We use advanced veterinary diagnostics to help identify injury, illness, and underlying disease in pets who can’t tell us when something is wrong.
Because pets often hide signs of illness, we rely on thorough physical examinations, veterinary blood tests, and in-house diagnostic imaging to detect health problems early. In many cases, blood testing can identify disease before visible symptoms appear, allowing for earlier treatment and better long-term outcomes.
Our clinic is equipped with in-house diagnostic tools including blood analysers, microscopy, ultrasound, and digital X-ray. These veterinary diagnostic services allow us to provide fast, accurate results and prompt treatment for your pet. When further investigation is required, we work closely with Awanui Veterinary Pathology to ensure comprehensive laboratory testing and reliable diagnostic results for complex cases.
Imaging & Ultrasound
Non-Invasive Imaging to Support Your Pet’s Care
At Avonhead Veterinary Clinic, veterinary radiography (X-rays) is an essential diagnostic tool used in Christchurch to assess a wide range of internal health conditions in pets.
X-rays (Radiographs)
Radiographs allow us to see internal structures of your pet’s body, including bones, organs, and areas of gas within the chest and abdomen. This non-invasive diagnostic imaging helps us quickly identify conditions such as fractures, bone injuries, swallowed foreign objects, bladder or kidney stones, and changes in organ size or shape. X-rays are also important for detecting heart and lung abnormalities and some cancers. Because they provide fast, detailed internal images, radiographs play a key role in prompt diagnosis and treatment planning.
Dental Radiographs
In cats and dogs, more than half of each tooth sits below the gum line, where it cannot be seen during a standard oral examination. Dental X-rays allow us to examine the hidden structures of each tooth, including roots and surrounding bone, helping us accurately diagnose dental disease and determine whether extractions are required.
Dental radiographs are also essential for confirming complete treatment, ensuring no root fragments remain after an extraction, which could otherwise cause pain, infection, or inflammation. By providing a complete view of the mouth, dental X-rays support thorough, effective, and pain-free veterinary dental care in Christchurch.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a safe, non-invasive diagnostic imaging tool used to assess your pet’s internal organs in real time, without surgery or radiation. Ultrasound allows us to examine soft tissue structures in detail that cannot be seen on X-rays, including the liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder, and heart. This makes it an essential part of our veterinary diagnostics, helping us confirm or refine diagnoses and determine the most appropriate treatment plan.
This imaging technique is especially useful for pets presenting with non-specific symptoms such as vomiting, weight loss, abdominal pain, or changes in urination. It also helps detect internal abnormalities early, sometimes before obvious clinical signs appear. We also commonly use ultrasound for pregnancy diagnosis and monitoring in cats and dogs, supporting safe pregnancies and helping prepare for delivery.
Overall, veterinary ultrasound provides fast, accurate, and detailed insights, allowing our veterinarian to diagnose conditions early and deliver the best possible care for your pet.
In-House Laboratory
On-Site Laboratory Testing for Your Pet’s Health
At Avonhead Veterinary Clinic, our in-house veterinary laboratory allows us to perform fast and accurate diagnostic testing for pets, helping us diagnose and treat illness as quickly as possible. Our clinic is equipped with advanced blood, urine, and faecal testing technology, enabling us to assess your pet’s health with minimal stress and rapid results.
With a small blood sample, we can evaluate red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, as well as key markers of liver, kidney, and organ function. These veterinary blood tests provide a detailed insight into your pet’s internal health, often detecting disease before visible symptoms appear. Urine testing supports assessment of kidney function, hydration status, and metabolic health, while faecal analysis helps identify intestinal parasites and gastrointestinal infections.
Our in-house testing includes:
- Catalyst One biochemistry panels
- Skyla biochemistry analyser
- Idexx ProCyte CBC (complete blood count)
- Skyla VM100 AI Multifunctional Morphological Analyser
- T4 panels for thyroid testing
- SDMA (earlier diagnostic of kidney function/disease)
- Fructosamine for management of diabetics
- SediVue Dx urine sediment analysis for crystals, bacteria, and blood cells
This comprehensive in-house laboratory service allows our vets to diagnose disease early, monitor ongoing conditions accurately, and tailor treatment plans to your pet’s individual needs.
Microscope (Cytology & Diagnostic Microscopy)
Microscopy is an important diagnostic tool used to examine cells and body samples in detail for pets. It is a key part of our in-house veterinary diagnostics, supporting early detection, accurate diagnosis, and effective treatment planning.
Our vets can to assess samples taken from lumps or masses, helping them to determine whether they are likely to be benign cysts, infections, inflammation, or tumours. This enables faster, more accurate diagnosis and helps guide the most appropriate next steps in treatment or further testing. We also use cytology to examine ear samples, identifying common causes of ear infections such as mites, yeast, and bacteria. This allows for targeted treatment and faster relief of discomfort for your pet.
In addition, urine sediment analysis is performed under the microscope to detect crystals, bacteria, and inflammatory cells. These findings can help diagnose urinary tract infections, bladder irritation, and other urinary conditions.
In-house testing allows us to quickly diagnose your pet’s condition and promptly begin the most appropriate treatment plan.
Awanui Veterinary Pathology
At Avonhead Veterinary Clinic, we work closely with Awanui Veterinary Pathology in Christchurch for external diagnostic testing. When further or specialised laboratory analysis is required, their expert pathology services provide comprehensive and accurate results to support diagnosis and ongoing treatment for your pet.
