| a.d. |
Right ear |
| a.s. |
Left ear |
| a.u. |
Both ears |
| Abdominocentesis |
Surgical puncture to remove fluid from the abdomen |
| ABG |
Arterial Blood gases |
| ACTH |
Adrenocorticotropic hormone test; Adrenal function test |
| Addison’s disease |
Insufficient adrenal cortex function |
| Analgesic |
Medication given to reduce pain |
| Anastamosis |
Surgical reconnection of intestines |
| Anemia |
Low level of red blood cells, PCV or hemoglobin |
| Anesthesia |
Absence of sensation |
| Anisocoria |
Unequal pupil size |
| Anorexia |
Lack or loss of appetite |
| Apnea |
Absence of breathing |
| ARF |
Acute Renal failure |
| AUS |
Abdominal Ultrasound |
| Azotemia |
Elevated renal (kidney) values |
| b.i.d. |
Twice a day |
| BAR |
Bright, Alert and Responsive |
| BCS |
Body Condition Score ( 1/9 – severely underweight, 9/9 severely overweight) |
| BDBD |
Big Dog vs. Big Dog (Dog Fight) |
| BDLD |
Big Dog vs. Little Dog (Dog Fight) |
| BP |
Blood Pressure |
| Bradypnea |
Slow respiratory rates |
| Bx |
Biopsy |
| Cardiomyopathy |
Disease of the heart muscle |
| Cataract |
Opacity of the lens of the eye |
| CBC |
Complete Blood Count – Blood test |
| CHEM |
Chemistries – Blood test |
| CHF |
Congestive heart failure |
| CRF |
Chronic Renal failure |
| CRT |
Capillary refill time |
| Cushing’s disease |
Excessive adrenal cortex function |
| CV |
Cardio-Vascular |
| CVP |
Central Venous pressure |
| Cyanotic/Cyanosis |
Abnormal blue discoloration |
| Cystocentesis |
Needle puncture of the urinary bladder |
| DCM |
Dialated cardiomyopathy |
| Diabetes Mellitus (DM) |
Hyperglycemia; elevated blood glucose due to insufficient secretion of insulin |
| DKA |
Diabetic ketoacidosis |
| DLH |
Domestic Long Hair (Cat) |
| DMH |
Domestic Medium Hair (Cat) |
| DSH |
Domestic Short Hair (Cat) |
| Dyspnea |
Difficult or labored breathing |
| -ectomy |
Surgical removal |
| EENT |
Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat |
| Emesis |
Vomiting |
| Enterotomy |
Surgical incision into the small intestines |
| FB |
Foreign Body |
| FeLV |
Feline Leukemia Virus |
| FHO |
Femoral Head Osteotomy |
| FIP |
Feline Infectious Peritonitis |
| FIV |
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus |
| FLUTD |
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease |
| FLUTD-UO |
FLUTD plus urinary blockage (usually male cats) |
| FNA |
Fine Needle Aspirate |
| FUO |
Fever of Unknown Origin |
| Gastropexy |
Surgical fixation of the stomach to the bodywall |
| Gastrotomy |
Surgical incision into the stomach |
| GDV |
Gastric Dilation Volvus |
| Gi / abd |
Gastrointestinal / Abdominal |
| Glaucoma |
Increase in ocular pressure |
| HBC |
Hit by Car |
| HCM |
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy |
| HCT |
Hematocrit |
| Hemolyzed/Hemolysis |
Red; related to serum or plasma |
| HGE |
Hemorrhagic gastro enteritis |
| Hx |
History |
| Hyper- |
High |
| Hyperglycemia |
Elevated blood glucose |
| Hypo- |
Low |
| Hypoglycemia |
Decreased blood glucose |
| IBD |
Inflammatory Bowel Disease |
| IDA |
Iron Deficiency Anemia |
| Idiopathic |
Unknown cause |
| IM |
Intramuscular |
| IMHA/AIHA |
Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia |
| ITP |
Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia |
| IV |
Intravenous |
| IVDD |
Intervertebral Disc Disease |
| Leukocytosis |
Increase in the number of white blood cells |
| Leukopenia |
Decrease in the number of white blood cells |
| LMOM / LM for O |
Left Message on Machine / Left Message for Owner |
| LSA |
Lymphosarcoma Or Lymphoma |
| LSA |
Lymphosarcoma |
| -megaly |
Enlarged |
| MM |
Mucous Membrane |
| MPL |
Medial Patellar Luxation |
| NPO |
Nos Per Os (Latin) – Nothing by Mouth |
| NSF |
No Significant Findings |
| O |
Owner |
| o.d. |
Right eye |
| o.s. |
Left eye |
| o.u. |
Both eyes |
| -otomy |
Surgical incision |
| P |
Patient |
| p.o. |
By mouth |
| p.r.n. |
pro re nata (Latin) – According to need – Take [item] as needed |
| Pancreatitis |
Inflammation of the pancreas |
| PC |
Presenting Complaint |
| PCV |
Packed cell volume – a measure of red blood cells in the blood |
| PD |
Polydypsia – Increase in thirst |
| PE |
Physical Examination |
| PHT |
Pulmonary Hypertension |
| Plasma |
Part of whole blood; Straw colored fluid containing clotting proteins |
| PLE |
Protein Losing Enteropathy |
| Pleural Effusion |
Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity around the heart |
| PLN |
Protein Losing Nephropathy |
| PLN |
Pelvic Lymph Nodes |
| Pneumonia |
Inflammation and congestions of the lungs |
| Pneumothorax |
Abnormal accumulation of air in the chest |
| Poly- |
Many |
| Proptosis |
Displacement of the eye from the orbit |
| PTE |
Pulmonary Thromboembolism |
| PTS |
Put To Sleep; Euthanasia |
| PU |
Perianal Urethrostomy |
| PU |
Polyuria – Increase in urination |
| Pulmonary Edema |
Accumulation of fluid in the lung tissue |
| q.i.d. |
Four times a day |
| q.o.d. / e.o.d. |
Every other day |
| QAR |
Quiet, Alert and Responsive |
| R & A |
Resection and Anastamosis |
| R/O |
Rule Out |
| Rads |
Radiographs – X-Rays |
| RBC |
Red Blood Cell Count |
| RDVM or rDVM |
Routine or Regular Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Primary Veterinarian) |
| RMSF |
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever |
| Rx |
Prescription |
| s.i.d. |
Once a day |
| Serum |
Straw colored liquid portion of blood with clotting proteins removed |
| SPO2 |
Pulse Oxymetry (Measure of oxygen level in the blood) |
| SubQ / SQ / SC |
Subcutaneous – Under the skin |
| Sx |
Surgery |
| Sz |
Seizure |
| t.i.d. |
Three times a day |
| Tachypnea |
Abnormally rapid respiratory rates |
| TE |
Thromboembolism |
| Thoracocentesis |
Puncture of the chest wall with a needle to obtain fluid or air from the pleural cavity |
| Thrombocytopenia |
Decrease in the number of platelets |
| Thrombocytosis |
Increase in the number of platelets |
| TPLO |
Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy |
| TPR |
Temperature, Pulse and Respiration (vital signs) |
| Tx |
Treatment |
| UA |
Urinalysis |
| Ucath |
Urinary Catheter |
| URI |
Upper Respiratory Tract Infection |
| US |
Ultrasound |
| UTD |
Up to Date |
| UTI |
Urinary Tract Infection |
| v/d |
Vomiting / Diarrhea |
| Vx |
Vaccine |
