Acidosis (grain overload): When the pH of the rumen is abnormally low (<5.5). Signs of disease may include diarrhea, with or without blood.
Acute: Any process occurring over a short period of time.
Adjuvant(s): Carriers used in vaccines to increase immune responses. Often these components are the cause of allergic reactions.
Anemia: The lack of red blood cells in the body. Anemia can be the result of loss, destruction, and/or decreased production of red blood cells.
Anorexia: A loss of appetite or desire to eat.
Antibody: Protein molecules produced by the immune system which provide protection from infectious viruses or bacteria.
Arrhythmia: Any deviation from a normal heart rhythm. Deviations may include abnormal heart rate, pattern, or differences in electrical activity.
Artery: A blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart.
Atrium: A chamber of the heart. Cows have two atria, right and left.
Calving Paralysis:
A situation, typically after a difficult birth, where the cow is unable to rise or move properly due to nerve and muscle damage.Capillary: The smallest vessels where nutrients, oxygen, and carbon dioxide are exchanged in the tissues.
Capillary Refill Time (CRT): The amount of time it takes the gums to return to normal after being "blanched out." Normal CRT is less than 2 seconds. If longer than 2 seconds, the blood circulation throughout the body may be compromised due to shock, dehydration, or other cardiovascular problems.
Cardiovascular: Refers to the heart and blood vessels of the body.
Catheter: A hollow, tubular medical device which is placed into a body part (such as a vein or urinary bladder) for the removal or administration of fluids.
CC (cubic centimeter): A volume measurement identical to mL.
Chronic:
Any process occurring over a long period of time.Colic: General abdominal pain. The source of the pain can be the liver, kidneys, intestines, stomach, etc.
Complete Blood Count (CBC): A test used to identify red and white blood cells. Often this test is used when looking for infection, or in animals suspected of having a low red blood cell count (anemia).
Concentrate: A high energy feed, usually a grain or grain by-product such as corn or barley.
Congenital: Present at birth. Birth defects are usually referred to as congenital.
Crude Protein: The total amount of protein in a feed, expressed as a percentage of the feed. Crude protein is further subdivided into soluble, degradable, undegradable, bypass, and bound protein fractions.
Cubic Centimeter (CC): A volume measurement identical to milliliter (mL).
Cystorelin (GnRH or Gonadotropin releasing hormone): A hormone used for animals that are not cycling and for cystic ovaries.
D
Definitive Diagnosis:
The precise recognition of a specific disease.Diastole: The resting phase of the heart. During this time the ventricles fill with blood.
Distal: A structure that is further from the main body. For example, the three bones in the foot are designated by the terms proximal, middle, and distal, depending on their location relative to the main body.
Diuresis: Increased urine production. This can occur naturally in the animal, or can be induced using special drugs or fluid administration.
Echocardiography or Echocardiogram:
A technique that examines the heart using ultrasonic sound waves produced by an ultrasound machine. An image is produced of the valves, muscle walls, and internal structures of the heart.Edema: Fluid swelling that can accumulate anywhere in the body.
Endocarditis: When the endocardium or inner surface of the heart becomes inflamed or irritated.
Energy: The amount of calories available in a feed for growth or milk production.
Eructate (belch): The usual passage of gas out of the rumen.
Fecal Flotation:
A procedure, performed by a veterinarian, used to identify various parasite eggs in a fecal (manure) sample.Fetotomy: Dissection of a dead calf into smaller pieces to allow for easier removal from the mother.
Fiber: The portion of a feed that is indigestible or slowly digested by ruminants. May be expressed as crude fiber, non-detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, or effective fiber.
Forage: A high fiber plant used for feed such as hay or corn silage.
Gestation:
The period of development of the fetus throughout the pregnancy.GnRH (Cystorelin or Gonadotropin releasing hormone): See Cystorelin.
Grain Overload (acidosis): See acidosis.
Gram Negative: Categorizing bacteria according to the color they appear (red) when stained by a particular process. Some gram negative bacteria are E. coli and Klebsiella.
Gram Positive: Categorizing bacteria according to the color they appear (blue) when stained by a particular process. Some gram positive bacteria are Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp.
Hemorrhage:
Bleeding or blood loss.Hematuria: Blood in the urine. The blood may or may not be seen with the naked eye.
Histology or Histopathology: The process of evaluating specially prepared (tissue) samples using a microscope. These samples are often taken from tissues collected from an aborted fetus sent in for evaluation.
Hydrops: An abnormality during pregnancy where the uterus retains large amounts of water. This can be caused by defects in the fetus and/or in the mother.
Hypermotile: Something that is overactive.
Hypomotile: Something that is not as active as it normally should be.
Icterus:
A yellow discoloration of the gums and white of the eye that is often associated with liver problems and some types of anemia.Idiopathic: When the exact cause of the problem or disease is not known.
IM: See intramuscular.
Immunity: Protection from disease that comes as a result of the body’s normal immune system response. The body’s immune system can provide disease protection because of prior vaccinations or previous exposure to an infectious organism.
