What Do Those Abbreviations Mean?

What Do Those Abbreviations Mean?

By: PetPlace Staff

If you've ever tried to read your pet's medical report, you most likely encountered a veritable alphabet soup of abbreviations. What do all those letters mean? From A to Z, this article defines the abbreviations your veterinarian uses.

  • Abc Or Abx – antibiotic(s)
  • Abd – abdomen
  • Ac – before meals
  • ACT – activated clotting time
  • ACTH – adrenocorticotropic hormone
  • AD – right ear
  • ADH – antidiuretic hormone, Vasopressin
  • Ad Lib – as desired
  • ADR – ain't doing right
  • AF – atrial fibrillation
  • AG – albumin/globulin ratio
  • AI – artificial insemination
  • AIHA – autoimmune hemolytic anemia
  • Alb – albumin
  • ALKP – alkaline phosphatase
  • ALT – alanine aminotransferase
  • ANS – autonomic nervous system
  • AP – anterior posterior
  • APC – atrial premature contraction
  • ARF – acute renal
    failure
  • AS – left ear/aortic stenosis
  • AST – asparate aminotransferase
  • ATE – aortic thromboembolism
  • AU – both ears
  • AV – atrioventricular
  • Ba – barium
  • BARH – bright, alert, responsive and hydrated
  • BAR – bright alert and responsive
  • BBB – blood brain barrier
  • BDLD – big dog/little dog
  • BID – twice per day
  • BM – bowel movement
  • BP – blood pressure
  • BPH – benign prostatic hypertrophy
  • BT – bleeding time
  • BUN – blood urea nitrogen
  • Bx – biopsy
  • C. – with
  • C – celsius
  • C1, C2 – first cervical vertebra, second cervical vertebra
  • Cal – calorie(s)
  • Cap – capsule
  • CBC – complete blood count
  • CC – chief complaint/cubic centimeter
  • CD – canine distemper
  • Chem – profile, blood profile, chemistry, blood chemistry, diagnostic profile
  • CHF – congestive heart failure
  • CK – creatine kinase
  • Cm – centimeter
  • CNS – central nervous system
  • CO – carbon monoxide
  • CO2 – carbon dioxide
  • Code/Code Blue – emergency help
  • COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • COR – care of remains
  • CPCR – cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation
  • CPK – creatine phosphokinase
  • CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • CPV – canine parvovirus
  • Creat – creatinine
  • CRF – chronic renal failure
  • CRI – constant rate infusion
  • CSF – cerebrospinal fluid
  • CSVD – coughing, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea
  • CT Scan – computed tomography
  • CV – cardiovascular
  • CVA – cerebral vascular accident
  • CVI – cervical vertebral instability
  • CVT – certified veterinary technician
  • CXR – chest X-ray (radiograph)
  • D – diarrhea
  • D/C – discontinue
  • DCM – dilated cardiomyopathy
  • DDD – degenerative disc disease
  • DDX – differential diagnosis
  • Derm – dermatology
  • DFW – dog fight wounds
  • DI – diabetes insipidus
  • DIC – disseminated intravascular coagulation
  • Diff – differential count
  • Dig – digoxin
  • DJD – degenerative joint disease
  • DLH – domestic longhaired cat
  • DM – diabetes mellitus
  • DMH – domestic medium haired cat
  • DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid
  • DPL – diagnostic peritoneal lavage
  • DSH – domestic shorthaired cat
  • Dx – diagnosis
  • ECG or EKG – electrocardiogram
  • EEG – electroencephalogram
  • EENT – eyes, ears, nose and throat
  • ELISA – enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
  • EMG – electromyogram
  • EOD – every other day
  • Eos – eosinophil
  • ED – every day
  • EMD – electromechanical dissociation
  • F – fahrenheit
  • FA – fluorescent antibody
  • FAD – flea allergy dermatitis
  • FBS – fasting blood sugar
  • FDA – Food And Drug Administration
  • Fel – feline
  • Felv – feline leukemia virus
  • FHA – femoral head and neck osteotomy
  • FIA – feline infectious anemia
  • FIP – feline infectious peritonitis
  • FIV – feline immunodeficiency virus
  • Fl – fluid
  • FLUTD – feline lower urinary tract disease
  • FNA – fine needle aspirate
  • FORL – feline odontoclastic resorptive lesion
  • FSH – follicle-stimulating hormone
  • FU – follow-up in reference to next lab procedure, re-evaluation, etc.
  • FUS – feline urologic syndrome
  • Fx – fracture
  • G or Gm – gram
  • Gal – gallon(s)
  • GDV – gastic dilatation and volvulus
  • GFR – glomerular filtration rate
  • GH – growth hormone
  • GI – gastrointestinal
  • Glu – glucose
  • Gr – grain
  • GSD – German shepherd dog
  • Gtt – drops
  • H. – hour
  • Hb – hemoglobin
  • HBC – hit by car
  • HCM – hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • HCT – hematocrit
  • HD – hip dysplasia
  • HDDST – high dose dexamethasone suppression test
  • Hg – mercury
  • HGE – hemorrhagic gastroenteritis
  • H/L – heart and lungs
  • HOD – hypertrophic osteodystrophy
  • HR – heart rate
  • Hs – bedtime
  • HSA – hemangiosarcoma
  • HW – heartworm
  • Hx – history
  • H2O2 – hydrogen peroxide

     
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