Glossary of Clinical Vet Medicine: A to Z

Comprehensive glossary of key terms in clinical veterinary medicine, organised alphabetically from A to Z. Each term includes a brief definition relevant to clinical practice. While this glossary covers a broad spectrum of essential terms, the field is extensive, and some are highly specialised.

A

• Abomasum: The fourth stomach compartment in ruminants, responsible for acid digestion.
• Abscess: A localized collection of pus caused by infection or inflammation.
• Acidosis: A condition where blood pH drops due to excess acid, often seen in ruminants with grain overload.
• Alopecia: Hair loss due to disease, parasites, or hormonal issues.
• Analgesia: Pain relief without loss of consciousness, often achieved with medications like NSAIDs.
• Anamnesis: The medical history of an animal, gathered from the owner or caretaker.
• Anemia: A reduction in red blood cells or hemoglobin, leading to decreased oxygen transport.
• Anesthesia: Loss of sensation or consciousness, used during surgical procedures.
• Anthelmintic: A drug used to treat parasitic worm infections.
• Antibiotic: A medication used to treat bacterial infections.
• Antigen: A substance that stimulates an immune response, often used in vaccines.
• Asepsis: The practice of maintaining a sterile environment to prevent infection.
• Aspiration: Inhaling fluid or foreign material into the lungs, or withdrawing fluid via a needle.
• Ataxia: Lack of coordination in movement, often due to neurological issues.
• Auscultation: Listening to internal sounds (e.g., heart, lungs) using a stethoscope.

B

• Bacteremia: Presence of bacteria in the bloodstream.
• Biopsy: Removal of tissue for diagnostic examination.
• Bloat: Excessive gas accumulation in the stomach or rumen, common in cattle.
• Bolus: A large pill or mass of medication administered orally, or a mass of ingested material.
• Brachycephalic: Breeds with short noses and flat faces, prone to respiratory issues (e.g., Bulldogs).
• Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchi, often causing coughing.
• Bursa: A fluid-filled sac reducing friction between tissues, prone to inflammation (bursitis).

C

• Cachexia: Severe weight loss and muscle wasting due to chronic disease.
• Castration: Surgical removal of testicles to sterilize male animals.
• Catheterization: Insertion of a tube into a body cavity (e.g., bladder) for fluid management.
• Colic: Severe abdominal pain, often in horses, due to gastrointestinal issues.
• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF): Heart’s inability to pump sufficient blood, leading to fluid buildup.
• Conjunctivitis: Inflammation of the conjunctiva, often due to infection or allergies.
• Cushing’s Disease: Hyperadrenocorticism, caused by excessive cortisol production.
• Cyanosis: Bluish discoloration of mucous membranes due to low oxygen levels.

D

• Debridement: Removal of dead or infected tissue to promote healing.
• Dehydration: Loss of body fluids, often assessed by skin tenting or mucous membrane dryness.
• Dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin, caused by allergies, infections, or irritants.
• Diabetes Mellitus: A metabolic disorder causing high blood sugar due to insulin deficiency.
• Diarrhea: Frequent, loose, or watery stools, often due to infection or diet.
• Distemper: A viral disease in dogs, causing respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological signs.
• Dyspnea: Difficulty breathing, often linked to respiratory or cardiac issues.

E

• Echocardiography: Ultrasound imaging of the heart to assess structure and function.
• Ectoparasite: A parasite living on the exterior of the host (e.g., fleas, ticks).
• Edema: Accumulation of fluid in tissues, causing swelling.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG): A test recording heart electrical activity to diagnose arrhythmias.
• Emaciation: Extreme thinness due to malnutrition or disease.
• Endoscopy: Use of a camera to visualize internal structures (e.g., gastrointestinal tract).
• Enteritis: Inflammation of the intestines, often causing diarrhea.
• Euthanasia: Humane termination of an animal’s life to alleviate suffering.

F

• Fecalysis: Laboratory analysis of feces to detect parasites or pathogens.
• Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD): A group of conditions affecting the bladder and urethra in cats.
• Fistula: An abnormal connection between two body parts, often requiring surgical correction.
• Fracture: A break in a bone, classified as simple, compound, or comminuted.
• Fungal Infection: Disease caused by fungi, such as ringworm (dermatophytosis).

G

• Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach lining, often causing vomiting.
• Gastroenteritis: Inflammation of the stomach and intestines, leading to vomiting and diarrhea.
• Glaucoma: Increased intraocular pressure, potentially causing blindness.
• Glycosuria: Presence of glucose in urine, often associated with diabetes.

H

• Hematocrit: The percentage of red blood cells in blood, used to diagnose anemia.
• Hematuria: Blood in the urine, indicating urinary tract issues.
• Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver, caused by infection, toxins, or immune-mediated disease.
• Hernia: Protrusion of an organ through a body wall, e.g., umbilical or inguinal hernia.
• Hyperthermia: Elevated body temperature, often due to heatstroke or fever.
• Hypothyroidism: Underactive thyroid gland, common in dogs, causing lethargy and weight gain.

