Dacrocystitis
When the lacrimal sac becomes inflamed and tears, causing draining.
dacryoadenitis
A condition in which the lacrimal gland becomes inflamed.
dacryocystectomy
The process of removing the lacrimal sac by surgery
dacryocystotomy
The process of cutting into the lacrimal sac.
dairy herd improvement association (dhia)
A group that tests cows for milk and fat and keeps records of feeding.
dairy type
Any cow that is used for the production of milk products, not meat or reproduction.
daisy cutter
Any horse that barely touches the ground while trotting; prone to stumbling.
dam
Any female animal that has given birth.
dapple
A circular pattern of fur with an off color.
data
A collection of information that has been collected as pertaining to an experiment.
daughter
The female offspring of any living thing.
daughter cell
A cell that is formed when another cell divides
deacon
A calf marked for veal meat before it is a week old.
dead mouth
Term used to describe a horse who does not respond to directing by rein and bit as far as the mouth is concerned.
dead weight
The weight of meat after the animal has been slaughtered.
deaf ear
The folds of skin below the ear in a fowl bird.
deafness
Loss of hearing in whole or in part.
death loss
The number of animals lost as the result of death by accident, disease, or otherwise.
debarking
A procedure in which vocal cords are trimmed to make a dog’s bark less harsh.
debeaker
A tool used to cut the beak off of a chicken or turkey for the safety of other birds.
debeaking
The process of removing part of the beak to prevent damage to other chickens, cannibalism, and other undesirable behavior.
debilitated
Losing of strength; becoming weaker.
debridement
Removing foreign tissue or matter; taking out damaged or contaminated tissue.
decalcification
Removing calcium from an animal’s bones.
decay
Decomposing of matter with the help of fungus and bacteria; matter is completely oxidized.
deciduous teeth
Temporary teeth that go away as maturity approaches
decubital ulcer
A bedsore; loss of tissue or skin due to pressure being applied for too long.
deep
Below the surface of something, as in position.
defecation
The exiting of excrement from the body; bowel movements.
defect
a) Any blemish that impairs an animal’s value b) Any deviation from what is normally regarded as far as breed is concerned.
deferred grazing
The process of keeping livestock out of a pasture until there is enough flora to sustain grazing.
defibrillation
Using electrical shock to bring the heart beat back into normal limits.
deficiency
Less than what is normally required or needed of something
deflea
To remove the fleas off of an animal’s coat
deformity
Anything that looks different from what is considered to be normal and healthy for that species
degrease
The process of removing the oil from fiber
degree of grazing
Term refers to how closely grazed a pasture is; ungrazed, lightly grazed, etc.
dehiscence
Any opening in a wound from surgery
dehorn
To remove the horns or horn buds through heat, chemical, or other methods
dehorning clippers
Clippers used to remove the horns of certain animals; like large scissors
dehydrate
To take the moisture out of something
dehydration
A medical condition in which the body has lost fluid or water in excessive amounts
delactation
The condition of not being able to give milk
deleterious
Has the potential to cause harm to something
delivery
When the fetus leaves the body
delousing
The removal of lice from the skin with chemicals
demiluster
A type of wool that is somewhat lustrous but does not merit a classification of lustrous wool
demyelination
When myelin is lost or destroyed
dendrites
Small roots on neurons that receive impulses and send them the right way
density
a) Mass per volume b) The number of animals in a given area
dental calculus
A mineral deposit on the teeth; commonly referred to as tartar
dental caries
Cavities; decay of teeth
dental cup
A dip in the incisor teeth of horses; dark in color
dental formula
A guide to the number of teeth and kinds of teeth found in an animal’s mouth
dental pad
Term used in cattle terms; refers to the hard ridge in a cattle’s mouth that replaces upper teeth
dental plaque
A soft deposit from food left on the teeth; easily removed
denticulate
Small dentate teeth
dentin
The tissue that holds the tooth in place in the mouth
dentition
Refers to the pattern of teeth; the way teeth are arranged
deoxyribonucleic acid (dna)
Nucleic acid that carries genetic information
depauperatum
Stunted; limited in growth
depot fat
Fat that has collected in the body
depraved appetite
A type of appetite or craving not normal in an animal
dermal
Related to or of the skin
dermatitis
A condition in which the skin becomes inflamed
dermatologist
A professional who deals with studying the skin
dermatology
The study of skin
dermatomycosis
A growth on the skin due to a type of fungus
dermatophyte
A type of fungus that can be found on the skin
dermatosis
A condition of the skin
dermis
The skin; also referred to as the corium
descending
Moving downward or toward the end
determinant growth
Growth that will only reach a certain point once a certain age has been reached