IN: See intranasal.
Indications for Use: The situations when and how a specific product can be used.
Intramuscular (IM): The route of administration of an injection. Use of this term would indicate that the injection should be given through the skin and into a muscle.
Intranasal (IN): The spraying or administering of a solution into the nostrils.
Intravenous (IV):
The route of administration of medications or fluids. Use of this term would indicate that the substance should be given into a vein.IV: See intravenous.
Johnes Disease (Mycobacterium paratuberculosis):
A bacterial disease causing severe weight loss and diarrhea.Killed Vaccine:
A particular vaccine that contains no live disease causing components. These vaccines are safe to give to pregnant animals and also to calves in close association with pregnant animals.Lethargy or Lethargic:
An animal which is slow to react, lacks energy, and is often sick.Lutalyse (PGF2
a or Prostaglandin): A hormone used for estrus synchronization, infected uteruses, and inducing abortion.Melena:
A situation where digested blood is found in the feces (manure) of an animal. Often the stool appears dark and tarry.Milliliter (mL): A metric volume measurement that is identical to cubic centimeter (cc).
mL: See milliliter.
Modified Live Virus Vaccine (MLV): A particular vaccine that does contain live portions of disease-causing agents. These vaccines should not be given to pregnant animals.
Murmur: An abnormal heart sound. These are graded from 1-6, with 6 being the loudest murmur.
Mycobacterium Paratuberculosis: See Johnes disease.
Necropsy:
The animal equivalent to human autopsy, and means evaluating an animal after death for signs that might indicate the cause of death.Necrotic: Decaying tissue. Often the tissue is black, decomposed, and has a foul odor.
Neoplasia: Any type of cancer in the body. This term is usually associated with some type of mass or lump.
Nephritis: Inflammation of the kidney(s).
NSAIDS (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs): Drugs that decrease inflammation, swelling, and pain. These drugs reduce inflammation, and are not steroids.
O
O-T-C (Over The Counter):
Products that do not require a veterinary prescription to purchase.Palatable or Palatability:
The taste and texture of forage. A forage that is highly palatable has a pleasant taste and texture.Passive Transfer: Acquiring protection against infectious disease from another animal. This commonly occurs when a calf consumes antibody-rich colostrum from its mother. Failure to have sufficient passive transfer increases the risk of disease.
Pathology: The study of tissues for signs of disease.
Peritonitis: Inflammation of the internal surface of the abdomen. This condition is often the result of infections and certain diseases.
PGF2
a (Lutalyse or Prostaglandin): See Lutalyse.pH: How acidic or alkalotic a substance is. Normal rumen pH should be around 6-7, depending on the ration being fed.
Placentitis: Abnormal inflammation of the placenta usually associated with infectious disease.
Presumptive Diagnosis:
When a diagnosis is based on a preliminary exam and not on specific testing and results. This diagnosis is often based on the clinician’s experience and on clinical signs that may be very specific for a particular disease.Prognosis: The chances of an animal having a normal quality of life following a disease or problem. This is reported using the words poor, fair, good, or excellent.
Prostaglandin (PGF2
a or Lutalyse): See Lutalyse.Proximal: A structure that is nearer the main body. For example, the three bones in the foot are designated by the terms proximal, middle, and distal depending on their location relative to the main body.
Quarantine:
To confine and keep an animal from contacting other animals or people. This is essential to stop the spread of infectious diseases that are potentially transmissible to other animals or humans.Rumenocentesis (rumen tap):
When rumen contents are collected by inserting a needle into the rumen.Rx (Prescription): Products that require a veterinary prescription to purchase.
SC or SQ:
See subcutaneous.Skin Tent: When the skin of an animal is gently pinched and pulled outward. A dehydrated animal’s skin will not rapidly return to its normal position or shape.
Subcutaneous (SC or SQ): The location for an injection. Use of this term would mean the injection should be given under the skin, but not in the muscle.
Systole: Part of the normal beating of the heart where blood is pushed from the ventricles of the heart. This is known as the contraction phase of the heartbeat.
Titer(s):
The immune system’s response to a particular disease. The higher the titer number, the stronger the immune response. Titers are used to determine if an animal has been exposed to a specific virus or bacteria. If the titer numbers are near zero, the animal has not been exposed to that organism recently.Transfaunation: When rumen juices and flora from a healthy animal are placed in an animal where normal rumen function has been compromised.
Transtracheal Wash: When fluid from the lungs is collected and then evaluated.
Trocar: An instrument used in an emergency to relieve the gas from a distended rumen (bloat).
V
Vein: Blood vessels in the body that carry blood towards the heart.
Ventricle: A chamber of the heart that pumps blood to the lungs and the rest of the body. A cow’s heart has two ventricles, left and right.
Virulence: The ability that a microorganism has to cause an infection or disease. Microorganisms which have the ability to cause more severe disease are said to be highly virulent.
Zoonosis or Zoonotic:
Any animal disease that can be spread to humans.