I

• Icterus: Yellowing of skin or mucous membranes due to jaundice (liver dysfunction).
• Immunization: Administration of vaccines to prevent infectious diseases.
• Incontinence: Involuntary loss of urine or feces, often due to neurological or muscular issues.
• Infusion: Delivery of fluids or medications into a vein or tissue.
• Intussusception: Telescoping of one intestinal segment into another, causing obstruction.

J

• Jaundice: Yellowing of tissues due to elevated bilirubin, often linked to liver disease.
• Joint Effusion: Fluid accumulation in a joint, causing swelling and pain.

K

• Keratitis: Inflammation of the cornea, often due to infection or trauma.
• Ketosis: Metabolic state with elevated ketone bodies, common in dairy cows post-calving.

L

• Lameness: Abnormal gait or inability to bear weight, often due to musculoskeletal issues.
• Laparotomy: Surgical incision into the abdominal cavity.
• Leptospirosis: A bacterial disease affecting multiple species, causing liver and kidney damage.
• Lymphadenopathy: Enlarged lymph nodes, often due to infection or cancer.

M

• Mastitis: Inflammation of the mammary gland, usually due to bacterial infection.
• Melena: Black, tarry stools indicating upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Metritis: Inflammation of the uterus, often post-partum in cows or dogs.
• Murmur: Abnormal heart sound detected via auscultation, indicating potential heart disease.
• Myiasis: Infestation by fly larvae (maggots) in tissues or wounds.

N

• Necropsy: Post-mortem examination of an animal to determine cause of death.
• Neoplasia: Abnormal tissue growth, which may be benign or malignant (cancer).
• Neuropathy: Dysfunction of nerves, leading to weakness, numbness, or pain.
• Nystagmus: Involuntary eye movement, often indicating neurological issues.

O

• Ophthalmoscopy: Examination of the eye’s interior, including the retina.
• Orchitis: Inflammation of the testicles, often due to infection or trauma.
• Osteoarthritis: Degenerative joint disease causing pain and reduced mobility.
• Ovariohysterectomy: Surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus (spaying).

P

• Palpation: Physical examination by touch to assess organs or abnormalities.
• Panleukopenia: A viral disease in cats, causing severe leukopenia and gastrointestinal signs.
• Paralysis: Loss of muscle function, often due to neurological damage.
• Parasite: An organism living on or in a host, causing harm (e.g., worms, ticks).
• Parvovirus: A highly contagious viral disease, especially in dogs, causing severe enteritis.
• Peritonitis: Inflammation of the peritoneal cavity, often due to infection or rupture.
• Polydipsia: Excessive thirst, often a sign of diabetes or kidney disease.
• Polyuria: Excessive urination, often linked to metabolic or renal disorders.
• Prolapse: Protrusion of an organ (e.g., rectum, uterus) from its normal position.
• Pyometra: Pus-filled uterus, a life-threatening condition in unspayed females.

Q

• Quarantine: Isolation of an animal to prevent disease spread.

R

• Radiography: Use of X-rays to image internal structures for diagnosis.
• Regurgitation: Passive expulsion of material from the esophagus, distinct from vomiting.
• Renal Failure: Loss of kidney function, acute or chronic, leading to toxin buildup.
• Respiratory Distress: Severe difficulty breathing, requiring urgent intervention.
• Rumenotomy: Surgical incision into the rumen to remove foreign objects or treat bloat.

S

• Sepsis: Systemic infection leading to organ dysfunction, often life-threatening.
• Serology: Blood testing to detect antibodies or antigens for disease diagnosis.
• Spay: Surgical sterilization of a female animal (ovariohysterectomy).
• Stomatitis: Inflammation of the mouth, often seen in cats with immune-mediated disease.
• Stridor: High-pitched respiratory sound due to airway obstruction.
• Suture: Stitches used to close wounds or surgical incisions.

T

• Tachycardia: Elevated heart rate, often a sign of stress, pain, or disease.
• Tetanus: A bacterial disease causing muscle spasms, often due to wound contamination.
• Thrombocytopenia: Low platelet count, leading to bleeding tendencies.
• Titer: Measurement of antibody levels in blood to assess immunity.
• Torsion: Twisting of an organ, such as gastric torsion in dogs (bloat).
• Toxemia: Presence of toxins in the blood, often due to infection or metabolic issues.

U

• Ultrasonography: Use of sound waves to image internal organs or fetuses.
• Uremia: Elevated urea in the blood due to kidney dysfunction.
• Urinalysis: Laboratory analysis of urine to diagnose metabolic or urinary tract issues.

V

• Vaccination: Administration of a vaccine to stimulate immunity against specific diseases.
• Vasculitis: Inflammation of blood vessels, often immune-mediated.
• Ventral: Pertaining to the underside or belly of an animal.
• Viremia: Presence of viruses in the bloodstream.
• Vomiting: Active expulsion of stomach contents, distinct from regurgitation.

W

• Whelping: The process of a dog giving birth.
• Wound Dehiscence: Reopening of a surgical or traumatic wound.

X

• Xerophthalmia: Dryness of the eyes due to lack of tear production.

Y

• Yeast Infection: Fungal overgrowth, often in ears or skin, caused by Malassezia or Candida.

Z

• Zoonosis: A disease transmissible from animals to humans (e.g., rabies, leptospirosis).