Specialised Services

Ultrasound Diagnostics

Dr Alistair Newbould has successfully passed the required membership examinations (written, oral and practical) to gain membership of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Small Animal Radiology. He has prepared and studied for these rigorous examinations in addition to his normal long working hours. We are all very proud of his achievements.

This area of veterinary medicine has long been a passion of his, and he has often been referred cases for ultrasound by other veterinarians in and around Dunedin. Alistair was also one of the first veterinarians in the country to complete his Masters in Veterinary Medicine (MVM). The letters after his name are now almost as long as his name. BVM&S, MVM, MANZCVS (Small Animal Radiology)!!

Full abdominal studies are a regular part of the clinics workload and echocardiography (examination of the heart using ultrasound) is also commonly undertaken.

Specialised Radiography

For many years the veterinary profession and dog breeders have been trying to minimise the severity of hip dysplasia in dogs. Progress has been slow using traditional “hip extended” radiographic views. The University of Pennsylvania has developed a special radiographic technique that has been scientifically demonstrated to provide a scoring system that breeders can use to reduce the prevalence of this painful disease over just a few generations.

We are one of only a handful of veterinary clinics in NZ to be certified for this scheme. This is a major step forward in the control of this debilitating disease. Pups as young as 16 weeks old can be accurately assessed providing the opportunity to undertake preventive strategies for the individual dog as well as preventative breeding options. For more details on the scheme please click here.

Cardiac Holter Monitor

Many heart disease rhythm disturbances occur only now and then. An electrocardiograph (ECG) looks at the rhythm of the heart over short period of about 2 minutes. The Holter monitor is an extended ECG recorder that is fitted to your pet and left in place for 24 hours.

With the Holter monitor in place, we have a much better chance of recording them over 24 hours than with a paper strip recorder or even on the electrocardiogram display screen.

Our latest Holter can be left in place for up to 5 days, acting as an “event monitor”. This is invaluable for determining if a collapse episode is caused by heart problems or has some other cause such as a brain event like a stroke.