deutectomy
Removal of the yolk sack from chicks that were just born
dewclaw
The first digit on dogs and cats; has no function
dewlap
The pendulum of skin hanging from an animal’s throat
deworm
To get rid of parasitic worms in an animal
dialysis
A procedure used to get waste out of the blood when the kidneys are unable to function
diaphragm
The muscle in the abdomen that aids in breathing
diarrhea
Fecal material that is wary in consistency
diastole
The dilation of the ventricles of the heart
dickey
A donkey or bird; slang word
diecious
Animals that possess both male and female traits
diestrus
The time between estrous cycles
dietary fiber
Material from plants that resists the action of enzymes in the digestive system
differentiation
The process of developing different organisms over evolution
diffusion
Movement of material from an area highly concentrated to an area where there is a lower concentration
digestibility
How easily a substance can be turned into an appropriate digestible form
digestible energy
The amount of energy that can be obtained from the digestible portion of any amount of food
digestible nutrient
The amount of a certain nutrient that can be digested into the body
digestible protein
The amount of protein that can be absorbed into an animal’s system
digestive tract
The whole system involved in digestion from mouth to anus
digitigrade
The act of walking on the toes
dilate
To make something wider
dilation
The widening of something
diluent
Any material that is designed to dilute another ingredient
dilute
To make something weaker or more liquid by mixing it with something else
diluted color
Term used to refer to the colors of feather in chickens; indicates a softer color, like tan
diluted feed
Feed with a great deal of fiber
diluters
A fluid that is used to make more semen and increase its volume
diopter
A measurement unit; refers to the refractivity in a lens
diplopia
Having double-sightedness
dipping vat
A tub filled with a chemical; animals are dipped into it to be disinfected or rid of parasites
disbud
To remove the horns of young animals by heat or chemicals
disc fenestration
Removing a disc in the spine by cutting it and scraping out the contents
discharge
Any substance that oozed from a wound or an opening in the body
discriminate breeder
An animal that is picky when it comes to breeding partners
disease control
A process that helps to control the effect of organisms that are known to cause disease or contribute to diseased conditions
disease resistant
Refers to animals or plants that can hold up against certain diseases
disinfect
To take the organisms that may cause disease out of an object
disinfectant
Anything that is designed to kill those organisms that are known to cause disease
dismount
To get down; to get off of
disorientation
A medical condition; has to do with confusion
disposition
An animal’s attitude or temperament
disqualification
In terms of animal husbandry, term refers to some defect that prevents an animal from registering with the breed or participating in a show
dissect
To cut something out in order to examine it
distal
The furthest distance from the middle or the top of a body
distal convoluted tubules
The tubes that can be found between the Hene and the tubules around it
distal spots
Spots or circles that are found on the coronet band
distention
The process of making something larger by dilating or stretching it
distichia
Two sets of eyelashes; often results in an injury to the lining of the eye
distichiasis
A condition in which there are two rows of lashes in place of one
distributor
A type of device that spreads milk out in order to let it cool
diuresis
The increase in the amount of urine produced
diuretic
Anything that causes excessive urination
diverticulitis
An inflammation of the diverticulum
diverticulum
The sac in the wall of a tube shaped organ
dizygotic twins
Term for twins that develop from two separately fertilized ovaries
dobbin
The term used to denote a gentle horse; a term of affection
docile
Indicates that an animal has a gentle nature
dock
To cut an animal’s tail short; also used to indicate the space where the tail was
docking
The removal of the tail or part of the tail; can also refer to a decrease in value
doddie
A cow that has been polled
doe
A female goat, rabbit, or deer that has not been spayed
dogie
A term used for a calf with no mother; slang term
dogtrot
A slow trot; gentle
dolichocephalic
A long head, usually very narrow like a greyhound
domesticate
To take a wild animal and put it under human control over an extended period of time; happens over generations
dominance
An animal’s tendency to overpower another, in character or in activity
dominant gene
The opposite of a recessive gene
donation
The act of creating or producing sound in something
donkey
An animal; also called an ass
dorsal
Refers to something being toward the back, as in a dorsal fin
dorsal plane
A line that divides the body in half, front to back (imaginary line)
dorsal recumbence
The act of an animal lying on its back
dorsoventral projection
A beam of ray that goes from the back to the stomach
dosage
