Veterinary Medicine Abbreviations / Vocabulary

a or amp

ampre

A / P

anterior / posterior

APMLO

anterior to posterior and medial to lateral oblique

Ba

barium

BE

barium enema

CT or CAT

computed (axial) tomography

DL-PaMO

dorsolateral-palmaromedical oblique

DL-PlMO

dorsolateral-plantaromedical oblique

AAVSB

american association of veterinary state boards

ABVP

american board of veterinary practitioners

ABVT

american board of veterinary toxicology

ACCC

animal chiropractic certification commission

ACLAM

american college of laboratory animal medicine

ACPV

american college of poultry veterinarians

ACT

american college of theriogenologists

ACVA

american college of veterinary anesthesiologists

AAHA

american animal hospital association

AALAS

american association of laboratory animal science

AKC

american kennel club

APA

american poultry association

APHIS-VS

animal and plant health inspector services - veterinary services

ac

before meals (ante cibum)

ad lib

as much as desired (ad libitum)

bid

twice daily

BSA

body surface area

cal

calorie

cap

capsule

cc

cubic centimeter (same as mL)

cm

centimeter

ab

antibody

ABG

arterial blood gas

ABO

human blood groups

ag

antigen

alb

albumin

alk phos

alkaline phosphate

ALT

alanine aminotransferase (formerly SGPT)

amyl

amylase

BRSV

bovine respiratory syncytial virus

BVD

bovine viral diarrhea

DHLPP

distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus

DHLPP-CV

distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, and coronavirus

EEE

eastern equine encephalitis

EIA

equine infectious anemia (not available in north america)

EMP

equine protozoal myelitis

ACh

acetylcholine

ACH

adrenocortical hormone

AChE

acetylcholinesterase

ACTH

adrenocorticotropic hormone

ADH

antidiuretic hormone

AF

atrial fibrillation

AI

artificial insemination

AKI

acute kidney injury

ANS

autonomic nervous system

ARF

acute renal failure

ASAP

as soon as possible

ASD

atrial septal defect

BAR

bright, alert, responsive

BD / LD

big dog / little dog (only used for dogs wounded in a fight)

BM

bowel movement

BP

blood pressure

BPM

breathes or beats per minute

Cath

catheter

CHF

congestive heart failure

CNS

central nervous system

bx

biopsy

dx

diagnosis

ddx

differential diagnosis

fx

fracture

hx

history

Rx

prescription

sx

surgery

tx

treatment

AD

right ear

AS

left ear

AU

both ears

IOP

intraocular pressure

OD

right eye (also used for overdose)

OS

left eye

OU

both eyes

PLR

pupillary light reflex