Veterinary Acronyms...Translating Your Pet's Records

Do you ever wonder just what those acronyms peppered by vets in your pet’s charts really mean? I took my dog to the vet the other day for some advice. “Fido is a bit off, but I can’t put my finger on it,” I explained. “He’s bright, alert and responsive, as well as eating and drinking normally. But he did fall off the balcony the other day and is a bit stiff.”

In vet-speak the notes in Fido’s chart might read something like this:

JAR (just ain’t right); BAR (bright, alert, responsive); E/D+ (eating and drinking normally); HRS (high rise syndrome - animal fell off balcony or window sill) or LTF (learning to fly – animal fell of balcony or similar); NSAID bid (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory twice daily)

Of course the above tale is fiction, but one thing I make a habit of is asking for and keeping a record of my dogs’ visits to the vet. Vet records often look as if they were written in a foreign language, but with a little help you can decipher the acronyms your vet may use and be a pro at translating those records!

# - 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 hemolytic anemia
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
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 hematology)
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
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- - diarrhea absent or diminished
D+ - diarrhea
D++ - drinking increased
D++ - marked diarrhea
D+++ - severe diarrhea
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
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
Dx - diagnosis
E&A - euthanasia and aftercare
EAG - empty (or express) anal glands
E/D+ - eating and drinking normally
EDUD - eating, drinking, urinating and defecating
EOD - every other day
EPI - exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
est - estimate
e/t - endo-tracheal
EUA - examine under anesthetic
euth - euthanize
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 aspirate
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
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 - hematocrit
HD - hip dysplasia
HGE - hemorrhagic 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 hemolytic anemia
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 anesthetic
LAE - left atrial enlargement
lat - lateral
BD/LD - big dog/little dog (re fight injuries)
LF - left fore
LH - left hind
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 tumor
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 color, not eating
O/F - off food
OOH - out of hours
op - operate or operation
P - pulse
palp - palpate or palpation
PAN - peri-arteritis nodosa
pcv - packed cell volume (hematocrit)
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 (euthanize)
PD - polydipsia
pop - popliteal (lymph node)
pred - prednisone
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
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)
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
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 anesthetic
ULA - under local anesthetic
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 diarrhea
V/D - : no vomiting, no diarrhea
VMB - very much better
vmi - very much improved
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

Six Household Products That Are Not Dog Safe

Are the products you use to clean your home safe for your pets? A check under the sink may surprise you to find many households cleaning products containing toxic ingredients such as bleach, ammonia, chlorine, glycol ethers, or formaldehyde that can put young children and pets particularly at risk for things such as cancer, anemia, liver and kidney damage. Studies have shown it is not enough to simply close a container containing these ingredients and put it away, toxic vapors remain behind that continue to harm both us and our pets.


Some Toxic Ingredients and Their Effects On People and Pets

Ammonia - Used in many de-greasers for ovens, glass and stainless steel, ammonia has a very high VOC, burns mucous membranes and contributes to asthma. If it is mixed with bleach, it creates a poisonous gas which can be deadly to small pets.

Chlorine - Used in disinfectants, toilet bowl cleaners and automatic dish detergent to name a few, chlorine is also used to bleach coffee filters. It can cause everything from dizziness to vomiting to laryngeal edema. Avoid this ingredient and be careful about letting your pet swim in the pool.

Glycol Ethers - Glycol ethers are found in many cleaning products that are not pet safe including glass cleaners, carpet cleaners and spot removers. It has been linked to anemia, lung damage and kidney damage in people and pets.

Formaldehyde - The thought of a funeral home comes to mind when formaldehyde is mentioned and everyone can recognize the strong, nauseating smell. But it's also used in products such as soaps and even some pet shampoos. It can contribute to asthma and is carcinogenic.


Some Cleaning Products That are Not Dog Safe

There are many, many cleaning products that are not safe for dogs on the market. Here are a few popular cleaners that contain some of the ingredients mentioned above as well as others:

Floor Cleaners - These include Pine Sol and Mr. Clean. Even if you manage to get all of the residue off the floor, the vapors linger and are dangerous to your pet. Try a non-toxic, pet safe cleaner instead.

Bathroom Cleaners - These include Clorox Bathroom Cleaner and Scrubbing Bubbles. Try a product such as Ecover Bathroom Cleaner instead. Never use a continuous toilet bowl cleaner such as Clorox Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner. It is very dangerous and the temptation to drink out of the toilet is a quirk in many of our pups.

All Purpose Cleaners - For use in the kitchen and around the house, the most common toxic all-purpose cleaners that scream "Danger!" are Mr. Clean Multi-Purpose Spray and Formula 409.

Drain Openers - You may think that since this product is poured down the drain, it can't be harmful to your pet. But the toxic drain openers give off dangerous fumes long after you've emptied them. For a non-toxic, pet safe option, try a product such as Earth Friendly Enzymes Drain Opener.


Instead of using toxic cleaning products around the house, try one of the non-toxic and pet safe lines of cleaners. If you do decide to keep toxic cleaners, make absolutely sure they are put away. Put child safety locks on cabinet doors and put cleaners up as high as possible. Never use them when your pet is in the same room and air out the house after cleaning with them. Never leave any residue behind. But the warning signs are clear and you and your dog will be healthier and safer if you use cleaning products that are pet safe.