I read your recent article about magnetic resonance imaging of pets at Johns Hopkins with great interest ("Johns Hopkins begins using high-tech equipment on pets," April 7).
However, you seemed to portray the Hopkins service as unique when, in fact, there have been dedicated veterinary MRI facilities in our area for many years, including the Iams Veterinary Imaging Center, Veterinary Imaging of the Chesapeake and Veterinary Neurology of the Chesapeake. The latter two are specialty practices located in Annapolis on the campus of the Chesapeake Veterinary Referral Center.
Our MRI at Veterinary Imaging is uses a superconducting magnet that is identical to that used at human imaging centers. We pride ourselves in staying current and compliant in anesthetic, imaging, safety and zoonotic protocols. Since the practice opened in 2012, we have performed diagnostic MRIs on hundreds of pets and even on animals from the National Aquarium.
If surgery is needed, we have a board-certified neurologist on staff and board-certified surgeons and other veterinary specialist on campus. There is a dedicated critical care unit in the event of an emergency, as well as numerous trained veterinary team members who can be called on as needed.
Cheryl Lewis-Arnold, Annapolis
The writer is the practice administrator for Veterinary Neurology & Imaging of the Chesapeake.