Medical Conditions Terminology
As communication is vital when it comes to your dog’s wellbeing, it is good to know what the words mean that you might hear at the veterinarian surgery or read in a report. Never be afraid of asking your vet to clarify words you are unsure of. In the following list you will find a number of terms and abbreviations in alphabetical order that you might come across and a brief explanation of what they mean.
| Abdominal | Anything to do with the belly area. |
| Abscess | An accumulation of pus (= white blood cells + foreign body or bacteria) in the tissue of the body. There is also something called a ‘sterile abscess’ where, under special circumstances, pus accumulates without a foreign body or bacteria being involved. |
| Addison’s Disease | This is caused by a malfunctioning Adrenal Gland that produces too little corticosteroid. Symptoms are mainlynot coping well with stressdecreased appetitedepressionfrailtyvomitingdiarrhoeabut also sometimes increased thirst and urinatingDiagnosis is via a complex of symptoms, blood tests and a specific hormone testTreatment consists of replacing the lacking corticosteroid |
| Alimentary Canal | The whole passage along which food passes through the body from mouth to anus during digestion. |
| Anaemia | An acute or long-term lack of red blood cells; this can be caused by an actual loss of blood (= bleeding, externally or internally) or a destruction of red blood cells. |
| Analgesic | Pain reducing drugs. |
| Arrhythmia | This is a disturbance or abnormal rhythm in the heart beat. Clinical causes can be genetic (breed related – Boxers, West Highland White Terriers, and others) or related to heart disease. It is common for a dog to have an abnormal rhythm when they breathe so not every change in heart rhythm is cause for concern. |
| Auricle | See Pinna. |
| Auscultation | Listening to sounds within the body; usually with a stethoscope. |
| Autoimmune Disease | Species, such as humans and dogs, have developed a sophisticated defence against bacteria, viruses and microorganisms. This system can sometimes begin to react to the body’s own tissue and attack it (auto = self), known as autoimmune disease. |
| Bacteraemia | This means bacteria have entered the bloodstream; see also Septicaemia. |
| Biopsy | The taking of a tissue sample for investigation. Examples for taking a sample would be certain skin parasites or suspected cancer. See alsoHistology. |
| Bradycardia | This is a constantly slower than normal heart rate. There are many potential causes that range from damage to the heart tissue via effects of certain drugs to imbalances of certain minerals. See alsoHypothyroidism. |
| Canine Cognitive Dysfunction | The dog equivalent of dementia. |
| Cardiac / Cardio- | Referring to the heart è as in Cardiomyopathy (see below) |
| Cardiology | The branch of medical science dealing with the heart and the network of blood vessels. |
| Cardiomyopathy | This refers to diseases of the muscle tissue of the heart. |
| Congestive Heart Failure Crepitus (a.k.a. crepitation) | Congestive Heart Failure is an umbrella term for conditions with different causes. What they have in common is that the heart has become insufficient in its task to pump blood around the body, with effects on the lungs, the muscles and the metabolism. A medical term to describe the grating, crackling or popping sounds and sensations experienced under the skin and joints or a crackling sensation due to the presence of air in the subcutaneous tissue. |
| CT Scan (a.k.a. CAT scan) | Computer Tomography; this uses x-rays and a computer to create a detailed image of a part of the inside of the body for diagnostic purposes |
| Cushing’s Disease | Hyperadrenocorticism A malfunction of the Adrenal Gland, either within the gland itself or through problems in the Pituitary Gland, which among other things regulates the Adrenal Gland. |
| Cyanosis | This is the term for a blueish colouration of skin and/or mucus membranes. The reason is a higher than normal concentration of red blood cells that circulate in the blood stream without oxygen. The reason for this is usually an abnormality in the heart-lung system. |
| Degenerative Myelopathy | The declining ability of nerves in the spinal cord to transmit impulses to the limbs, especially the hind legs. This leads to a gradual paralysis of the limbs and, therefore, an increasing difficulty in standing and later walking. It will also lead to incontinence. |
| Dehydration | A shortage of water inside the body and tissue due to losses exceeding intake. Reasons can be lack of intake (lack of appetite, general weakness, lack of access to water) but more often an excessive loss due to diarrhoea or vomiting. |
| Derma- | Anything to do with skin è as in Dermatology or Dermatitis |
