Pet diagnosis goes high-tech

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- Diagnosing and treating what's ailing man's best friend is going high-tech.

A six-year-old boxer, GIO, isn't barking about being at his doctor's office.
 
A recent onset of seizures has GIO checking in for a closer look.
 
"We're going to look at the brain specifically today to see if we can make a more accurate diagnosis and tell why GIO is really having seizures," said Dr. Ken Knaack, Veterinary Specialists of CT.  

GIO is getting anesthesia, prepping for an MRI, a diagnostic tool first designed for people.
 
"It changes the way that you practice veterinary  medicine," said Knaack.

Veterinary Specialists of CT is among the few in New England to have one on-site.

"It allows us to have that window of looking into the brain, of looking into the spinal chord, to make an accurate diagnosis so we can hopefully help most of our patients," said Knaack.

Ken Glatt is the MRI Director.

"I'm looking at every possible angle," Glatt said.

There's no part of the pet's body that can not be scanned.    
 
"It's really the difference between a dog or a cat going into surgery or not having surgery," Glatt said.

For pet owners, it's a more definitive diagnosis which could make it a little easier to make that final decision of closure, if need be.  

A possible cause for GIO's seizures: a brain tumor.

"It doesn't look like a tumor," said Glatt, "but there are so many other disease processes that could be."

After 40 minutes the images are sent to the radiologist with almost immediate results.
 
It's good news for GIO and his owner.
 
No brain tumor; the diagnosis is epilepsy and will be treated with medication.