Cardiovascular System

A degenerative cardiac disease where the mitral valve leaflets thicken and leak, allowing blood to back up into the left atrium.

A catastrophic medical and surgical emergency where the stomach fills with gas and twists on its mesenteric axis, cutting off blood supply.

A common endocrine disorder of older cats caused by an overactive thyroid gland that overproduces thyroid hormones, accelerating metabolism.

A clinical syndrome where the heart cannot pump adequate blood forward, causing fluid to congest and back up into the lungs or body cavities.

A serious, potentially fatal parasitic infection caused by foot-long worms residing in the pulmonary arteries and heart.

An aggressive, highly malignant vascular cancer that develops from the cells lining blood vessels, most commonly within the spleen.

A serious, zoonotic bacterial infection transmitted through contaminated water or wildlife urine that causes acute kidney failure and liver damage.

Difficult, labored, or painful breathing indicating an inability to ventilate lungs or oxygenate blood adequately.

A sudden, temporary loss of consciousness and postural muscle tone followed by spontaneous, rapid recovery.

A sudden, explosive defensive reflex to clear the airways of mucus, foreign material, or irritating secretions.

An abnormal state of drowsiness, sluggishness, low energy, and reluctance to engage in normal physical activity.

The abnormal pathologic accumulation of free fluid within the peritoneal cavity, causing abdominal distension.

Hemorrhage originating from the nasal cavity, nostrils, or nasopharynx, manifesting as unilateral or bilateral bleeding.

Pinpoint, non-blanching red or purple hemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes, signaling severe primary platelet disorders or vasculitis.

An inodilator that strengthens cardiac muscle contractions and dilates blood vessels to manage canine heart disease and failure.

A potent loop diuretic that inhibits sodium and water reabsorption in the kidneys to rapidly clear fluid accumulation from heart failure.

A non-invasive diagnostic imaging modality using ionizing radiation to produce two-dimensional shadow projections of internal bones, lungs, and organs.

A non-invasive ultrasound examination of the heart that evaluates cardiac chamber dimensions, muscle thickness, valve function, and blood flow velocity.

A quantitative laboratory test measuring the ratio of protein to creatinine in urine to diagnose and quantify renal glomerular protein loss.

An in-clinic ELISA or lateral-flow immunoassay detecting uterine glycoprotein antigens secreted by mature adult female Dirofilaria immitis heartworms.

The surgical removal of the entire spleen, most commonly performed for bleeding splenic masses, trauma, or splenic torsion.

An emergency diagnostic and therapeutic procedure in which a needle or catheter is inserted through the chest wall into the pleural space to evacuate fluid or air.

A diagnostic or therapeutic puncture of the abdominal wall using a needle or catheter to aspirate free peritoneal fluid.

A vascular lymphoid organ located in the cranial abdomen that filters blood, stores red blood cells, and mounts immune responses.

A dual-leaflet one-way heart valve that prevents blood from flowing backward from the left ventricle into the left atrium during heart contractions.

Paired retroperitoneal organs that filter metabolic waste from the blood, balance fluids and electrolytes, and concentrate urine.

A prescription abbreviation originating from Latin meaning "bis in die," directing a medication to be given twice a day, approximately 12 hours apart.

A prescription abbreviation from Latin "ter in die," directing a medication to be administered three times a day, roughly every 8 hours.

A veterinary prescription abbreviation from Latin "semel in die," directing a medication to be given once a day, every 24 hours.

A clinical medical chart abbreviation indicating that an anatomical structure, organ system, or laboratory test value falls completely within expected healthy parameters.

An informal yet universally recognized veterinary clinical shorthand for "Ain’t Doing Right," denoting vague, non-specific malaise or illness without localized signs.

A prescription abbreviation from Latin "quater in die," directing a medication to be administered four times a day, approximately every 6 hours.

An administration route abbreviation designating delivery of fluids or medications directly into a vein.

A physical examination assessment measuring the time in seconds it takes for blanched mucous membrane color to return, assessing peripheral perfusion and blood circulation.

The foundational triad of baseline vital signs recorded at every veterinary visit: rectal body temperature, pulse (heart rate), and respiratory rate.

The frequency of cardiac ventricular contractions, measured in beats per minute (bpm).

The universal four-part clinical documentation structure used by veterinarians: Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan.