Have you ever read instructions or medical information and did not know what the abbreviations meant? So here we go:
| Abbreviations | Meanings |
| Ab | antibody |
| ACE | angiotensin-converting-enzyme |
| ACL | anterior cruciate ligament |
| ACT | activated clotting time |
| ACTH | adrenocorticotropic hormone |
| ADH | antidiuretic hormone |
| ad lib | as much as desired |
| ag | antigen |
| AGID | agar gel immunodiffusion |
| AI | artificial insemination |
| AIHA | autoimmune hemolytic anemia |
| ALP | alkaline phosphatase |
| ALT | alanine aminotransferase (SGPT) |
| ant. | anterior |
| AP | anterior posterior |
| APTT | activated partial thromboplastin time |
| AST | aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT) |
| ATP | adenosine triphosphate |
| AV | atrioventricular |
| AZT | azidothymidine |
| BAL | dimercaprol |
| bid | twice a day |
| BMR | basal metabolic rate |
| BP | blood pressure |
| BSP | sulfobromophthalein |
| BUN | blood urea nitrogen |
| BW | body weight |
| C | cervical vertebrae (C1-C7) |
| ºC | degree Celsius (centigrade) |
| Ca | calcium |
| cal | calorie(s) |
| CAT | computerized axial tomography |
| CAV | canine adenovirus |
| cc | cubic centimeter |
| CCV | canine coronavirus |
| CDC | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| CDV | canine distemper virus |
| CF | cardiac failure, complement fixation |
| CHF | congestive heart failure |
| CHV | canine herpes virus |
| CK | creatine kinase |
| Cl | chloride |
| cm | centimeter(s) |
| CMI | cell-mediated immunity |
| CNS | central nervous system |
| CO2 | carbon dioxide |
| CPK | creatinine phosphokinase |
| CPR | cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
| CPV | canine parvovirus |
| CSF | cerebrospinal fluid |
| Cu | copper |
| cu | cubic |
| DEA | Drug Enforcement Agency |
| DES | diethylstilbestrol |
| DIC | disseminated intravascular coagulation |
| DJD | degenerative joint disease |
| dL | deciliter(s) |
| DM | diabetes mellitus |
| DMSO | dimethyl sulfoxide |
| DNA | deoxyribonucleic acid |
| DOCP | desoxycorticosterone pivalate |
| dx | diagnosis |
| ECG | electrocardiogram |
| ECP | estradiol cypionate |
| EEG | electroencephalogram |
| EFA | essential fatty acids |
| eg | for example |
| EIA | enzyme immunoassay |
| EKG | electrocardiogram |
| ELISA | enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay |
| EM | electron microscopy |
| EPA | Environmental Protection Agency |
| EPG | eggs per gram (of feces) |
| EPO | erythropoietin |
| ºF | degree Fahrenheit |
| FA | fatty acid, fluorescent antibody |
| FAD | flea allergy dermatitis |
| FCP | fragmented coronoid process |
| FCV | feline calicivirus |
| FDA | Food and Drug Administration |
| Fe | iron |
| FeLV | feline leukemia virus |
| FHV | feline herpes virus |
| FIP | feline infectious peritonitis |
| FIV | feline immunodeficiency virus |
| FLUTD | feline lower urinary tract disease |
| FOCMA | feline oncovirus – associated cell membrane antigen |
| FRV | feline rhinotracheitis virus |
| ft | foot, feet |
| FUO | fever of undetermined origin |
| FUS | feline urologic syndrome (now termed feline lower urinary tract disease) |
| fx | fracture |
| g | gram(s) |
| gal | gallon(s) |
| GDV | gastric dilatation and volvulus |
| GH | growth hormone |
| GI | gastrointestinal |
| gr | grain(s) |
| H and E | hematoxylin and eosin (stain) |
| HCL | hydrochloride |
| HCT | hematocrit |
| Hgb | hemoglobin |
| HGE | hemorrhagic gastroenteritis |
| HI | hemagglutination inhibition |
| HOD | hypertrophic osteodystrophy |
| HPF | high-power field |
| hr | hour(s) |
| I | iodine |
| IBD | inflammatory bowel disease |
| IC | intracardiac |
| ICH | infectious canine hepatitis |
| ID | intradermal |
| IDDM | insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus |
| IDST | intradermal skin test |
| ie | that is |
| IFN | interferon |
| Ig | immunoglobulin (with class following: A, D, E, G, or M) |
| IHA | indirect hemagglutination antibody |
| IM | intramuscular(ly) |
| IN | intranasal |
| in | inch(es) |
| inf. | inferior, infection |
| IP | intraperitoneal(ly) |
| IU | international unit(s) |
| IV | intravenous(ly) |
| IVD | intervertebral disc |
| IVP | intravenous pyelogram, intravenous pyelography |
| K | potassium |
| kcal | kilocalorie(s) |
| KCS | keratoconjunctivitis sicca |
| kg | kilogram(s) |
| kVp | kilovolt peak |
| L | liter(s) |
| lat. | lateral |
| lb | pound(s) |
| LE | lupus erythematosus |
| lg an | large animal(s), ie, farm animals, horses |
| LPF | low-power field |
| m | meter(s) |
| M | molar |
| MAOI | monoamine oxidase inhibitor |
| Mcal | megacalorie(s) |
| MCV | mean corpuscular volume |
| ME | metabolizable energy |
| med. | medial, median |
| mEq | milliequivalent(s) |
| µg | microgram |
| Mg | magnesium |
| mg | milligram(s) |
| MIC | minimum inhibitory concentration |
| min | minute(s) |
| mL | milliliter(s) |
| MLV | modified live virus |
| mm | millimeter(s) |
| Mn | manganese |
| mo | month(s) |
| mOsm | milliosmol(s) |
| MRI | magnetic resonance imaging |
| Na | sodium |
| NAF | no abnormalities found |
| ng | nanogram(s) |
| nm | nanometer(s) |
| NRC | National Research Council |
| NSAIDS | non-steroidal anti-inflammatories |
| O2 | oxygen |
| OA | osteoarthritis |
| OCD | osteochondritis dissecans |
| OD | right eye |
| OFA | Orthopedic Foundation for Animals |
| OLM | ocular larval migran |
| OS | left eye |
| OTC | over the counter |
| oz | ounce(s) |
| P | phosphorous |
| p/pp | page/pages |
| PCR | polymerase chain reaction |
| PCV | packed cell volume |
| PDA | patent ductus arteriosus |
| PE | physical exam |
| pg | picogram(s) |
| pH | negative logarithm of hydrogen ion activity (measure of the acidity of a solution) |
| plt | platelet |
| PO | per os, orally |
| post. | posterior |
| ppb | part(s) per billion |
| ppm | part(s) per million |
| PRA | progressive retinal atrophy |
| PRN | as required |
| PT | prothrombin time |
| pt | pint(s) |
| PTH | parathyroid hormone |
| q | every |
| qid | four times daily |
| q4h | every 4 hours |
| qod | every other day |
| qt | quart(s) |
| r | roentgen unit(s) |
| RA | rheumatoid arthritis |
| RAST | radioallergosorbent |
| RBC | red blood cell(s) |
| RMSF | Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever |
| RNA | ribonucleic acid |
| rx | treatment, prescription |
| SC | subcutaneous(ly) |
| Se | selenium |
| sec | second(s) |
| SGOT | aspartate aminotransferase (ALT) |
| SGPT | alanine aminotransferase |
| SLE | systemic lupus erythematosus |
| sm an | small animal(s), ie, cats, dogs |
| sp/spp | species (sing.)/species (pl.) |
| SPF | specific pathogen free |
| sq | square |
| SSRI | selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor |
| subcut. | subcutaneous(ly) |
| sup. | superior |
| Sub Q | subcutaneous(ly) |
| sx | surgery |
| T3 | triiodothyronine |
| T4 | thyroxine |
| tbsp | tablespoon(s) |
| TDN | total digestible nutrients |
| tid | three times daily |
| toxo | toxoplasmosis |
| TSH | thyroid stimulating hormone |
| tsp | teaspoon(s) |
| U | unit(s) |
| UAP | ununited anconeal process |
| USP | United States Pharmacopeia |
| UTI | urinary tract infection |
| VD | ventral dorsal |
| viz | namely |
| VLM | visceral larval migran |
| VN | virus neutralization |
| WB | western blot |
| WBC | white blood cell, white blood (cell) count |
| wk | week(s) |
| wt | weight |
| yr | year(s) |
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