vet med terminology 🐆

Abdominocentesis

The insertion of a needle into the abdominal cavity to obtain a sample of fluid

Ablation

The removal of unwanted tissue surgically (ie. scrotal ablation)

ACTH

adrenocorticotropic hormone; used to test for hypo and hyperadrenocorticism

Addison’s disease

Hypoadrenocorticism; decreased cortisol production of adrenal glands; presents with abnormal electrolyte values and often a lack of a stesss leukogram

Agglutination

Clumping together

Alimentary

Pertaining to food or the digestive tract

alopecia

Hair loss or baldness

Analgesia

Absence of sensibility to pain, particularly the relief of pain without loss of consciousness; absence of pain or noxious stimulation

Anaphylaxis

Life-threatening allergic reaction to something injected or ingested

Anemia

The number of red bloods cells is lower than normal

Anisocoria

A condition in which the pupils of both eyes are not equal sizes

Anuria

Complete failure of both kidneys resulting in no production of urine

Arrhythmia

A variation from a normal heart rhythm

Ataxia

Lack of muscle coordination causing an abnormal gait; may be due to weakness, neurological conditions, or orthopedic conditions (ie. slip disc, IVDD, vestibular)

Auscultate

To listen with a stethoscope for sounds produced in the body

Axilla

Armpit

azotemia

The increase of introgen waste products in the blood resulting from kidney malfunction. ¾ of kidney function must be lost in order to obtain azotemic values on bloodwork

Bacteriocidal

Agent that kills bacteria

Bacteriostatic

An agent that stops the reproduction of bacteria but not kill bacteria

Bile acids

A blood test used to check liver function; bile acids help with the digestion and absorption of fats

Blepharospasm

Spasm of the eyelid often correlate with eye pain

Borborygmus

The sound of gas moving through the intestines

Bradycardia

Abnormal slowing of heart rate

BUN

Blood Urea Nitrogen; blood test that estimated kidney function

Cachexia

Extreme weight loss

Carpus

The wrist (foreleg) in cats or dogs

Cataracts

A cloudiness of the lens of the eye, reducing vision and causing a pearly appearance to the eye

Caudal

Toward the tail region

Cerebrum

Largest portion of the brain that controls cognitive function

Cerebellum

Part of the brain located on the brain stem that controls coordination

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gall bladder

CNS

Central nervous system compromised of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves associated with

CT Scan

Computerized tomography scan; takes xray slices through body

Congenital

Characteristic of an animal present at birth

Coprophagia

Eating dung or feces; assumed normal in most animals but could indicate a nutrient deficiency

Cryptorchid

Male with at least one undescended testicle

Cyanosis

Bluish or grayish coloring to the skin or gums indicating insufficient oxygen and respiratory distress

Cystitis

Inflammation of the urinary bladder

Cystocentesis

Obtaining of urine by inserting a determine syringe and needle into the bladder

DM

Diabetes mellitus; caused by the failure of the pancreas to produce insulin

DKA

Diabetic ketoacidosis; a condition resulting from severe insulting deficiency in which a patient is losing gluclose and ketones into the urine and blood. The chemical balance of the body becomes too acidic. This condition can be life- threatening

Diuresis

Increase in urine production; often done by giving the patients fluids

Diuretic

Agent which increases the secretion of urine ridding the body of excess fluids; used in cases of pleural effusion and ascites; common diuretic meds are Lasix and spirolonactone

“dys”

Difficult

Dysphagia

Difficult swallowing

Dystocia

Difficult birth

Dyspnea

Trouble breathing; shortnesss of breath

Dysuria

Difficult or painful urination

Dysplasia

Abnormal tissue development; often associated with bones in canines

Edema

Tissues of the body contain too much body fluid; may cause swelling

Electrolyte

An element when dissolved in water will cause the solution to transmit electricity. They are critically important for life as elements in the blood. Sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and phosphorus are examples of electrolytes

emesis

Vomiting

Enteritis

Inflammation of the intestines

Enterotomy

Surgical cutting of intestines

Entropion

Inversion or turning inward of eyelid

Enucleation

Complete removal of the eyeball from the orbit

Epistaxis

Bleeding from the nose

Exophthalmos

Abnormal protrusion or bulging of eye

FLUTD

Feline Lower urinary Tract Disease; noted by inappropriate urination outside of the litter box; straining to urinate; blood in the urine

Glaucoma

Increased pressure in eyes caused by an accumulation of fluid; painful; can lead to blindness if left untreated

Glucosuria

Shedding of glucose into urine

Uria

Pertaining to urine

Hematuria

Bloody urine

“Hemo - Hema”

Pertaining to blood

Hematemesis

Bloody vomit

Hemophilia

A blood coagulation disorder that the blood fails to clot normally

Hemorrhagic

Bleeding excessively

Megaly

Increased size

Hepatic

Pertaining to the liver

Histiocytoma

Small wart-like skin growth that will eventually disappear; generally benign

Hyper

Excessive

Hypo

Below normal

Hyperkalemia

Increased level of potassium in blood

Hypertension

Increased blood pressure

Hypotension

Decreased blood pressure

Hypothermia

Decreased body temperature

Latrogenic

A condition resulting from the action of someone (doctor, nurse, etc). An example is an allergic reaction to a injection given by a doctor

Icterus

Jaundice; a yellowing of the tissues; often caused by abnormal liver function

Idiopathic

Of unknown cause

Inherited

A trait passed from one generation to the next in the genes from each parent

Innate

A permanent characteristic that is present because of the genetic make up of that animal (ie. Going in litter box)

Insulinoma

Insulin-producing tumor of the pancreas; patients are extremely and chronically hypoglycemic.

Intra

Into

Intramuscular

Into the muscle

KCS

Keratoconjuctivitis sicca is the technical term for dry eye. It is caused by inadequate tear production

Ketonuria

Ketones in the urine

Ketoacidosis

A life-threatening condition in which ketones, that result from the breakdown of fat, accumulate in the bloodstream and the pH of the blood increases causing an acidosis.

Latent

Dormant stage of illness; potentially infected but not sick from infection

Lichenification

Thickening and hardening of skin

Mandible

Lower jaw

Maxilla

Upper jaw

Masticate

Chew

Medial

Toward the midline

Mega

Overly enlarged

Megacolon

A condition in which the colon enlarges and dilates, which results in feces accumulation (often constipation)

Megaesophagus

Overly enlarged esophagus causing buildup of food and saliva; often results in regurgitation and aspiration pneumonia

Melena

Black, tarrry stool due to the presence of digested blood; this indicates bleeding somewhere within the stomach of duodenum often caused by an ulceration or a mass

Meta

Going beyond

Metacarpus

The front limb between the the carpus and the phalanges (toes)

Metastasis

Spread of a tumor from its original location to a remote one by tumor cells carried in the blood