An SPECT system dedicated to small animal imaging shall be of a millimeter spatial resolution or even better.This study was aimed at achieving 0.5-mm spatial resolution for a small animal SPECT system at low cost.It was developed from a single-head clinical SPECT scanner,with a seven-pinhole collimator and a four-degree-offreedom motion control stage.Several key techniques were developed,including high-resolution image reconstruction algorithm,high accuracy geometrical calibration method,and optimized system matrix derivation scheme.The system matrix was derived from Monte-Carlo simulation and de-noised by fitting each point spread function to a two dimensional Gaussian function.Experiments of point source and ultra micro hot rod phantom were conducted.With a spatial resolution of 0.5-0.6 mm,this system provides a practical way for low-cost high-resolution animal imaging on a clinic SPECT system.