| ACE | angiotensin-converting enzyme |
| ACL | anterior cruciate ligament |
| ACTH | adrenocorticotrophic hormone |
| ADH | antidiuretic hormone |
| AF | atrial fibrillation |
| ALT/SGPT | alanine aminotransferase |
| ANP | atrial natiuretic peptide |
| AP/SAP | alkaline phosphatase |
| APC | atrial premature contraction |
| ARDS | acute respiratory distress syndrome |
| ARF | acute renal failure |
| ARVC | arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy |
| ASD | atrial septal defect |
| AST/SGOT | aspartate aminotransferase |
| BID (q12h) | twice daily |
| BNP | B-type natiuretic peptide |
| BP | blood pressure |
| Bpm | beats per minute |
| BUN | blood urea nitrogen |
| CBC | complete blood count |
| CCL | cranial cruciate ligament |
| CDV | canine distemper virus |
| CGT | gamma glutamyltransferase |
| CHF | chronic heart failure |
| cm | centimeter or centimeters |
| CNS | central nervous system |
| CPK/CK | creatine phosphokinase |
| cPLI | canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity |
| CPR | cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
| CrCd | craniocaudal |
| CRD | chronic renal disease |
| CRF | chronic renal failure |
| CRP | C-reactive protein |
| CVP | central venous pressure |
| DCM | dilated cardiomyopathy |
| DJD | degenerative joint disease |
| DSH | domestic short hair |
| ECG | electrocardiogram |
| Echo | echocardiography |
| ELISA | enzyme linked immunosorbent assay |
| ENT | ear, nose and throat |
| EOD (12d) | every 2 days |
| FNA | fine needle aspirate |
| g | gram or grams |
| GA | general anesthetic |
| GDV | gastric dilation and volvulus |
| GIT | gastrointestinal tract |
| HCM | hypertrophic cardiomyopathy |
| ID | intra-dermal |
| IGF | insulin-like growth factor |
| IM | intra-muscular |
| IP | intra-peritoneal |
| IT | intra-thoracic |
| IU | International Units |
| IV | intravenous |
| kg | kilogram or kilograms |
| KV | kilovolts |
| LBBB | left bundle branch block |
| mAs | milliampsec |
| mmol | millimols |
| MODS | multiple organ dysfunction syndrome |
| MVD | mitral valve disease |
| OA | osteoarthritis |
| PCR | polymerase chain reaction |
| PCV | packed cell volume |
| PHT | pulmonary arterial hypertension |
| PME/PM | post mortem examination |
| PO | per os (by mouth) |
| PPDH | peritoneal-pericardial diaphragmatic hernia |
| ppm | parts per million |
| PRN | as required |
| PTH | parathyroid hormone |
| q28d | every twenty-eight days (monthly) |
| q2h | every two hours |
| q7d | every seven days (weekly) |
| QID (q6h) | four times daily |
| RBC | red blood cells |
| RH | relative humidity |
| RTA/HBC | road traffic accident/hit by car |
| SC | subcutaneous (NOT SQ) |
| SG | specific gravity |
| SID (q24h) | once daily |
| SIRS | systemic inflammatory response syndrome |
| T3 | tri-iodothyronine |
| T4 | thyroxine |
| TEG | thromboelastography |
| TID (q8h) | three times daily |
| TRH | thyrotropin releasing hormone |
| TSH | thyroid stimulating hormone |
| VPC | ventricular premature contraction |
| VRA | vascular ring anomaly |
| VSD | ventricular septal defect |
| WBC | white blood cells |