Introduction to Veterinary Medicine (VMED110) - Principles of Animal Diseases Recognition and Treatment

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts of veterinary disease recognition, treatment methods, pharmaceutical classifications, animal behaviors, and biosecurity protocols.

Disease

Any deviation from the normal or healthy physiological status of an animal, or an alteration of the body or body organs which interrupts or disturbs body function.

Pathology

The study of diseases, classified into gross pathology and microscopic pathology.

Physiology

The study of normal organ and body function.

Etiology

The study of the causes of disease.

Indirect causes

Predisposing factors that lower an animal's resistance, such as environmental stress (temperature, poor ventilation) or inadequate nutrition.

Direct causes

Determining factors that produce actual disease, including pathogens (bacteria, viruses), trauma, toxins, and nutritional deficiencies.

Heat stress

A condition to which dogs are highly sensitive due to their lack of sweat glands.

Aflatoxins

Toxins found in moldy grains, such as moldy corn, which are toxic to livestock.

Fever

An abnormal rise in body temperature often accompanied by dullness and reduced appetite.

Hypothermia

A low temperature that can occur in cases of shock, severe illness, or in neonates.

Dystocia

Prolonged or difficult labor during reproduction.

Mastitis

A swollen and painful udder often indicative of a reproductive or localized infection.

Atrophy

Muscle changes involving the wasting away or weakening of muscle tissue.

Crepitus

A grating sensation or joint instability often associated with bone or joint changes.

Infectious Disease

A disease caused by living organisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites that invade an animal's body.

Contagious Disease

An infectious disease that is transmitted directly or indirectly from an infected animal to a healthy one.

Zoonotic Disease

A disease that transmits between animals and humans.

Conservative treatment

Non-surgical methods used to treat disease, such as physiotherapy, braces, or applying heat and cold.

Medication (Drug)

Any natural or man-made chemical substance used to treat, prevent, or help diagnose a medical condition.

Over-the-counter drugs (OTC)

Medications consumers can order for themselves, such as vitamins, food supplements, and mild anti-inflammatories.

Pharmacy only Drugs

Medications dispensed by a pharmacist without a doctor's prescription, such as anti-histamines, anti-emetics, and antipyretics.

Prescription drugs

Medications dispensed only on the authorization of a licensed veterinarian, including antibiotics and hormonal replacements.

Controlled or scheduled Drugs

Strictly regulated prescription medicines with potential for misuse, such as anesthetics, sedatives, and opioids like morphine.

Antipyretic

A type of medication used specifically to reduce fever.

Antiemetics

Medications used to stop vomiting.

Laxatives

Medications used to treat constipation.

Antispasmodic

Medications that relax the muscles inside abdominal organs to treat conditions like colic.

Intravenous (IV)

An injection route into a vein providing immediate absorption with an insertion angle of $25^\circ$.

Intramuscular (IM)

An injection route into a muscle administered at a $90^\circ$ angle.

Subcutaneous (SC/SQ)

An injection route under the skin administered at a $45^\circ$ angle.

Intradermal (ID)

An injection route into the skin with the slowest absorption rate, administered at an angle of $10-15^\circ$.

Drug half-life

The time it takes for the concentration of a drug in the body to drop to $50\%$ of its original level.

Ethology

The branch of biology that studies animal behavior under natural conditions.

Herd

A social group of animals, such as cows, horses, or elephants, that live together for protection.

Pack

A group of carnivores, such as wolves or hyenas, that hunt together.

Predators

Organisms characterized by forward-facing eyes, sharp canines, and simple stomachs that hunt and consume prey.

Prey

Animals characterized by side-positioned eyes, flat molars, and complex digestive systems that are hunted by predators.

Mutualism

A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit, such as bees and flowering plants.

Commensalism

A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Parasitism

A symbiotic relationship where the parasite benefits at the expense of the host, such as ticks on mammals.

Amensalism

A relationship where one organism is inhibited or destroyed while the other remains unaffected, such as mold producing penicillin.

Pasture Rotation

A management practice involving the subdivision of fields to rotate livestock within $5\,\text{days}$ to stay ahead of internal parasite life cycles.

Quarantine

The separation and restriction of new or returning animals for a period of at least $21\,\text{days}$ to observe for disease.

Isolation

The immediate separation of sick animals from healthy ones to prevent disease spread.

Incineration

A carcass disposal method involving burning, which is effective at destroying infectious agents.

Rendering

A safe and economic disposal process that cooks carcasses to separate components into protein and fat.

Biosecurity

Control measures and barriers implemented to prevent new or endemic diseases from entering and spreading on a farm.

Colostrum

The first milk provided to newborns by the mother, essential for increasing disease resistance through natural immunity.