Pet & Animal Care Glossary

Association of American Feed Control Officials. Sets the nutritional standards US pet foods must meet. Look for the 'AAFCO statement' on dog/cat food labels — it certifies the food is complete and balanced.

Used in: Dog food converter

American Animal Hospital Association. Accredits veterinary practices that meet 900+ standards. AAHA guidelines (e.g., weight management, life-stage) are the US gold standard.

American Society of Anesthesiologists grading 1 (healthy) to 5 (moribund). Vets assess every pet before anesthesia — brachycephalic breeds often start at ASA 2-3.

American Veterinary Medical Association. The largest US veterinary organization. Publishes policies, dosage references, and the AVMA Journals with peer-reviewed research.

Raw feeding diet: ~70% muscle meat, 10% bone, 10% organ, 10% plant/other. Proposed by Ian Billinghurst. Nutritional balance requires planning — some BARF diets are deficient in calcium if bone ratio is off.

Used in: Raw food calculator

Standardized 9-point (WSAVA) or 5-point body fat rating. 5/9 is ideal for dogs and cats; 6-7 overweight; 8-9 obese. Assessed by feeling ribs (should be palpable with thin fat cover), viewing waist from above, and abdominal tuck from side.

Used in: Dog calorie calculator · Cat calorie calculator

Aquarium concept: how much waste (ammonia) fish produce relative to biological filtration capacity. High bioload = overstocked tank = ammonia spikes. Measured empirically — weekly water tests tell the real story.

Used in: Aquarium stocking

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus. Large/deep-chested dog's stomach fills with gas and twists on itself, cutting blood supply. Surgical emergency — mortality rises 50%+ after 2 hours. Signs: unproductive retching, distended abdomen, restlessness.

Used in: Emergency vet finder

Collection of breathing problems in flat-faced breeds: stenotic nares, elongated soft palate, everted laryngeal saccules. Surgical correction in first 1-2 years improves lifespan significantly.

Flat-faced breeds: Pug, French Bulldog, English Bulldog, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Shih Tzu, Pekingese, Persian cat. Short skull predisposes to breathing issues (BOAS), heat intolerance, eye problems.

Dogs and cats need 1.2:1 to 1.5:1 Ca:P dietary ratio. Raw meat is typically 1:20 (way too much P) — bone or eggshell supplements correct it. Inverted ratio causes Metabolic Bone Disease.

Shining light through an egg to check fertility (day 3-7) and development. Fertile eggs show blood vessels; infertile eggs stay clear.

Used in: Bird egg incubation · Chicken egg incubation

Prolapsed third eyelid gland — looks like a red cherry in the inner corner of the eye. Common in Bulldogs, Cocker Spaniels, Beagles. Surgical tacking is preferred over removal (removal causes lifelong dry eye).

Progressive kidney failure, very common in older cats. Staged I-IV by IRIS guidelines using creatinine and SDMA blood values. Managed with prescription renal diet, SQ fluids, and phosphorus binders.

Used in: Senior cat care guide

Adrenal glands overproduce cortisol. Signs: increased thirst/urination, pot belly, thin skin, hair loss. Common in older small-breed dogs. Managed with trilostane or mitotane.

Heart muscle weakens and enlarges. Genetic in Dobermans, Great Danes, Boxers. A spike in DCM in non-genetic breeds (2018+) linked to grain-free diets with legume bases — taurine deficiency.

Daily kcal needs = RER × life-stage multiplier. Neutered adult dog: RER × 1.6. Intact adult: ×1.8. Puppy 0-4 months: ×3.

Used in: Dog calorie calculator

Viral disease attacking respiratory, GI and nervous systems. Deadly in unvaccinated puppies. DHPP vaccine covers it. First vaccine at 6-8 weeks, boosters to 16 weeks.

Pancreas doesn't produce enough digestive enzymes. Signs: ravenous appetite + weight loss + soft stool. German Shepherds are predisposed. Managed with pancreatic enzyme supplements on every meal.

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease / Idiopathic Cystitis. Very common cat condition, often stress-triggered. Signs: straining to urinate, blood in urine, inappropriate elimination. Male cats with blockage = EMERGENCY.

Pregnancy duration. Dog: 63 days. Cat: 63-67. Rabbit: 31. Goat: 150. Cow: 283. Horse: 340.

Used in: Dog pregnancy · Cat pregnancy

Feeding insects (crickets, dubia roaches) a nutrient-dense diet 24-48h before feeding them to reptiles. Increases vitamin A and calcium content. Commercial gut-load formulas (Mazuri, Repashy) simplify this.

Parasitic worms transmitted by mosquitoes. Adult worms live in heart and pulmonary arteries, killing dogs without treatment. Monthly preventive (Heartgard, Interceptor) is cheap; treatment is expensive and risky.

Fatty liver disease, most common in cats. Triggered by sudden food intake drop (stress, illness, crash dieting). Can be fatal within days. Cats losing weight too fast are at highest risk.

Sudden bloody diarrhea + vomiting + lethargy. Dramatic but often responsive to IV fluids. Small breeds more prone. Always vet-urgent same day.

