Veterinary Acronyms Explained

Veterinary Terms[A][B][C][D][E][F][G][H][I][J][K][L][M][N][O][P][Q][R][S][T][U][V][W][X][Y][Z]

# – fracture
A- – inappetant
A/B – antibiotic
AB – antibiotic
abax – abaxial
abc – antibiotics
abd or abdo – abdomen or abdominal
abd n – abdomen palpated and no abnormality detected
abs or ABs – antibiotics
abx – antibiotics
AC – anterior chamber (of the eye)
ADR – ain’t doing right
adv – advise or advice
AG – anal glands
AIHA – auto-immune haemolytic anaemia
AON – all others normal
AWE acute wet eczema
ax – axial
B – booster
BAR – bright and responsive, or bright, alert, responsive
BARH – bright, alert, responsive, hydrated
bid – twice daily
BifN – back if necessary
BIOP – been in owner’s possession
BIW – before if worried (as in revisit in 1 week or BIW)
bs or BS – blood sample
BT – blood test
B/W – black and white
C – cervical (vertebra – usually followed by a number to denote which one)
C – cough
C+ – moderate cough
C++ – severe cough
C- – no cough
CAH – Chronic Active Hepatitis
caud – caudal
CBA – cat bite abscess
CBC – complete blood count (= routine haematology)
Cc – coccygeal (vertebra – usually followed by a number to denote which one)
CCHF – chronic congestive heart failure
cd – caudal
C7d – recheck in 7 days
CDRM – chronic degenerative radiculomyelopathy
CDS – cat and dog shelter
ce – clinical examination
cep – Ceporex
CHF – congestive heart failure
CHF – chronic heart failure
CKCS – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Co – coughv
COP – cyclophosphamide/oncovin/prednisolone (chemotherapy protocol)
cr – cranial
CRF – chronic renal failure
CRI – chronic renal insufficiency
CRI – constant rate infusion
CRT – capillary refill time
CS – clinical signs
CS – corticosteroids
C/S or C&S – culture and sensitivity
CSK – Chronic Superficial Keratitis (otherwise known as Pannus)
c-v or cv – cardio-vascular
CVA – cardiovascular accident
Cx – coccygeal (vertebra – usually followed by a number to denote which one)
d – days
D- – diarrhoea absent or diminished
D+ – diarrhoeav
D++ – drinking increased
D++ – marked diarrhoea
D+++ – severe diarrhoea
DBA – dog bite abscess
DCM – dilated cardiomyopathy
DD, DDx or DDxx – differential diagnosis
D&D – destroy and disposal
DHLPPi – distemper, hepatitis, Leptospirosis, parvovirus and parainfluenza: dog vaccine covering these diseases
DI – diabetes insipidus
DIC – disseminated intravascular coagulation
DJD – Degenerative Joint Disease
DLH – domestic long hair (non-pedigree cat)
DM – diabetes mellitus
do – days old (following a number)
D/O – drain out (removal of surgical drain)
D/O – dropped off (for treatment or examination)
DOA – dead on arrival
dors – dorsal
DSH – domestic short hair (non-pedigree cat)
Dx – diagnosis
E&A – euthanasia and aftercare
EAG – empty (or express) anal glands
EBT – English Bull Terrier
E/D+ – eating and drinking normally
EDUD – eating, drinking, urinating and defaecating
EOD – every other day
EPI – exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
est – estimate
e/t – endo-tracheal
EUA – examine under anaesthetic
euth – euthanase
ex or ext – external
e(x)d – every (x) days
ex lap – exploratory laparotomy
e(x)wks – every (x) weeks
F – female (see also Fe and Fn)
F1/4 – forequarters
FAD – flea allergic dermatitis
fat++ – obese
FB – foreign body
Fe – female (entire)
FeLV – feline leukaemia virus
FIA – feline infectious anaemia (Haemobartonellosis)
Fin – finish this treatment
FIP – feline infectious peritonitis
FIV – feline immunosuppressive virus
f/l or FL – front legs
FLUTD – feline lower urinary tract disease
FMD – feline miliary dermatitis
Fn – female (neutered)
FNA – fine needle aspiratev
FNAB – fine needle aspirate biopsy
FQ – fore quarters
FUO – fever of unknown origin
FUS – feline urological syndrome
ga or GA – general anaesthetic
GDV – gastric dilitation and volvulus
GORK – God only really knows
GSD – German Shepherd Dog
GSHP – German Short-Haired Pointer
GSP – German Short-haired Pointer
H1/4 – hindquarters
H+ – history
HAC – hyperadrenocorticism
HBB – hit by bullet
HBC – hit by car
HBT – hit by truck
HBTr – hit by train
HCM – hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
HCT – haematocrit
HD – hip dysplasia
HGE – haemorrhagic gastro-enteritis
h/l or HL – hind legs
HQ – hind quarters
HR – heart rate
hrs – hours
HRS – high rise syndrome (animal fell off balcony/windowsill)
H’s – Horner’s syndrome
HX or Hx – history
HyperT4 – hyperthyroidism
HypoT4 – hypothyroidism
I – incisor (tooth – followed by a number to indicate which one)
ID – identification or Identichip
i/d – inter-digital
iid – once a day
im or i/m – intramuscular
IMHA – immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia
impr – improved: followed by a variable number of +’s to indicate degree of improvement
IMTP – immune-mediated thrombocytopenia
inj – inject or injection
int – internal
IOL – Intra Ocular Lens
IOP – intra-ocular pressure
ip or i/p – intra-peritoneal
iv or i/v – intravenous
