What Vet Detective is

Vet Detective is a husband-and-wife mobile diagnostic service supporting veterinary general practices across metropolitan Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula.

We provide abdominal and thoracic ultrasound, echocardiography, reproductive ultrasound, selected shoulder and soft-tissue studies, and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. The patient stays in familiar surroundings, while the case and client remain with the referring clinic.

Why we established Vet Detective

The patients that most need imaging are often those least able to travel for it: the cat in respiratory distress, the collapsed large-breed dog or the geriatric patient that may arrive somewhere across town in worse condition than it left.

There is also little value in collecting a sample, sending it to a laboratory and waiting for a report that says it was non-diagnostic.

These are practical problems. Vet Detective was established to bring diagnostic imaging into the clinic and, when sampling is indicated, assess the material before it leaves the building.

Who we are

Dr Daniel Richmond, BSc, BVMS

Daniel graduated from Murdoch University in 1995 and has 31 years of experience in small-animal practice, including 16 years working in diagnostic ultrasound. His continuing education has included abdominal ultrasound, ultrasound-guided sampling, shoulder protocols and shoulder pathology through SonoPath.

For nearly 30 years, Daniel has examined his own aspirates, committed to a preliminary interpretation and then compared that assessment with the pathologist's report. This provides immediate clinical guidance and helps confirm that diagnostic material has been collected. Daniel is not a pathologist; the pathologist's report provides the final cytological interpretation.

Daniel performs every Vet Detective examination personally. Echocardiography includes a complete cardiac study with appropriate measurements, Doppler assessment and a written report. When requested or clinically indicated, the study can also be submitted to an EBVS-credentialled cardiologist for a secondary interpretation at additional cost. Specialist review is optional rather than included routinely with every examination.

Daniel also owned and operated a small-animal veterinary practice for seven years. He understands the pressures facing practice owners and veterinary teams: difficult cases, limited time, staffing demands, client expectations and the financial realities of veterinary practice.

Susie Richmond, BA

Susie manages clinic liaison, communication and operational support. Her Bachelor of Arts background in communication helps ensure that arrangements are clear, clinics know what is required and visits run as smoothly as possible.

Susie also manages travel between clinics. This allows Daniel to use time on the road to review images, complete measurements and progress reports rather than losing productive clinical time between appointments.

Before Vet Detective, Susie spent several years working as a professional baker. Although not officially included with every ultrasound, the occasional clinic may also receive some excellent muffins or chocolate brownies.

How we work with your clinic

Clinics can expect a friendly, calm and professional approach. We aim to make the process straightforward for the referring veterinarian, the nursing team and the patient.

Daniel strives to complete every examination and report to the highest standard he can provide. Reports are delivered as promptly as possible, but speed is never allowed to replace careful image review, accurate measurements or considered clinical interpretation.

The referral boundary is firm. Your clinic retains the case and the client. Clinical findings and ongoing management are communicated through your veterinary team; Vet Detective does not independently rebook, follow up or take over your clients.