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