Elevated blood calcium. Caused by: Addison's disease, cancer (lymphoma, anal gland carcinoma), vitamin D toxicity, hyperparathyroidism. Symptoms vague: thirst, urination, weakness.

Thyroid tumor overproduces hormone. Signs in senior cats: weight loss DESPITE eating more, vomiting, hyperactivity, increased thirst. Treated with methimazole, I-131 radioiodine, or surgery.

Low blood sugar. Emergency in diabetic cats/dogs receiving insulin, and in toy breed puppies under 4 months. Rub corn syrup on gums if pet is weak/seizing — then rush to vet.

International Renal Interest Society 4-stage classification for CKD. Based on creatinine, SDMA, proteinuria, blood pressure. Stage I (early, often asymptomatic) to Stage IV (end-stage).

Spinal disc compresses or ruptures onto nerves. Dachshunds are 40× predisposed. Signs: back pain, weakness, paralysis. Surgery often needed for paralysis; medical management for mild cases.

Calcium/D3 deficiency in reptiles. Causes soft jaw, bent limbs, tremors, death. 100% preventable with adequate UVB and calcium supplementation. Common in bearded dragons on inadequate UVB.

Used in: Bearded dragon calcium schedule

Rice-grain-sized ID chip implanted between shoulder blades. Standard ISO 15-digit numbers. Registered with a database (HomeAgain, AKC Reunite). Should be scanned at every vet visit to confirm register is current.

Progressive heart valve degeneration. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have 50%+ incidence by age 5. Managed with pimobendan (Vetmedin) and diuretics in later stages.

Surgical sterilization. Reduces mammary/testicular cancer risk when done before first heat. Current AVMA guidance: small breeds 6-9 months, large breeds 12-18 months, giant breeds 18-24 months. Earlier is not always better — joint development matters.

Aquarium bacterial process: ammonia (NH3 from fish waste) → nitrite (NO2) → nitrate (NO3). 'Cycled' tank handles ammonia within 24 hours. Takes 2-6 weeks to establish.

Used in: Cycling time calculator

Registry that grades hip, elbow, heart, eye health via x-ray and exam certifications. Responsible breeders OFA-test parents before breeding to reduce hereditary issues.

Inflamed pancreas. Triggers: high-fat meal (human food), some medications, trauma. Signs: vomiting, abdominal pain (prayer position), lethargy. Miniature Schnauzers are predisposed. Low-fat diet long-term.

Raw diet mimicking whole prey: 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 5% liver, 5% other organ. No vegetables or supplements. Requires careful rotation for nutritional completeness.

Used in: Raw food calculator

100% fatal viral zoonosis. US law requires rabies vaccination for dogs, cats, ferrets. First vaccine at 12-16 weeks, boosters every 1-3 years depending on state law and vaccine type.

Baseline daily kcal for a pet at rest. Formula: 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75. Multiplied by life-stage factor to get DER (actual feeding target).

Used in: Dog calorie calculator

Age-related muscle loss. Affects senior dogs and cats similarly to humans. Managed with adequate protein (higher than young adults, counter-intuitively) and resistance exercise.

Kidney function biomarker more sensitive than creatinine. Detects CKD 25% earlier. Standard on IDEXX wellness panels since 2015. Senior cats should have SDMA checked annually.

Environmental allergies causing itching. Common in West Highland White Terriers, Golden Retrievers, French Bulldogs. Treated with apoquel, cytopoint, allergen-specific immunotherapy.

In diabetic pets receiving too much insulin, hypoglycemia triggers a rebound high glucose. Appears as persistent high blood sugar despite insulin. Fix: lower insulin, not raise.

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. Acupuncture, herbs, food therapy. Evidence level ranges from strong (acupuncture for arthritis pain, RCT-supported) to weak (most herbal remedies).

Caffeine-like compound in chocolate. Dogs can't metabolize it efficiently — half-life ~17 hours. Causes cardiac stimulation, tremors, seizures at high doses. Baker's chocolate has 400-700 mg/oz; milk chocolate ~44 mg/oz.

Used in: Chocolate toxicity calculator

Blood test measuring vaccine antibody levels. Can replace booster vaccines when immunity is still adequate. Used for distemper, parvo, adenovirus. Not valid for rabies in most states (law requires booster).

Ultraviolet B radiation needed by reptiles to synthesize D3 for calcium absorption. T5 HO fluorescent 10-12% bulbs are the gold standard. Replace every 12 months even if still lighting — UV output degrades first.

Dog labor and delivery. Temperature drop below 100°F (37.8°C) predicts labor within 24 hours. Plan a whelping box 2 weeks before due date.

Used in: Dog pregnancy calculator

Artificial sweetener in sugar-free gum, peanut butter, toothpaste. Causes dangerous hypoglycemia and liver failure in dogs at 0.1 g/kg. EMERGENCY at any dose. Check peanut butter labels before giving to dogs.

Used in: Xylitol toxicity calculator

Disease transmissible between animals and humans. Examples: rabies, leptospirosis, ringworm, toxoplasmosis. Always wash hands after handling sick pets.