The amount of medication to be administered
dosage interval
The length of time that should pass before a drug is administered again
dose
The amount of medicine to be given, measured in grams or units
dose syringe
A syringe that is used to forcefully give medicine to animals
double cross
To cross two hybrids of living thing
double mating
The process of mating livestock twice during estrous to ensure that they become pregnant; also called double cover
double reins
Two reins attached to two bits
double rigged saddle
A saddle with two cinches
downer
Term used to indicate an animal that is unable to stand due to illness
downy
Covered with weak, soft hairs or feathers
draft animal
An animal used to plow or pull loads; a working animal
draining pen
An enclosure with a sloped bottom in which animals are placed after they are dipped; fluids drip off of the animals and into the vat of chemicals
drake
An adult male duck
drawing blood
The removal of blood from the body for diagnostic purposes
dress out
The process of removing feathers, skin, or fur and trimming a carcass
dress weight
The weight of a dressed animal versus its weight while live
dressage
A type of horseback riding in which the rider guides the animal rather than using hands and feet to do so
dressed weight
The weight of the carcass of an animal or a slaughtered bird
dressing comb
A type of comb used to beautify an animal’s coat for show; also referred to as a currycomb
dressing loss
The amount of weight lost in an animal before and after it is slaughtered
dressing percent
The number that is calculated when the carcass weight is divided by the weight of the live animal and multiplied by one hundred.
drinking cup
A device used for watering an animal; the opening has a floater in it that releases water when moved so the animal can drink at will.
drive-ins
Term used for cattle that are herded into the market versus those who get there by cattle transport or other methods
drop band
A herd of female goats or sheep that are separated for the purpose of having young
droppings
The feces of an animal
dropsy
Swelling throughout an animal’s entire body
drug residue
Anything left over from a drug in the body of an animal
dry band
A band of sheep where there are no lambs
dry cow
A cow that no longer gives milk
dry lot
An enclosure used to keep livestock to prepare for slaughter, including fattening
dry matter
The amount of matter in a certain type of feed without the moisture
dry period
The period of time before giving birth that an animal stops lactating
dry picked
The dressing of a bird without scalding; bird may have been bled already
dry rendered
What is left of animal tissue after it has been steamed until the water evaporated; a method of removing fat
drying off
The process of causing an animal to stop lactating when they are not producing much milk
dual purpose
Animals that are used for meat and milk
dual use range
A range that has enough forage so that two or more kinds of livestock can use the area separately or together
duckling
A young duck with down feathers
ductless glands
Glands in the body that secrete directly into the blood or lymph, like the endocrine glands
ducts
A passage in the body with walls
ductus deferens
The duct found at the end of the vas deferens
dummy
a) Term used for a horse who is not bright, due to injury or otherwise b) A dummy built in the shape of a female, may be covered in a hide and used to cause excitement in male animals
dumpy
a) Refers to an animal that is not feeling up to par but not infected with anything serious b) A short, stumpy looking animal
dun
An animal’s color; term refers to animals who are black in color or have a stripe over the shoulders of a dark color
dung
The feces of an animal; excrement or manure
dung locks
Locks of wool on a sheep that have been crusted over with dung
dunging pattern
Refers to an animal’s tendency to drop waste in certain areas
duodenum
The first part of the small intestine; can be found between the pylorus and the jejunum
dura mater
The outermost part of the meninges
dust
A type of fungicide or insecticide that is applied dry, as in regular dust
dusting
The manner in which chinchillas bathe; rolling in dust
dwarf
An animal who has not grown to its full potential, due to disease, deficiency, or otherwise
dyschezia
A condition characterized by difficulty with normal defectation
dyscrasia
A condition of the blood in which blood cells are abnormal
dysecdysis
Shedding differently or abnormally
dysentery
A condition characterized by intestinal trouble and inflammation
dysfunction
Not working like usual
dyspepsia
Difficulty with normal digestion
dysphagia
Condition in which eating and/or swallowing is difficult
dysplasia
A condition in which growth and development are not up to normal standards
dyspnea
Having a hard time breathing; breathing takes great pains
dysrhythmia
A condition in which normal heart rhythms are not apparent; also referred to as arrhythmia
dystocia
Difficulty giving birth
dystrophy
A condition in which a muscle or body part grows defectively
dysuria
Having a hard time urinating; pain while urinating
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