners considered putting him down, but they took him to Companion MRI in Latham for one last test to help decide what to do.

The magnetic resonance imaging machine dedicated to pets opened in November, becoming the first pet MRI in the Capital Region. The closest alternative is in Boston.

The scan indicated that Isaac had wobbler syndrome, an instability in the vertebrae of the neck. Peggy and Gary Dion had already spent $10,000 on Isaac to remove a spinal tumor and fix his elbow dysplasia before the new problem surfaced in January.

"He started dragging his back legs and tripping over his front paws, not able to sit," said Peggy Dion, a substitute teacher. "I cried almost every night about it. We loved this dog."

The Clifton Park family decided to spend another $4,000 for surgery to repair Isaac's unstable spine. Dion credits the $750 MRI scan for targeting the problem and the fix.

"It opens up a whole new diagnostic tool for a veterinarian," said Mark Leggett, president of Companion MRI.

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Pet MRI

New technology changes the way vets make diagnoses

Fox 23, WXXA-DT/TV, Albany, May 6, 2008

Producer: E. Milograno. Videographer: T. Lindop. Reported by: John Gray

There's a new technology available for our four legged friends and its changing the way veterinarians make their diagnosis.

"One thing the MRI does it gives them a more definitive image than any other modality, better than x-ray, better than ultrasound, better than CT. The definition of the tissues remarkable so it is probably the best for about 90 percent of the studies," said Mark Leggett, president of Companion MRI.

Leggett brought Companion MRI to the Animal Emergency clinic in Latham almost five months ago its one of only 30 machines in the United States devoted to scanning our pets.

"What we do is we give answers. We have many clients that come in that have very positive studies, brain tumors, liver tumors, spinal problems, discs. If nothing else it gives them a peace of mind with an answer or a course of action to take that otherwise we are guessing at."

The technology has prompted pet owners to drive hundreds of miles to get answers for their sick companions.

"It shows us that if there is a need people willing to travel from three different states to get here, then there absolutely is the need for this service."

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