Commonly Used Terms in Veterinary Medicine

Anthelmintic

A product that kills kelminths or worms

Antiseptic

A substance that can be applied to a surface to make it free from germs

Arrhythmia

a heart beat that does not have a normal rhythm

Ascites

an abnormal build up of fluid in the abdomen often causing it to look distended

Ataxia

an abdnormal gait when walking or running

Aural

relating to the ears

Auscultation

the act of listening with a stethoscope

Benign

A word used to describe tumours which do not spread

Bilateral

meaning on both sides

Biopsy

taking a small sample for further testing, usually refers to tumours or the skin

Bradycardia

a heart beat that is slower than normal

Cardiac

relating to the heart

Cestodes

another word for tapeworms

Chronic

used to describe an illness that has been going on for a prolonged period of time

Congential

a condition that has been present since birth

Colitis

Inflammation of the large intstine producing diarrhea, often with blood

Cryptorchid

One or both tsticles have not descended and are retained in the abdomen

Cystitis

Inflammation of the bladder resulting in discomfort when urinating

Cytology

the study of cells through a microscope

Debride

removing dead tissue from a wound

Defecation

the act of passing feces

Diuretics

Drugs used to prevent or reduce water retention in the body

Dyspnoea

difficulty breathing

dystocia

difficulties in giving birth or whelping

Ectoparasites

parasites that live on the skin such as fleas, lice, and ticks

Endocrine

relating to hormones

Endoscopy

Using a small light source and sometimes camera to visualise the inside of the stomach, lungs, nasal cavity or colon

Extra-cranial

anything outside the skull

Feces

solid waste produced from the rectum

Fibrosis

replacing normal body tissues with scar tissue

FLUTD

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

Flystrike

when blowfly lay larvae on damaged skin which hatch into maggots and cause tissue damage, often extensive

Gastric

relating to the stomach eg. Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach

Gestation

the period of time for which an animal is pregnant

Gingivitis

inflammation of the gums

Haematology

the study of blood cells

Haematuria

blood in the urine

Hernia

Abdnormal movement of organs or fat through a hole such as the umbilicus

Hormone

A chemical messenger produced by one organ and having an effect on another

Hyper-

too much or an excess of something, eg. Hyperthyroidism is an excess of thyroid hormone

Hypo-

Not enough or a deficit in something, eg. Hypoglycaemia is a low blood glucose level

Hypertension

High blood pressure

Hypotension

Low blood pressure

Iatrogenic

caused by the veterinarian

Icterus

another word for jaundice or yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes

Immune Mediated

A disease process that is caused by the body’s own immune system

Intestine

the intesines refer to the guts from the stomach to the rectum

Intra-cranial

inside the skull

Intravenous

Into a vein, used to describe routes of administration of drugs

Jugular

the main vein in the body, returning to the heart

Lactation

producing milk from mammary glands

Laparotomy

Opening the abdominal cavity

Lateral

On the side eg. lateral recumbence means lying on the side

Lethargy

Reduction in the activity of an animal

Malignant

a word to describe a tumor that is likely to spread to other parts of the body

Mastitis

inflammation and infection in the mammary glands

Mucous Membrane

moist membranes such as the gums and inside the nose

Nasal

relating to the nose

Necrosis

death of tissues, eg. Necrotic tissue is often found in wounds and abscesses

Neoplasia

another word for tumors

NSAID

Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory, a pain relief drug similar to ibuprofen

Oncology

the study of tumors

Oral

relating to the mouth

Orchitis

inflammation of the scrotum

Otitis

inflammation of the ear canal

Ovariohysterectomy

Removal of the ovaries and the uterus as performed in routine neutrering

Palpation

another word for feeling

Palliative

care aimed at keeping an animal comfortable rather than treating a condition

Paralysis

Loss of use of a part of the body often the limbs

Parasite

an organism that lives off another animal

Pathogen

an agent capable of causing disease such as a bacteria or virus

Perineal

Relating to the area around the anus

Peritoneal

relating to the inside of the abdominal cavity

Pinna

the external flap of the ear

Platelets

small blood cells responsible for blood clotting

Polydisia

Excessive thirst

Polyphagia

Excessive huner

Polyuria

Excessive urinating

Probiotic

bacteria that are benefical to the health of the intesines

Purulent

relating to pus

Pyometra

infection in the uterus in un-neutered females

Radiograph

the proper term for an x-ray image

Regurgitation

Brining up food as soon as it has been eaten

Renal

relating to the kidneys

Respiration

the act of breathing

Sclera

white part of the eye

Septic

meaning of something infected

Splenic

Relating to the spleen

Tachycardia

A heart beat that is faster than normal

Thorax

another word for chest

Thrombus

a blood clot

Torsion

a twist, sometimes in an organ

Toxin

a poisonous substance capable of causing harm

Trachea

the wind pipe leading from the back of the mouth to the lungs

Unilateral

on one side

Ureter

the tubing leading from the kidney to the bladder

Urethra

the tube leading from the bladder to the outside

Urination

the act of passing urine

Uveitis

inflammation of the back and inside of the eye

Vascular

relating to the blood vessels