This glossary presents important vocabulary related to animal health. These words are essential for understanding how diseases are prevented, identified, and treated in animals. Learning this vocabulary helps improve communication and knowledge in veterinary and animal care fields. It helps people understand more when we use this vocabulary in conversation
Antibiotic
noun
Antibiotics are powerful medications that fight bacterial infections by killing bacteria or inhibiting their growth and reproduction.
Example: A horse with a bacterial wound infection is treated with antibiotics for ten days.
en: Antibiotique
Contagious
noun
It (of a disease) spread from one person or organism to another by direct or indirect contact.
Example: One sick cow spreads the disease to other cows in the barn through close contact.
en: Contagieuse
Diagnosis
noun
The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.
Example: After blood tests and an X-ray, the veterinarian gives a diagnosis of pneumonia to a sick cat
en: Diagnostic
Disinfection
noun
The process of cleaning something, especially with a chemical, in order to destroy bacteria.
Example: After treating a sick animal, the clinic disinfects all tools and tables to avoid infection.
Hygiene
noun
The conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness.
Example: A shelter worker cleans and disinfects animal cages every day to prevent the spread of disease.
en: Hygiène
Immunity
noun
The state or quality of being resistant to a particular infectious disease or pathogen.
Example: A vaccinated dog does not get sick even after being exposed to a contagious disease.
en: Immunité
Inflammation
noun
Inflammation is the body’s natural, immune-driven response to injury, infection, or irritation, designed to eliminate threats and begin tissue repair.
Example: A cat’s paw becomes red and swollen after stepping on a sharp object.
en: Inflammation
Necropsy
noun
A necropsy is a surgical examination of a dead body, most commonly a dead animal, in order to learn why the animal died
Example: A zoo performs a necropsy on a dead bird to understand why it suddenly died.
en: Nécropsie
Nutrition
noun
Nutrition is the process of consuming, absorbing, and utilizing nutrients from food to support growth, development, energy, and maintenance of life
Example: A veterinarian creates a special diet plan for a dog that is overweight and has health problems.
en: Nutrition
Parasite
noun
A parasite is an organism that lives on or inside a different host species, deriving nutrients and shelter at the host's expense
Example: My dog had a parasite living in his intestine i had to get him to the vet for him to have some medication
en: Parasite
Pathogen
noun
A pathogen is any microorganism or agent—such as a virus, bacterium, fungus, or parasite—that causes disease or illness in its host
Example: A virus enters a chicken farm and causes many birds to become sick.
en: Pathogène
Prevention
noun
The action of stopping something from happening or arising.
Example: Farmers use vaccines and regular check-ups as prevention against livestock diseases.
en: Prévention
Quarantine
noun or verb
A state, period, or place of isolation in which people or animals that may have been exposed to infectious disease are placed.
Example: A new cat is kept in a separate room for two weeks before joining the other pets in the house.
en: Quarantaine
Reproduction
noun
Reproduction is the fundamental biological process by which existing organisms (parents) produce new, similar individual organisms (offspring), essential for the continuation of a species.
Example: A farmer carefully monitors a pregnant cow during reproduction to ensure a healthy calf is born.
en: Reproduction
Stress
noun or verb
Stress is the body and mind's natural, automatic response to pressures, challenges, or threats.
Example: A dog becomes stressed when it moves to a new home and starts losing its appetite.
en: Stresser
Symptom
noun
The a physical or mental feature which is regarded as indicating a condition of disease, particularly such a feature that is apparent to the patient.
Example: A rabbit stops eating and now shows symptoms such as weakness and weight loss.
en: Symptôme
The population of animals in shelters
phrase
The population of animals in shelters refers to the total number of animals (typically dogs and cats) under an organization's care, including those on-site and in foster care, at a given time
Example: In the past years the population of animals in shelters has increased drastically.
en: La population animale dans les refuges
Treatment
noun
The medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury.
Example: A sick goat receives treatment with fluids and medication until it recovers.
en: Traitement
Vaccination
noun
Treatment with a vaccine to produce immunity to a particular infectious disease or pathogen.
Example: Vaccination is being more and more put aside
en: Vaccination
Zoonosis
noun
Zoonosis is an infectious disease (caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi) that is naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and humans
Example: A farmer gets sick after handling a cow infected with brucellosis, which is a disease that can spread from animals to humans.
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