ABG = Arterial blood gas

a. c. = Before meals

ACE inhibitor = Angiotensin-converting-enzyme Inhibitor

ACT = Activated Clotting Time

ADE = Adverse Drug Event

Alb = Albumin

ALP = Alkaline Phosphatase

Alt = Alanine Aminotransferase

Amyl = Amylase

ARF = Acute Renal Failure

ASAP = As soon as possible

Astro’s = Astro’s CRF Oil

Bicarb = Bicarbonate of Soda

BID = Twice per day

BP = Blood Pressure

BPM = Beats per minute

BTW = By the way

BUN = Blood Urea Nitrogen

Bup = Buprenex

C = With

C & S = Culture and sensitivity

Ca = Calcium

Cal = Calories

Calc = Calcium or Calcitriol

Carb = Carbohydrate

CBC = Complete Blood Count

CDD = Cognitive Dysfunction Disorder

CHF = Congestive/chronic heart failure

Chol = Cholestrol

CK = Creatine Kinase

CKD = Chronic Kidney Disease

CNS = Central Nervous System

CO₂ = Carbon dioxide

CPK = Creatine Phosphokinase

Crea = Creatinine

CRF = Chronic Renal Failure

CXR = Chest X-ray

Cypro = Cyproheptadine [aka Periactin]

DX = Diagnosis

ECG = Electrocardiogram

EKG = Electrocardiogram

EOD = Every other day

FDA = Food and Drug Administration [US]

FLUTD = Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

GFR = Globular Filtration Rate

GI = Gastrointestinal

Glu/Gluc = Glucose

Gtt = drop

H₂ antagonist = Histamine blocker to block production of stomach acid

HCO₃ = Bicarbonate

HCT = Haematocrit

HGB = Hemoglobin

HL = Hepatic Lipidosis

HR = Heart rate

h.s. = Hour of sleep

HTH = Hope that helps

HTN = Hypertension

HyperT = Hyperthyroidism

IBD = Inflammatory Bowel Disease

IM = Intramuscular

IV = Intravenous

IVP = Intravenous Pyelogram

K = Potassium

LD = Last dose

LFTs = Liver function tests

Mag = Magnesium

MB = Myoglobin

mcg = Micrograms

mEq = Milliequivalents

mg = milligrams

ml = millilitres

MCH = Mean corpuscular hemoglobin

MCHC = Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration

MCV = Mean cell volume

Mirtz = Mirtazapine

MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging

N & V = Nausea and vomiting

N/A = Not applicable

NAD = No acute distress

NPO = Nothing by mouth

NSAID = Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

O₂ = Oxygen

OD = Overdose

Oint = Ointment

Os = Mouth

OTC = Over the counter

Oz = Ounce

p. c. = After meals

PCN = Penicillin

PCV = Packed cell volume

PE = Pulmonary embolism

PEG = Polyethylene glycol

Per = By way of

pH = Measure of acidity

Phos = Phosphorus

PKD = Polycystic kidney disease

PLT = Platelets

PTH = Parathyroid hormone

PM = Private message

PMH = Past medical history

p. o. = By mouth

post-op = Postoperatively, after surgery

PR = Per rectum

Prep = Prepare for

pre-op = Preoperatively, before surgery

PRN = Whenever necessary, when needed

Prot = Protein

Pt = Patient

PTS = Put to sleep

Q = every

QH = Every hour

Q2H, Q3H = Every 2 hours, every 3 hours, etc.

QHS = every night

QID = four times a day

QD = every day

QOD = every other day

QOL = Quality of Life

QS = Quantity sufficient

RAIU = Radioactive iodine uptake

RBC = Red blood cells

RDW = RBC distribution width

Re = About

Rec = Rectal

Retic-count = Reticulocyte count

R/O = Rule out

RR = Respiratory rate

Rx = Prescription

S = Without

SBO = Small bowel obstruction

SC = Subcutaneous

SEB = Slippery Elm Bark

SGOT = Serum glutamine oxaloacetic transaminase

SGPT = Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase

Sig. = Let it be labelled

SOB = Short of breath

Sol = Solution

S/P = Status post

Sp. Gr. = Specific gravity

Staph = Staphylococcus

STAT = Immediately

Strep = Streptococcus

SubCut = Subcutaneous

SubQ = Subcutaneous

T4 = Thyroxine

T4 test = Test to determine hyper-hypo-thyroidism

T. Bili = Total billirubin

T & C = Type and cross match (blood)

Temp = Temperature

TF = Tube feeding

TG = Triglycerides

Tinc. = Tincture

TLC = Tender loving care

TNTC = Too numerous to count

Tol = Tolerated

TP = Total protein

TSH = Thyroid stimulating hormone

T & X = Type and cross match (blood)

TID = three times a day

Transdermal = Drug administration through the skin

u = Units

UA = Urinalysis

Ung = Ointment

Urea = Waste normally cleared from the blood by the kidney and excreted in the urine

URI = Upper respiratory infection

US = Ultrasound

USG = Urine specific gravity

UTI = Urinary tract infection

Via = By way of

Vit = Vitamin

Vol = Volume

VS = Vital signs (BP, HR, RR, Temp)

WBC = White blood cells

WNL = Within normal limits

Wt = Weight

X = Times

XRT = Radiation therapy