Abdomen: The belly.
Adrenal gland: One of 2 glands near the kidneys. They mostly make steroids (cortisone) and epinephrine (adrenaline).
Adrenalectomy: Removal of an adrenal gland, mostly done to treat Cushing's disease or remove a tumor (carcinoma, pheochromocytoma).
ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament): A ligament that keeps the knee stable.
Analgesic: A drug that relieves pain.
Anemia: A decreased number of red blood cells.
Anorexia: The loss of appetite.
Arthrocentesis (Joint tap): Puncture with a needle to aspirate joint fluid.
Arthrodesis: The surgical fusion of a joint (most commonly the wrist).
Arthrotomy: Surgical incision into a joint.
Ataxia: Failure of muscle coordination, loss of balance. A wobbly dog is called ataxic.
Atrophy: Decrease in the size of an organ or tissue (e. g. muscle atrophy).
Avulsion: A tear, usually of a ligament.
Benign: A growth that is not malignant and does not spread from one part of the body to another.
Biopsy: The surgical removal of a piece of tissue or organ for examination under a microscope for diagnosis.
Carpus: The wrist.
CAT scan (CT scan): A test using computers and X-rays to create 3-D images of various parts of the body.
Celiotomy: Abdominal surgery.
Chemotherapy: The treatment of cancer with drugs.
Chest tube (Thoracostomy tube): A plastic tube placed into the chest to evacuate air or fluid.
Closed fracture: Fracture that does not cause an open wound in the skin.
Comminuted fracture: Fracture in more than 2 pieces.
Complete Blood Count (CBC): The number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in a sample of blood.
Congenital: Existing at or before birth.
Crepitus: In a bone, crackling sound due to rubbing of fractured bones.  In a joint, grating caused by the rubbing of joint surfaces.
Cystotomy: Cutting into the bladder.
Dysplasia: Abnormal development (e. g. hip, elbow).
Elbow dysplasia: Abnormal growth of the elbow, that leads to arthritis. Includes OCD, FCP, UAP.
Endoscopy: A procedure to look at the inside of body cavities, such as the trachea (wind pipe), esophagus, stomach, or colon.
Enterectomy: Removal of part of the intestine, e.g. to remove a tumor.
Enterotomy: Cutting into the intestine, e.g. to remove a foreign body.
Esophagus: Hollow tube between the mouth and the stomach.
Eversion: Turning outward, or inside out (e.g. everted saccules in the larynx).
Excision: Surgical removal of a tumor or mass.
Exploratory laparotomy: Abdominal surgery to look at all organs and obtain a clear cut diagnosis.
Extension: Straightening of a joint.
DJD (Degenerative Joint Disease): Similar to (Osteo) Arthritis.
FCP (Fragmented Coronoid Process): Piece of bone that never fuses with a bone in the elbow (part of elbow dysplasia).
Femur: The thigh bone.
FHO (Femoral Head Ostectomy): Removal of the ball part of the hip.  This leads to a false joint made of scar tissue.
Fibula: The small bone in the leg (see Tibia).
Fine needle aspirate (FNA): A procedure in which a needle is placed in a tissue to look at cells under the microscope (cytology).
Flexion: Bending of a joint.
Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV): Life-threatening condition where the stomach gets bloated and may twist on its own axis.
Gastrectomy: Removal of part of the stomach, e.g. to remove a tumor.
Gastropexy: Suturing the stomach to the wall of the abdomen, in order to prevent the stomach from twisting.
Gastrotomy: Cutting into the stomach, e.g. to remove a foreign body.
Hematuria: Blood in the urine.
Hemi-laminectomy: The removal of a portion of the top of a vertebra, most often to remove a slipped disc.
Hip dysplasia: Abnormal growth of the hip, that leads to arthritis & pain.
Histo-pathology: The study of disease by the examination of tissues under the microscope. A veterinarian who specializes in pathology is a pathologist.
Hock: The ankle (same as Tarsus).
Humerus: The bone in the arm.
IVDD: Inter-Vertebral Disc Disease, the classic "slipped disc" of Doxies etc.
Joint tap: Placing a needle in a joint to aspirate joint fluid with a syringe.
JPS (Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis): Surgery done to treat hip dysplasia in a young puppy.
Lesion: Any lump or abnormality that may be caused by injury or disease.
Laminectomy: The removal of the top of a vertebra.
Laparotomy: Abdominal surgery.
Laryngeal paralysis: Paralysis of the larynx (voice box) causing difficulty breathing.
Lateral Patellar Luxation: Dislocation of the kneecap (patella) to the outside.  Leads to a dysfunctional knee, arthritis and pain.
Lobectomy: A surgery to remove a lobe (a part) of the lung or the liver.
Lumpectomy: The removal of a "lump" without sacrificing large amounts of tissue around it.
Luxation: Complete dislocation (e. g.: hip).
Lymph node: Small lumps, part of the immune system, located in specific areas. Lymph nodes act as a 1^st line of defense against infection and cancer.
