Watching your dog or cat have a seizure can be one of the scariest moments as a pet owner. Naturally, most people start with a visit to their veterinarian and basic diagnostic testing, including blood work. But what happens when the blood work comes back normal and your pet is still having seizures?
For many pet owners, this is where the next phase of answers begins.
A normal blood panel is actually useful information. Blood work helps rule out common causes of seizures such as:
• Low blood sugar
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Toxins or poisoning
• Electrolyte imbalances
• Infections or inflammation
If these issues are not showing up in lab results, your veterinarian may begin looking at neurological causes instead.
Seizures can originate from inside the brain itself, which means standard blood tests may not detect the problem. In many cases, pets experiencing seizures may need advanced imaging to evaluate the brain and spinal cord more closely.
Some possible causes can include:
• Brain inflammation
• Structural abnormalities
• Prior trauma
• Brain tumors
• Idiopathic epilepsy
• Neurological disease affecting the brain or spine
This is where veterinary MRI imaging becomes one of the most valuable diagnostic tools available.
Your veterinarian may recommend an MRI if your pet:
• Has recurring seizures
• Starts having seizures later in life
• Experiences cluster seizures
• Shows neurological symptoms between episodes
• Has seizures that are increasing in frequency
• Has normal blood work but symptoms continue
MRI imaging allows veterinarians to look deeper and identify potential neurological causes that cannot be seen through routine testing.
The sooner the underlying cause is identified, the sooner your veterinary team can begin building the right treatment plan. In some cases, seizures may be manageable with medication and monitoring. In others, identifying a structural or inflammatory issue early can make a significant difference in long term care.
Waiting too long can sometimes allow neurological conditions to progress unnoticed.
At Veterinary Outpatient MRI, we focus on providing advanced outpatient MRI imaging in a calmer, more affordable environment for pet owners seeking answers.
Our process includes:
• Review of your pet’s records
• Physical examination prior to imaging
• MRI performed under monitored anesthesia
• Board certified radiologist interpretation
• Detailed results shared with your referring veterinarian
We also offer a free pre scan physical evaluation to help determine whether MRI imaging may be the right next step for your pet.
While you are working with your veterinarian on next steps, here are a few important things you can do at home:
Keep a log of:
• Date and time
• Length of seizure
• Symptoms before and after
• Recovery time
• Possible triggers
Videos can also be extremely helpful for your veterinarian.
During a seizure:
• Move objects away from your pet
• Avoid touching their mouth
• Keep lights and noise minimal
• Stay calm and monitor the duration
Even if your pet seems normal afterward, recurring seizures should never be ignored.
If your pet is experiencing seizures and blood work has not provided clear answers, advanced imaging may be the next important step.
Veterinary Outpatient MRI offers advanced MRI imaging focused on seizure and neurological diagnostics for pets in the Phoenix area.
Your pet cannot tell you what is wrong, but modern imaging can help uncover the answers they need.