In certain cases, your veterinarian may recommend a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tap – often called a “spinal” tap – to help diagnose diseases affecting your pet’s brain or spinal cord. This procedure allows for specialized testing of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, providing important information through microscopic analysis and infectious disease testing.
At WTVS, a CSF tap is performed only in carefully selected cases and always under general anesthesia. Because this procedure carries a small risk of complications, it is ideally performed after advanced imaging—such as an MRI or CT scan—has been completed. However, if transport to a veterinary neurologist is not possible, your veterinarian and the WTVS specialist may determine that proceeding locally is appropriate after the risks have been fully discussed and understood.
When performed safely, a CSF tap can be an important tool in diagnosing and managing complex neurologic diseases in pets.