Veterinarians glossary

Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a veterinarian provider in Denver CO.

What are digital dental radiographs?: Digital dental radiographs are X-ray images of a pet's teeth and supporting structures, taken to assess disease, damage, and bone health below the visible gumline.
What are veterinary triage levels?: Veterinary triage levels are a system used by emergency and urgent-care veterinary clinics to categorize incoming patients by medical severity, determining the order in which they receive evaluation and treatment.
What is a board-certified veterinary specialist?: A board-certified veterinary specialist is a veterinarian who has completed advanced training in a specific field and earned diplomate status from an accredited veterinary specialty board or college.
What is a CBC and blood chemistry panel?: A CBC (complete blood count) measures red cells, white cells, and platelets; a blood chemistry panel tests electrolytes, organ function markers, glucose, and protein levels to evaluate overall health.
What is a Coggins test?: A blood test that detects antibodies to equine infectious anemia virus in horses, required by Colorado law for interstate movement and sale.
What is a dental grading scale for periodontal disease?: A dental grading scale is a four-stage classification system veterinarians use to assess the severity of periodontal disease in pets, from early gum inflammation to advanced bone loss and tooth instability.
What is a fecal float test?: A fecal float test is a laboratory procedure in which a stool sample is mixed with a flotation solution to separate parasite eggs and cysts from fecal material, allowing microscopic identification of intestinal parasites.
What is a heartworm antigen test?: A blood test that detects proteins produced by adult heartworms in an infected dog's bloodstream, used to diagnose heartworm disease.
What is a laparoscopic spay?: Laparoscopic spay is a minimally invasive surgical sterilization procedure that uses a thin camera and instruments inserted through small incisions, as opposed to the larger incision required for traditional open spay.
What is a rabies vaccination titer test?: A blood test that measures antibody levels against rabies virus to verify immunity after vaccination, often required for international travel or in place of revaccination.
What is a VCPR (veterinarian-client-patient relationship)?: A VCPR is the legal professional relationship between a veterinarian, a pet owner, and the animal, required for prescribing medications and providing medical care under state veterinary law.
What is a zoonotic disease?: A zoonotic disease is an illness that can transmit from animals to humans, either through direct contact, bites, or contaminated materials.
What is an Elizabethan collar (e-collar)?: An Elizabethan collar, or e-collar, is a cone-shaped plastic device fitted around an animal's neck to prevent it from accessing and damaging wounds, surgical incisions, or irritated skin during healing.
What is ASA classification in veterinary anesthesia?: The ASA physical status classification is a standardized system veterinarians use to rate a patient's health and anesthesia risk from Class I (healthy) to Class V (critical), guiding surgical preparation and risk management.
What is avian sexing?: Avian sexing is the process of determining a bird's biological sex through surgical endoscopy or DNA testing, used when external appearance does not reveal sex differences.
What is brucellosis testing?: Brucellosis testing is a diagnostic procedure used to detect Brucella bacteria in livestock, typically through blood serum testing or bacterial culture, required by Colorado livestock owners and veterinarians for herd health certification and interstate movement.
What is Fear Free certification?: Fear Free certification is a training and accreditation program that teaches veterinary professionals to identify signs of fear and stress in animals and use specific handling, environmental, and medical techniques to minimize anxiety during veterinary care.
What is floating teeth in equine dentistry?: Floating teeth is a dental procedure in which a veterinarian files down sharp enamel points and uneven surfaces on a horse's molars and premolars to improve chewing efficiency and reduce oral discomfort.
What is IV fluid therapy (crystalloids vs colloids)?: IV fluid therapy delivers fluids directly into a vein to restore blood volume and cellular hydration during emergency or surgical situations. Crystalloids are water-based solutions containing electrolytes, while colloids are larger-molecule solutions that hold fluid in the bloodstream longer.
What is spay/neuter (gonadectomy)?: Gonadectomy is the surgical removal of reproductive glands, including spaying (ovariohysterectomy) in females and neutering (orchiectomy) in males.
What is the Colorado Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA)?: The Colorado Pet Animal Care Facilities Act is state legislation that mandates licensing, operational standards, and care requirements for veterinary clinics, boarding kennels, shelters, and other animal care facilities to protect animal welfare and consumer interests.
What is the difference between core and non-core vaccines?: Core vaccines protect against diseases that pose universal risk to all pets and are recommended by AAHA and AVMA standards; non-core vaccines target threats specific to a pet's lifestyle, geography, or risk factors.
What is the difference between ovariohysterectomy and ovariectomy?: Ovariohysterectomy (OVE) removes both ovaries and uterus, while ovariectomy (OVH) removes only the ovaries; both sterilize female animals but differ in the scope of tissue extraction.
What is the ISO 11784/11785 microchip standard?: ISO 11784/11785 is the international standard for pet microchips that defines their operating frequency, data format, and how they transmit identification information to scanners.