Glossary

Abdominocentesis: a procedure involving the use of a needle to draw fluid out of the abdominal cavity for evaluation

Abscess: a cavity filled with pus, often the result of an infection

Adrenal: a gland located in the abdominal cavity, near the kidney, which is part of the endocrine system. Responsible for secreting several hormones, including cortisol.

Allergen: a substance which produces an allergy

Alopecia: hair loss

Alveoli: small sac-like structures in the lungs. Responsible for oxygen exchange.

Ascarids: roundworms

Ascites: fluid in the abdominal cavity

Asymptomatic: not showing symptoms of disease

Atopy: a type of skin disease, also called “inhalant dermatitis” or “atopic dermatitis”

Bacteria: small organism sometimes responsible for causing disease. There are many kinds of bacteria and not all are disease-causing.

Biopsy: a procedure whereby tissue is examined by a pathologist, under a microscope, to determine what types of cells are present in the tissue. Often used to determine whether a growth (or tumor) is benign or cancerous.

Bordetella: virus, frequently involved in causing tracheobronchitis (kennel cough) in dogs

Bronchi/bronchiole: small air passages leading from the trachea to the alveoli in the lungs

Brucellosis: disease caused by the organism Brucella canis. Often responsible for infertility in dogs

Canine: dog

Canine adenovirus: virus causing disease in dogs, frequently causes symptoms of liver disease. Also called “canine infectious hepatitis”.

Canine coronavirus: virus causing disease in dogs, frequently causes gastro-intestinal symptoms

Canine distemper: virus causing disease in dogs, frequently resulting in respiratory and neurological symptoms. Often fatal.

Canine herpesvirus: disease frequently resulting in infertility and/or weak or still-born puppies

Canine infectious hepatitis: virus causing disease in dogs, frequently causes symptoms of liver failure. Also called “canine adenovirus” or “infectious canine hepatitis”.

Canine tracheobronchitis: disease in dogs resulting in respiratory symptoms. Often called “kennel cough”.

Cataract: eye disease causing an opacity in the lens

Cervix: the lower section of the uterus which protrudes into the vagina and dilates during labor to allow the passage of the fetuses

Chronic: duration of several weeks or longer

Coccidia: protozoan (one-celled) organism which frequently causes gastro-intestinal symptoms

Cognitive dysfunction: disease in older dogs causing deterioration of cognitive abilities

Conjuctivitis: inflammation of the tissues surrounding the eye

Coronavirus: a group of viruses. One member of this group is responsible for causing canine coronaviral disease, another is responsible for causing feline infectious peritonitis.

Cornea: the front part of the eye

Constipation: condition resulting in infrequent or difficult elimination of feces.

Culture: technique involving the growth of bacteria. Often coupled with testing for sensitivity to specific antibiotics.

Cyanotic: purple or blue coloration of the mucous membranes (gums) resulting from lack of proper oxygenation

Defecate: moving bowels

Dehydration: loss of fluid from the blood steam and tissues

Dermatitis: inflammation of the skin

Dermatomycosis: skin disease caused by a fungus, often called “ringworm”

Dystocia: difficulty giving birth

Dysuria: difficulty urinating

Eclampsia: a condition in pregnant or nursing females resulting from low calcium levels in the blood

Echocardiogram: ultrasound examination of the heart

Endocrine: relating to the parts of the body which secrete hormones, such as the thyroid and adrenal glands

Endometrium: inside lining of the uterus

Estrus: the “heat” cycle, the part of the reproductive cycle during which a female is able to become pregnant

Estrous: the reproductive cycle of the female

Esophagus: the part of the digestive system leading from the mouth to the stomach

Fecal: stool, bowel movement

Feline calicivirus: viral disease of cats causing upper respiratory disease

Feline distemper: disease of cats causing gastro-intestinal symptom and fever. Also called “feline panleukopenia”.

Feline panleukopenia: viral disease of cats. Also called “feline distemper”.

Feline rhinotracheitis: viral disease of cats causing upper respiratory disease

Fetal: relating to an unborn animal

Fetus: an unborn animal

Flea: an external parasite which feeds on blood

Fracture: a broken bone

Fungus: the organism responsible for causing “ringworm” and other mycotic diseases in pets. There are numerous types of fungi (plural of fungus), many of which do not cause disease. Fungi are actually classified as a primitive form of plant.

Gastric: pertaining to the stomach

Gastrointestinal: pertaining to the stomach and intestines

Genitalia: the external reproductive organs. In females, the vulva or vagina. In males, the penis and testicles.

Gingiva: the soft tissue surrounding the teeth

Gingivitis: inflammation of the soft tissue surrounding the teeth

Giardia: protozoan (one-celled) organism which causes diarrhea in animals

Heart: organ responsible for pumping blood

Heartworm: parasitic disease characterized by a type of worm living within the heart

Hematoma: blood-filled sac or cavity

Hematuria: blood in the urine

Hemorrhage: bleeding

Hepatitis: inflammation of the liver

Hereditary: passed from the parents to the offspring

Hookworm: type of intestinal parasite

Hormone: a substance produced by an endocrine organ

Hypotension: low blood pressure

Hypothyroidism: disease caused by low levels of thyroid hormone in the blood stream

Hyperglycemia: high blood glucose (sugar) level

Hypertension: high blood pressure

Hyperthyroidism: disease caused by high levels of thyroid hormone in the blood stream

Iatrogenic: disease caused by trying to diagnose or treat another disease

Icterus: yellow coloration of mucous membranes (gums), skin and sclera (white part of the eyes) resulting from liver failure. Also called “jaundice”.