| Dysphagia | Difficulty swallowing. It can either be simply discomfort or the complete inability to swallow. |
| Ectropion | The eyelid is turned outward. It exposes the inner covering layer of the lid. |
| Entropion | The eyelid turns inward and eye lashes rubbing against the surface of the eye. |
| Erythema | Reddening of the skin because of increased blood flow to the area. It is a general term and erythema occurs with most things affecting the skin (inflammation, trauma, infection). |
| Erythrocyte | A red blood cell. |
| Gastric Dilation Volvulus (a.k.a. bloat, twisted stomach, stomach torsion, gastric torsion, GDV) | A life-threatening condition where the stomach twists, cutting off the connection upwards to the oesophagus and downwards to the gut. When filled with food, gas will soon accumulate and worsen the situation. It requires immediate veterinary attention. See also Gastropexy |
| Gastropexy | This is a surgical operation during which the stomach is sutured to the abdominal wall, in order to fix it permanently in place (to a degree, there is some movement possible). It is the main procedure in cases of Gastric Dilation Volvulus or bloat, and prevents the stomach from twisting around its own longitudinal axis. |
| Histology | The investigation of tissue samples down to the level of individual cells (e.g. of skin) to see whether they are diseased and what might be the cause. See also Biopsy. |
| Hysterectomy | Surgical removal of a female dog’s reproductive organ (womb). |
| Hyper- / Hypothyroidism | This is a condition that arises from a thyroid gland that is more active than normal (= hyper) or less active than normal (= hypo). It either produces too much or too little of the thyroid hormone. |
| Hyperadrenocorticism | See Cushing’s Disease |
| Hypoadrenocorticism | See Addison’s Disease |
| IV fluids | These are sterile fluids, designed to help stabilise a body system and administered directly into the bloodstream. This is routinely done during certain operations but particularly if a dog is dehydrated, seriously weakened or has lost a considerable amount of blood. |
| Jaundice | The yellowish discolouration of the white of the eyes and / or skin. It is always related to the liver and red blood cells. |
| Lavage | The rinsing out of a cavity. This could be a body cavity, such as the gut or a space created by a disease, e.g. an abscess. |
| Leucocyte | A white blood cell. |
| Leucocytosis | A situation where the white blood cell count is higher than normal. White blood cells belong to the immune system and an increased number indicates an inflammation and / or infection in the body but might also be the result of cancer. See also Leucocyte, White Cell Count and Leukaemia. |
| Leukaemia | This is cancer of the tissue where white blood cells are produced (see White Cell Count). The result is abnormal cells, which then weakens the immune system. There are a number of different types, depending on which of the white blood cells are affected. |
| Lymphatic System | A part of the defensive immune system of the body. It consists of a network of tubes and filters, called lymph nodes, and includes the spleen. The most commonly known of those lymph nodes in humans are the tonsils. They remove foreign materials, such as bacteria that have been caught by immune cells. See also Lymphoma. |
| Lymphoma | The abnormal proliferation of lymph cells. |
| Melanoma | Melanocytes are cells in the body that carry pigment and are responsible for our tan. Therefore, you might have come across the term ‘Melanoma’, as it has become a sadly common cancer in humans due to our love for sun bathing. The exact causes in dogs are still not fully understood but it is a relatively common condition. |
| Metastasis | This is a cancerous growth that originates from a primary cancer at another site in the body. That primary growth sent out cancer cells that then settled, for example, in the lungs, the liver or lymph nodes. When it does this, the cancer is said to ‘metastasise’. |
| MRI Scan | Magnetic Resonance Imaging; as the name suggests this type of scan uses magnetic fields to create an image of the inside of a part of the body for diagnostic purposes |
| Myelo- | Anything to do with the spinal cord or bone marrow, as in Degenerative Myelopathy |
| Oncology | The branch of medical science dealing with cancer |
| Osteo- | Terms referring to bones as in Osteoporosis |
| Osteoporosis | A weakening of bone tissue because of increasing porosity, resulting in brittleness. It causes pain and heightens the risk of fractures. In dogs it is a possible consequence of disorders that change the metabolism and/or absorption of minerals either directly or indirectly. Examples are Cushing’s Disease, protein deficiency, and calcium-phosphor imbalance. So-called Disuse Osteoporosis can occur when the muscles around a bone are underused because of immobilisation (e.g. when in a plaster cast or due to paralysis). |
