Doctor Speak: A handy dictionary
Ok, so you've read a few articles on our web page, but some of the terms that we've used are unfamiliar. Don't worry, some of us are even unfamiliar with the medical lingo used by the veterinarians here. That is why we've created this page. On it you will find those terms that are unfamiliar to you and to most people who haven't been to medical school.
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ACL Tear: (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) Frequently seen in large dogs, this ligament is towards the front of the knee and helps prevent forward displacement of the tibia.
Anaerobic: living, growing, or taking place where there is no free oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria get their oxygen by decomposing compounds containing oxygen.
Anemia: This is charecterized by a pale animal because of a low red blood cell count.
Aniphylactic shock: Shock often caused by a severe allergic reaction. Seen most commonly with bee stings, spider bites and sometimes even food allergy reactions. Some symptoms include increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, unconsciousness, coma and in very rare cases death.
Benign: A nonspreading cancer.
Biliary atresia: the absence of, or narrowing of the bile duct.
Botulism: poisoning; frequently fatal, caused by a toxin secreted by a certain anaerobic bacterium sometimes present in foods not properly canned or preserved.
Cardiomyopathy: This is basically a large, overworked heart that can lead to chronic heart failure and sudden death.
Carcinoma: A form of cancer, usually malignant.
Castration: removal of the testicles.
Cherry eye: The prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid
Congestive Heart Failure: This is the inability of the heart to pump blood efficiently through the body.
Corona Virus: A virus that can cause diahhrea symptoms in dogs. In the cat, it is usually seen in conjunction with FIP.
Cushings Disease: Also known as hyperadrenocorticism, is a disease affecting the adrenal glands.
Diabetes Insipidus: A very complicated disease that is a chemical imbalance that mimics diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 1 patients have a very low ability to produce insulin. This can be a life threatening situation. Type 2 patients are usually not insulin dependent, but can require monitoring.
Distemper Virus: (CDV) is a highly contagious virus which affects the respiratory and nervous systems, causing fever, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures and eventually death.
Electrolytes: (Sodium, Potassium, and Chloride)These blood tests help evaluate hydration among other things.
Enteritis: Severe intestinal upset. Entropian: Eyelids that roll in towards the eye causing abrasions.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): FIV causes the immune system to not function properly, similar to human HIV.These cats can lead semi normal lives for a long time.
Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP): A viral disease that is a mutated form of the Corona Virus that can be transfered between cats and is always fatal.
Feline Leukemia Virus: A retrovirus that causes immunodeficiency and neoplastic disease in cats. This is always fatal
Gastric Torsion: (Also called Bloat)This is when the stomach turns and causes and obstruction of gases and the abdomen starts to swell. Fatal if not treated quickly.
Glaucoma: This causes retinal and optical nerve degeneration.
Hepatic: Pertaining to the liver.
Hip Dysplasia: The malformation or degeneration of the hip joint and/or socket.
Hyperthyroidism: An overactive thyroid gland usually seen in older cats.
Hypoadrenocorticism: "Addison's Disease" a deficiency in adrenocortical hormones seen in young to middle-aged dogs. The primary cause is unknown although most cases probably result from an autoimmune process or destruction of the adrenal gland.
Hypoglycemia: a condition caused by an acute deficiency in the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood, usually caused by an excess of insulin.
Hypoperfusion: a condition where not enough blood is getting to the area of the body it needs to get to.
Hypotension: low blood pressure.
Hypothyroidism: A condition that results from the slow release of T3 and T4 that decreases metabolic activity.
IHA: (Immune Hemolytic Anemia) Immune mediated attack on the red blood cells. ITP: (Ideopathic Thrombocytopenia) Immune mediated attack on the platelets. Immunodeficiency: A decreased ability to create an immune response.
Jaundice: When the liver begins to not function correctly, the toxins back up into the bloodstream sometimes causing the animal to appear to turn yellow.
Legg-Perthes Disease: Degeneration of the hip joint.
Leptospirosis: is a bacterial disease that impairs renal function and may result in kidney failure. Symptoms include vomiting, impaired vision and convulsions. Lethargy: lack of energy; sluggishness.
Lipoma: A benign lump,made up of organized fat, that is usually found in soft tissues.
Malignant: A cancer that is spreading.
OCD: (Osteochondritis Dessicans)Joint Degeneration, especialy in small dogs.
Ophtho: Pertaining to the eyes.
Ortho: Pertaining to the bones.
Otic: Pertaining to the ears.
Osteomyelitis: An inflammation of the bone and surrounding areas usually caused by bacteria.
Ovariohysterectomy: removal of the ovaries and uterus.
Pancreatitis: An inflammation of the pancreas that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
Panosteitis: A painful condition of the long bones in young dogs.
Patellar Luxation: Knee caps that slide back and forth causing pain.
Polydipsia: excessive drinking; usually 2-4 times the normal amount.
Polyuria: excessive urinating; usually in great quantities.
Portosystemic shunt: a physical condition where blood that is supposed to be filtered through the liver by-passes it causing a systemic toxicity.
PRA:(Progressive Retinal Atrophy) The retina starts to disintegrate, leading to blindness.
Pyoderma: An infection of the skin caused by bacteria.
Renal: Pertaining to the kidneys.
Sarcoma: A form of cancer, usually malignant.
Sepsis: a toxicity of the entire system by disease-producing micro-organisms and their toxins that are absorbed into the bloodstream.
Taurine Deficiency: Low taurine, an essential amino acid in cats, can cause retinal degeneration and cardiomyopathy.
Thrombocytopenia: a decrease in the number of platelets,which are essential for the blood to clot, in the blood.
Toxoplasmosis:A parasite that infects almost all mammals, cats being most prominent.
Tracheal collapse: Commonly seen with small dogs, it usually presents as a cough after excitement or exercise. This is rarely fatal.
Uremia: an abnormal condition resulting from the accumulation in the blood of waste products that should be eliminated in the urine
Urolithiasis:A type of urinary bladder stone.
Vaginitis: An inflammation/infection of the vagina.
Vestibular Disease: This is often confused with a stroke, it presents as a disoriented, unstable animal.
VonWillebrand Disease: A bleeding disorder that is inherited.