Immune-mediated: disease caused by over-active immune system

Immune system: body system responsible for fighting disease

Infection: multiplication of disease causing organisms in the body

Infectious: caused by an infection or capable of causing infection

Inflammation: pathological changes in tissues related to physical, chemical or biological agent

Inherited: disorder passed from the parents to the offspring

Insecticidal: substance which kills insects

Intestinal: the part of the gastro-intestinal tract which leads from the stomach to the outside of the body. Includes both the small and large intestines.

Jaundice: yellow coloration of the mucous membranes (gums), skin and sclera (white part of the eyes) resulting from liver failure

Jejunum: part of the intestinal tract

Keratitis: inflammation of the cornea of the eye

Leptospirosis: disease caused by the bacteria Leptospira interrogans, resulting in liver and/or kidney failure

Lice: an external parasite which lives on the skin

Ligament: a band of tissue between two body parts, often supporting a specific joint

Liver: largest gland in the body, responsible for secreting bile and important in carbohydrate and protein metabolism

Lumbar: relating to the back

Lyme disease: a tick borne disease

Malnutrition: lack of proper nutrition

Mammary glands: organs which produce milk to feed young, breasts

Mange: a skin disease caused by one of several types of mite

Microfilaria: the larval form of some types of “worm”. Often refers to larval heart-worms.

Mucous membranes: the pink lining of specific parts of the body. Often refers to the “gums”.

Myocarditis: inflammation of the heart muscle

Neuter: surgically removing the testicles. Also called “castration”.

Nutrition: the taking in and assimilation of material for the purpose of building up tissue and liberating energy.

Oral: referring to the mouth

Otitis: inflammation of the ear

Ovariohysterectomy: surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus. Also called “spay”.

Pancreatitis: inflammation of the pancreas

Panosteitis: disease of the long bones. Cause unknown.

Parvovirus: viral disease which causes gastro-intestinal signs in dogs

Pelvic: relating to the lower part of the abdomen between the hip bones

Pelvis: the lower part of the abdomen between the hip bones

Penile: relating to the penis

Polydipsia: increased water consumption

Polyp: a specific type of growth, usually has a stem-like base

Polyuria: increased urine volume

Post-partum: after birth or delivery of young

Prescription: usually refers to medication only available with a doctor’s written approval

Protein: a complex form of molecule

Protozoan: one-celled organism, some are disease-causing

Purulent: discharging pus

Pyoderma: infection of the skin

Pyometra: infection of the uterus

Radiograph: an image created by x-rays

Rabies: contagious fatal viral disease which affects the nervous system

Ringworm: skin disease caused by a fungus

Roundworm: type of intestinal parasite

Saliva: secretions produced in the mouth, “spit”

Salmonellosis: an intestinal disease caused by a bacteria called Salmonella

Scabies: contagious skin disease caused by a mite called Sarcoptes scabeii

Seborrhea: a skin disease characterized by oily secretions

Spay: surgically removing the ovaries and uterus. Also known as “ovariohysterectomy”.

Stranguria: straining to urinate

Subcutaneous: under the skin

Systemic: spread throughout the body, not localized to one part or body system

Tapeworm: a type of intestinal parasite

Thoracic: pertaining to the chest

Thyroid: gland which helps regulate growth and metabolism

Tick: an external parasite (insect) which feeds on blood

Toxicity: poisoning

Toxoplasmosis: a disease carried by cats, dangerous to pregnant women and their unborn children

Trachea: part of the respiratory tract, a tube carrying air from the throat to the bronchi

Tracheobronchitis: inflammation of the trachea and bronchi

Tumor: a growth or abnormal mass

Ultrasound: An imaging technique in which sound waves are passed through body tissues in order to view the size, shape, location and internal structure of an organ or tissue. Abbr: US

Urethra: the part of the urinary tract leading from the bladder to the outside of the body

Urinalysis: the chemical and physical analysis of the urine

Urinary: body system which includes the kidneys, ureter, bladder and urethra

Urogenital: pertaining to both the urinary and reproductive tract

Urolith: bladder stone

Uveitis: inflammation of the uvea (part of the eye)

Vaccination: inoculation with a vaccine in order to prevent a specific disease

Venereal: pertaining to the sex organs

Venous: pertaining to veins

Vertebrae: bones making up the spinal cord

Veterinarian: a doctor who treats animals

Virus: an ultra-small organism which replicates in the cells of a living host. Many cause disease.

Wean: to separate a young animal from its mother

Whelp: the act of a female dog delivering puppies

Zoonotic: disease which can be transmitted from pets to people, from people to pets, or is transmissible to both people and pets