Glossary
adrenal insufficiency crisis - Acute adrenal crisis that occurs when there is not enough cortisol.
adrenocortical insufficiency - Insufficient production of adrenal hormones
anal furunculosis - Immune mediated ulceration, lesion and inflammation of the anus area
aspirate pneumonia - Infection of the lungs due to the sucking in of food particles or fluids into the lungs.
Atopic dermatitis - Chronic skin disorder categorized by itching, rash
bioavailability - Proportion of the drug that reaches the target organ of the body
breed predisposition - Breed susceptibility to specific disease
cardiac arrhythmias - Variation from the normal rhythm of the heart
Complete Blood Count - A complete blood count (CBC) gives important information about the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
cytotoxic drugs - Drugs that damage or destroys cells
demodicosis (demodex) - A parasitic skin disease caused by demodicid mites
DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation) - widespread formation of thromboses in the capillaries
differential diagnoses - Several diseases presenting similar symptoms
drug eruptions - Skin condition caused by a drug reaction
fight/flight response - The body's response to perceived threat or danger
fluid therapy - Restoring hydration balance when dog is dehydrated
Full Serum Biochemistry panel - Chemical analysis of the liquid portion of the blood (serum). It provides information about organ function in the body
gastroprotectant - Drug to protect the lining of the stomach
haemophilia A - Inherited disease whereby deficiency of clotting factor causes bleeding
hepatic insufficiency - Impaired liver function
hyperkalaemic myocardial toxicity - Damage to the muscle tissues of the heart caused by high potassium levels
hypovolaemia - Reduction in the circulating blood volume
immunoflourescent staining - A test for specific antibodies using a fluorescent dye
immunomodulating - The capacity to adjust the immune response to a desired level
immunosuppressive - An agent that suppresses the immune system
joint tap - A procedure whereby a sterile needle and syringe are used to drain fluid from a joint
lipid deposits - Fatty deposits
Lyme disease - Disease transmitted by ticks
mucoid - Resembling mucus
multisystemic disease - One or more diseases of the whole body
myositis - Inflammation of muscle/s
nasal planum - Non haired portion of the nose.
non-erosive polyarthritis - An immune-mediated inflammatory disease of joints which does not cause erosive change such as rheumatoid arthritis.
pustules - Small pimples or elevations of the skin containing pus.
polyglandular disease - More than one autoimmune glandular disease.
prognosis - Forecast of the probable course and outcome of a disease
punch biopsy - Biopsy performed using a punch, an instrument for cutting and removing a disk of tissue.
Regenerative anaemia - Is a reduction in red blood cells caused by blood loss or destruction of the red cells in the circulation of the blood
renal insufficiency - Impaired kidney function
reticulocytes - Red blood cells that are not fully mature
sloughing - To crumble and slowly fall away
synoval fluid - Fluid that surrounds a joint
systemic disease - Disease affecting the whole body
thromboembolism - Formation of a blood clot that breaks loose and is carried by the blood stream to plug another blood vessel.
topical ointments - Ointment for local or external application
vascular collapse - The amount of blood flowing to the organs and their tissues is inadequate to meet the demand of the organs and tissues for oxygen.
Von Willebrand's disease - An inherited bleeding disorder
whole blood - All components of blood as opposed to partial, eg., plasma only