| Otitis | Otitis means inflammation (usually in combination with an infection) of the ear. Depending on the part of the ear there are distinctions: Otitis externa – the outer part of the ear is involvedOtitis media – this is an infection of the part that lies between the outer section (see also Pinna) and the eardrumOtitis interna – affecting the inner part of the ear, around and behind the eardrum (this is often the most dramatic for the patient, as it can disturb orientation, balance, etc. and cause nausea) |
| Ovariohysterectomy | Surgical removal of a female dog’s reproductive organs (womb and ovaries). |
| Panaritium | Inflammation and / or infection around the claw |
| Peritonitis | Inflammation of the lining of the abdomen (= belly) |
| Phlebitis | Inflammation of a vein |
| Pinna (a.k.a. auricle) | Part of the ear that you can see. The main functional part of the ear is deeper inside the skull, called the Inner Ear. This is where sound is converted into vibrations and impulses that the brain can understand and decode. The pinna acts like a funnel that guides sound towards the inner, operative parts of the ear. |
| Pleuritis | Inflammation of the lining covering the lungs |
| Pneumothorax | A situation where there is no air in the chest. The lungs are an entity of their own, sealed off from the rest of the chest cavity. When the dog breathes in, the diaphragm moves downward and the muscles between the ribs outward. This expands the lungs and thereby creates negative pressure that subsequently pulls in air. If the chest cavity (or pleural cavity – see also pleuritis) is opened to the surrounding environment, for example by a puncture wound in the chest wall, that negative pressure cannot be created. |
| Pruritus | Itching |
| Pulmonary Oedema | This is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the lungs. It is important to realise that pulmonary oedema is only a symptom of an underlying cause that must be treated – often an allergic reactions or heart failure. |
| Purulent | With pus |
| Pyometra | An infection of the womb with an accumulation of pus. |
| Renal | Anything to do with the kidneys, as in Renal Insufficiency. |
| Renal Insufficiency (a.k.a. Kidney Failure) | It is seen more in older dogs due to generally deteriorating tissue but also due to infections, cancer, Congestive Heart Failure or kidney stones. |
| Sarcoma | A malignant growth in many types of tissue. They can occur, for example, in bones, skin, muscle or bowels. |
| Scan | A method, using different technologies, to look into tissue for diagnostic purposes. Scans (most often Ultrasound, CT or MRI) are not the same but similar to taking an x-ray image. |
| Septic | Diseased – infected by bacteria. See also Septicaemia and Bacteraemia. |
| Septicaemia | A large-scale invasion of the blood stream by bacteria (see also Bacteraemia). This is always a serious condition and can be life-threatening. |
| Splenectomy | Surgical removal of the spleen |
| Stomatitis | An inflammation of the lips or the inside of the mouth |
| Tachycardia | A faster than normal heart beat. There can be perfectly harmless causes, like strenuous exercise, but it can also have clinical origins, with examples being poisoning, congestive heart failure or lung disease. |
| Thoracic | Anything to do with the chest, as in Thoracic Cavity (the interior of the chest). |
| Toxic | Poisonous; this can refer to poisonous substances (chemicals, gases, plant or animal poisons) or even substances that can be found under normal circumstances inside a body but which have accumulated to abnormal levels. |
| Toxicology | The branch of science that looks into the nature and effects of poisonous substances. |
| Toxin | Poisonous substance |
| TPLO | Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy This is a procedure used in cases of rupture of the frontal cruciate ligament in a dog’s stifle (knee). It involves reducing the angle of the top end of the lower leg bone so the forces working on it while walking will later stabilise the joint. |
| Ultrasound Scan | This uses sound waves to produce an image of the inside of a part of the body for diagnostic purposes; as it is harmless it is very often used to monitor unborn babies. |
| White Cell Count | This refers to white blood cells. These are part of a body’s defensive system (immune system). The test might tell a veterinarian whether or not a disease process is ongoing and often which kind of disease (infections, inflammation, cancer) one might be looking at. See also Abscess. |
| Zoonosis | An infection that can be transmitted between animals and humans. |
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