Glossary of Veterinary and Cat Terms - Guide to a Healthy Cat - page 245

Appendix A
Glossary of Veterinary
and Cat Terms
abscess A hole filled with pus and surrounded by infected tissue.
acute A disease that begins quickly.
adulticide A product that kills adult insects.
allergen A foreign substance that causes an allergic response in
some animals.
alopecia Hair loss.
anaphylaxis A severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction that
causes fever, redness and difficulty breathing.
anemia Low red blood cell count.
anorexia Lack of appetite for food.
anterior drawer sign Laxity present in the knee when the
anterior cruciate ligament is damaged.
antibody A protein produced in the body as a response to contact
with another foreign protein.
antigen A foreign substance that causes the body to produce an
antibody.
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