Neurological issues can affect pets of any age or breed, and symptoms vary, so it’s essential for pet owners to know the signs and cost of treatment. So, let’s discuss dog neurologist prices. Generally, dog neurologist prices vary from one procedure to another.
For example, MRI, CT scanning, X-ray, myelography, cerebrospinal fluid sampling, blood tests, electromyography, nerve conduction velocities, and nerve or muscle biopsy are all procedures done by dog neurologists. So, the dog neurologist’s price depends on the procedure you will select for your pup.
All these tests and procedures that can be conducted by a dog Neurologist usually cost between $500 to $5000 (with dog MRI cost being the highest).
The Role of the Veterinary Neurologist in the Treatment of Canines
In order to become board-certified, veterinary neurologists must first complete an extensive amount of additional coursework and pass rigorous examinations. This process might take many years.
Consequently, they have a more in-depth grasp of issues linked to your pet’s neurological system and can do more complex tests.
The following are a few examples of advanced neurology services offered by dog neurologists:
- An in-depth consultation regarding the conditions that are affecting your pet’s brain, spinal cord, and neuromuscular system.
- Neurosurgery techniques such as hemilaminectomy, ventral slot procedure, cervical fusion, and nerve biopsy.
- Imaging Technology, Including MRI and CT Scanners.
- Surgical operations and other procedures are guided by ultrasound.
- Collection of cerebrospinal fluid and examination of its contents.
- Evaluations of the patient’s electrical activity.
Costs of different procedures conducted by dog neurologists
MRI
MRIs are a relatively new diagnostic tool for vets. Experienced dog neurologists often use MRI to detect any abnormality in dog brains. MRIs use magnetic fields & radio waves, as opposed to other imaging techniques that might be dangerous, and they can shed light on situations when all further diagnostics have been unsuccessful.
In the United States, the cost of an MRI on a dog is anywhere from $2500 to $5000, and that price often covers consultation and sedation too.
CT scans
A veterinarian may order a CT scan if he or she desires a more in-depth examination of a brain or spinal cord.
Unlike a conventional X-ray, a CT scan takes pictures of the patient in the form of segments. This allows the practitioner to dive into tiny areas of the canine patient’s body and assemble the segments into three-dimensional representations of the region being examined.
Normally, the cost of a CT scan for dogs ranges between $1200 and $1600 on average; however, this number might vary depending on the nature of the research and the intricacy of the scan.
X-ray
Your veterinarian needs to have access to various imaging equipment, including X-rays, since they may help identify major injuries that may be causing your dog discomfort and diseases and illnesses that may be life-threatening.
There is a wide range of possible prices for an X-ray. Standard X-rays typically cost between $120 and $200, with the average cost falling somewhere in that price range.
On the other hand, the price might range anywhere from $200 to $350 for neural x-rays.
Sedation, the number of views the veterinarian needs, and your location are all factors that might play a role in determining the final price.
Read more on X-ray costs for dogs here.
Myelography
Myelography is a diagnostic procedure that examines the dog’s spinal cord, spinal canal, and spinal lining by employing fluoroscopy. It is very helpful in evaluating the dog’s spine after surgery, as well as evaluating disc problems in individuals who cannot have an MRI done. The price of a myelogram can range anywhere from $1000 to $2000 when it is performed on a pet.
Cerebrospinal fluid sampling/test
The cost of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap alone may be upwards of $1500, and the array of simpler screening procedures that precede it can soon add up to a significant amount of money.
Electromyography
Electromyography (EMG) is a diagnostic test that a vet often does to identify muscle and nerve illnesses in canines. These conditions include peripheral nerve disorders, muscle disorders, and diseases impacting the nerve and muscle relationship. In most cases, EMG can cost between $170 and $400.
Nerve or muscle biopsy
A nerve biopsy has the potential to give significant insight into the pathological mechanisms that underlie the clinical manifestations of peripheral nerve illness.
It is possible that this procedure may not be able to offer a clear diagnosis as frequently as muscle biopsies do. Still, it will be capable of confirming axonal loss and neurodegeneration.
Nerve biopsy can be combined with muscle biopsy to offer maximum information on neuromuscular illnesses. A nerve biopsy can be performed on any nerve in the dog’s body, costing around $2500 to $3000.
Common Neurological Conditions in Dogs
Dogs are usually susceptible to a wide range of neurological disorders, including those listed below:
- Encephalitis
- Cancer
- Degenerative disorders
- Canine Degenerative Myelopathy
- Peripheral nerve diseases
- Spinal or brain trauma
- Stroke
- Meningitis
- Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD)
- Epilepsy (seizures)
How do dogs get brain injuries?
There are a variety of ways in which dogs can incur injury to their brains. Accidental hits by vehicles, assaults by bigger animals (such as being badly shaken and bitten), falls from great heights, blunt force trauma, and gunshot wounds are some of the most common ways pets get brain injuries. Other common causes of brain injuries in pets include:
- Hyperthermia
- Hypothermia
- Seizures
- Unusually low levels of glucose in the blood (hypoglycemia)
- Infection in the nervous system
- Toxicity
- Compromised immunity
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Brain parasites
- Tumors of the brain
Fortunately, even after suffering brain damage, dogs can make a full recovery.
Younger pets and pets that have sustained injuries that were not as severe have a better chance of making a full recovery than older pets and pets that have sustained injuries that were more severe.
However, pets can develop long-term neurological issues, which may require the ongoing use of prescription drugs and physical therapy.
What does a dog neurologist exam look like?
The examination that is carried out by a neurologist is very different from the kind of examination that is generally carried out by a general practitioner or a family veterinarian.
Dog neurologists test the patient’s reflexes, as well as their ability to differentiate normal from aberrant positions, and they examine their cranial nerves, which are the nerves that extend from the cortex to the face.
This is done to determine which part of the disorder affects the neurological system. This will assist vet neurologists in suggesting which diagnostics are essential to identify which treatment alternatives are the best.
Conclusion
In general, the cost of having a dog seen by a neurologist varies from one operation to another. Dog neurologists perform procedures including but not limited to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), x-ray, myelography, cerebrospinal fluid sample, blood tests, electromyogram, nerve conduction velocities, and muscle or nerve biopsies.
Therefore, the cost of having a dog seen by a neurologist is entirely determined by the treatment option that you choose for your pet. Nevertheless, the total cost of all of these examinations and treatments is often between $500 and $5,000.
