Veterinary Glossary

Words that may be unfamiliar to humans but are used by veterinarians

Abscess - a painful, warm pocket of infection (pus); often found on cats after penetrating wounds (fights)

Anal Glands (anal sacs) - both dogs and cats have these scent glands at their anus; can become infected or swollen and painful, shown but fanny dragging, licking, tail down, etc.

Bloat (distended abdomen) - a specific surgical emergency of large breed or deep chested dogs where the stomach fills with gas, liquid or ingesta and twists on itself: often the dog is having repeated vomiting or dry heaves suddenly

Colitis - inflammation of the colon often resulting in a mucoid or even bloody stool with straining and frequent attempts to defecate

Color - quality of the mucous membrane color, signs of anemia

Compouding Pharmacy - a specialty pharmacy that can create medication for the proper size or flavor for hard to treat pets

Dewclaw - the small toe, high and inside the foot of the dog, that doesn't touch the ground

Diabetes (diabetes mellitus/ sugar diabetes) - a lack of insulin causing high blood sugar and resulting in increased thirst and urinations, often with weight loss: deadly if untreated; found often in overweight pets

Ear Mites - small, white, spider-like mite found in the ear canals of dogs and cats; causes itching of ears and infection; often found in kittens

Heartworm - a worm found in the heart of dogs (primarily), spread by mosquito bite; left untreated it is often deadly over 2-3 years of infection

IM or Intramuscular - into the muscle

Inflammation - hot, red, swollen; can be internal or external; can be due to infection or not

Intranasal - into the nasal passages

Kennel Cough - a honking, long lasting cough often spread wherever dogs congregate

Leptospirosis - a serious bacterial infection, often of kidneys or liver, that dog's can contract from outside drinking sources; can be contagious to humans

Lyme Disease - a bacterial infection contracted after being bitten by a tick

Mass - any tumor or lump

Neuter - to remove sex glands( testicles or ovaries); most  commonly used to indicate removal of male sex glands

Ocular - pertaining to the eyes

Otic - pertaining to the ears

Pancreatitis - a painful condition of dogs and cats associated with lack of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea resulting from inflammation of the pancreas

Pyometra - an infected, pus-filled uterus that can rupture and cause death

Queening - a female cat delivering her kittens

Rabies - a deadly viral infection spread to cats and dogs most commonly by the bite of other animals; always deadly and can be spread to humans

Ringworm - a fungal infection of the skin that is itchy and often causes hair loss; contagious to humans; common in cats, particularly young cats

Roundworm - a spaghetti like worm found common in young dogs and cats and potentially contagious to humans

SubQ (SQ) - subcuticular or under the skin

Spay - to remove the uterus and ovaries of a female

Tapeworm - a flat worm, individually looks like a piece of rice but can be connected into a long strand; often found at the anal area of cats or dogs and needs a specific deworming medicine to be treated

Whelping - a female dog delivering her puppies