Malignant tumor: A cancerous tumor.  A tumor made up of cancer cells, that can spread to other body parts and/or invade nearby normal tissue.
Malunion: Healing of pieces of a fractured bone in an abnormal position.
Mandible: The lower jaw.
Mandibulectomy: Removal of (part of) the lower jaw.
Mastectomy: The surgical removal of the mammary gland (breast).
Maxilla: The upper jaw.
Maxillectomy: Removal of (part of) the upper jaw.
Medial Patellar Luxation: Dislocation of the kneecap (patella) to the inside.  Leads to a dysfunctional knee, arthritis and pain.
Meniscus: 1 of 2 pads of cartilage in the knee. They can tear or be crushed with an ACL tear.
Meniscal release: Preventive procedure to prevent future tears, done during ACL surgery or TPLO.
Meniscectomy: Removal of (part of) a meniscus after it was torn or crushed.
Metacarpus: The main bone in a front toe.
Metatarsus: The main bone in a back toe.
Metastasis: Spreading of cancer to other parts of the body.
Metastasize: To spread ("to met") from the first cancer site to another organ (often lungs, liver).
MPL: see Medial Patellar Luxation.
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): A sophisticated test that provides 3-D pictures of organs.
Neoplasia, Neoplasm: A new growth of tissue or cells; a tumor that is often malignant.
Nephrectomy: Removal of a kidney.
Nephrotomy: Cutting into a kidney, e. g. to remove a stone.
Non-union: Fracture where the pieces of a fractured bone do not heal or fuse.
OCD (Osteo-Chondritis Dissecans): Flap of cartilage that does not fuse with the bone.
Oncologist: A veterinarian who specializes in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Oncology: The study and treatment of cancer.
Open fracture: Fracture with an open wound in the skin.
Ostectomy: Removal of (part of) a bone.
Osteotomy: Cutting a bone. The "O" in TPLO stands for Osteotomy.
Osteoarthritis: Similar to Arthritis.
Palliative treatment: Treatment to relieve pain & symptoms of a disease without the hope for a cure.
Paraparesis: Back leg weakness.
Paraplegia: Back leg paralysis.
Patellar Luxation: Dislocation of the kneecap (patella). Can be medial (slips to the inside) or lateral (slips to the outside).
Pathology (Histo-pathology): The study of disease by looking at tissues under a microscope. A vet who specializes in pathology is a pathologist.
Pheochromocytoma: A tumor of the adrenal gland.
Platelet: Cells in the blood that are responsible for clotting.
Polyp: A growth of tissue protruding into a body cavity, such as an ear or rectal polyp. A true polyp is benign.
Primary tumor: The original cancer site.
Prognosis: The projected outcome of a disease or condition.
Pyometra: Infection of the uterus. Considered an emergency that needs surgery ASAP.  Preventable by spaying.
Radiation therapy: X-ray or electron beam that damages or kills cancer cells.
Radius: The main bone in the forearm (see Ulna).
Recurrence: The reappearance of cancer after a period of remission.
Resection: Surgical removal of a tumor or mass.
Rhinotomy: Cutting into the nose.
Scapula: The shoulder blade.
Seroma: A pocket of liquid (serum) under an incision.
Side effects: Undesirable adverse effects of a drug.
Splenectomy: Removal of the spleen.
Subluxation: Partial dislocation (e. g. in the hip).
Synovial fluid: The joint fluid. Normally clear, thick & in small amounts.
Systemic disease: A disease that affects the whole body instead of one organ.
Tarsus: The ankle (same as Hock).
TECA: Total Ear Canal Ablation.
Tetraparesis: Weakness in all 4 legs.
Tetraplegia: Paralysis of all 4 legs.
THR (Total Hip Replacement): Surgery that replaces all parts of the hip, in order to treat hip dysplasia.
Thoracocentesis (Chest tap): A procedure to remove air or fluids from the chest.
Thoracotomy: Chest surgery.
Thoracostomy tube (Chest tube): A plastic tube placed into the chest to evacuate air or fluid.
Thorax: The chest.
Thyroidectomy: Removal of a thyroid gland.
Tibia: The main bone in the leg (see Fibula).
Total Ear Canal Ablation (TECA): Removal of the inside cartilage of the ear canal to treat severe infections (Cockers...) or tumors.
TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Ostectomy): Surgery to cut and turn the top part of the tibia (shin bone), then apply a metal plate to address an ACL tear.
TPO (Triple Pelvic Ostectomy): Surgery to cut and turn the pelvis part of the hip, to treat hip dysplasia, usually in a puppy.
Tumor: An abnormal overgrowth of cells. Tumors can be benign or malignant.
UAP (Ununited Anconeal Process): Piece of bone that never fuses with a bone in the elbow (part of elbow dysplasia).
Ulna: The small bone in the forearm (see Radius).
Ultrasound: The use of sound waves, usually to diagnose a condition, mostly in the belly or the chest.  Can help taking a biopsy.
Valgus: A joint bent outward (most often the wrist).
Varus: A joint bent inward (most often the ankle).