JAR – “just ain’t right”
jt – joint
KC – kennel cough (infectious tracheobronchitis)
KCS – Kerato Conjunctivitis Sicca (otherwise known as Dry Eye)
L – lumbar (vertebra – usually followed by a number to denote which one)
L – left
LA – left atrium
LA – local anaesthetic
LAE – left atrial enlargement
lat – lateral
BD/LD – big dog/little dog (re fight injuries)
LF – left fore
LH – left hind
LHD – long haired domestic (non-pedigree cat)
LI – large intestine
LIU – Lens Induced Uveitis
LL – left lower (eg. eyelid, lip)
ln – lymph node/s
LTF – learning to fly (animal fell off balcony or similar)
LU – left upper (eg. eyelid, lip)
LV – left ventricle
LVE – left ventricular enlargement
M – molar (tooth – followed by a number to indicate which one)
M – male (see also Me and Mn)
manip – manipulation
m/c – metacarpal
MD – myocardial disease
Me – male (entire)
med – medial
min – minutes
mm or Mmb – mucous membranes
Mn – male (neutered)
mo – months old (following a number)
MT – mammary tumour
m/t – metatarsal
MVA – motor vehicle accident
N – normal
NAD – no abnormality detected (or detectable)
NAF – no abnormal findings
nbg – treatment not working
n def – nerve deficit
NNTSA – no need to see again
NOAD – no other abnormality diagnosed
NOAF – no other abnormal findings
no C/S/V/D – no coughing, sneezing, vomiting or diarrhoea
NOS – no other symptoms
NPO – Nothing per os/nil per os
N/S – next step
NSAID – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
NSF – no significant finding
nyd – not yet diagnosed
O – owner
OA – osteoarthritis
OCD – osteochondritis dissecans
OCNE – off colour, not eating
OES – Old English Sheepdog
O/F – off food
OOH – out of hours
op – operate or operation
P – pulse
palp – palpate or palpation
PAN – peri-arteritis nodosa
PBT – Pit Bull Terrier
pcv – packed cell volume (haematocrit)
PDA – patent ductus arteriosis
PE – physical examination
PPi – parvovirus and parainfluenza: dog vaccine covering these diseases
PPP – pretty poor prognosis
PM – pre-molar (tooth – followed by a number to indicate which one)
PM – post mortem
PTS – put to sleep (euthanase)
PD – polydipsia
pop – popliteal (lymph node)
pred – prednisolone
prn – as needed (pro re nata – Latin)
prob – probably or problem
PU/PD – polyuria/polydipsia
PUO – pyrexia of unknown origin
Px – physical examination or physical examination findings
Px – prognosis
q200 – owner has been given an estimate of £200 for this procedure (q for quoted)
qid – four times daily
QOL – quality of life
R – right
RA – right atrium
RAE – right atrial enlargement
rbc – red blood cell
RC 1w – recheck in 1 week
RCM – restrictive cardiomyopathy
RDVM – referring Dr Veterinary Medicine
Rex – re-examine
RF – right fore
RH – right hind
RI – re-examine/re-inspect
RI 7d – return in 7 days
RL – right lower (eg. eyelid, lip)
rMRCVS – Referring MRCVS
R/O – rule out
rost – rostral
rpt – repeat
rrm – restricted range of movement, eg in a joint
rrr – resting respiration rate
RS – remove sutures
RTA – road traffic accident
RU – right upper (eg. eyelid, lip)
rv – recheck
RV – right ventricle
RVE – right ventricular enlargement
Rx – prescription or dispense
Rx – re-examine
sc or s/c – subcutaneous/subcuticular
SBI – something bad inside, diagnosis of exclusion for ADR
SBT – Staffordshire Bull Terrier
SHD – short haired domestic (non-pedigree cat)
SI – small intestine
SI – self inflicted
SIBO – small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
sid – once daily
sig – signalment
SIT – self-inflicted trauma
s/m – submandibular
Sn – sneezing
S/O – stitches (or staples) out
S&P – scale and polish (of teeth)
sq – subcutaneous
S/R – suture removal
SS – skin scrape
STO – speak to owner
SWB – salt water bathing
Sx – surgery
T – thoracic (vertebra – usually followed by a number to denote which one)
Tb – tabby
Tb/W – tabby and white
TGO – to go home
tid – three times daily
T-L – thoraco-lumbar
TLI – trypsin-like immunoreactivity
TMJ – temporo-mandibular joint
Tn or TN – temperature normal
TNT – toenail trim
Tort – tortoiseshell
Tort/W – tortoiseshell and white
TPN – total parenteral nutrition
TPR – temperature, pulse and respiration
TPRn – temperature, pulse and respiration all normal
TTO – talked to owner
TWBC – total white blood cells
twds – towards
Tx – treatment
U/A or UA – urinalysis
UGA – under general anaesthetic
ULA – under local anaesthetic
URT – upper respiratory tract
URTI – upper respiratory tract infection
US – urine sample
US or us – ultrasound
UTI – urinary tract infection
V- – vomiting absent or diminished
V+ – vomiting
V++ – moderate vomiting
V+++ – severe vomiting
vacc – vaccinate or vaccine
V&D or V/D+ – vomiting and diarrhoea
V/D – : no vomiting, no diarrhoea
VMB – very much better
vmi – very much improvedv
wbc – white blood cell
wmd – white meat diet
WNL – within normal limits
wo – weeks old (following a number)
wt – weight
wt!! – overweight
x/60 – x minutes
x/24 – x hours
x/7 – x days
x/52 – x weeks
x/12 – x months
xr or XR – x-ray
yo – years old