Okuzeka
Veterinary Medicine vocabulary · Diagnostics and Laboratory Tests

Differential diagnosis

Meaning in veterinary medicine, with examples

/ˌdɪfəˈrenʃəl ˌdaɪəɡˈnəʊsɪs/nounCommon term

In veterinary medicine, differential diagnosis means: One of the possible diseases that could explain an animal's clinical signs, or the whole list of them, which the vet narrows down with tests.

In Turkish: ayırıcı tanı

How it is used

Often shortened to differentials or DDx: My differentials include... Vets rank differentials from most to least likely and rule them out one by one. Listing your differential diagnoses is a classic exam question.

Example sentences

  1. My differential diagnosis for the weight loss includes hyperthyroidism, diabetes and kidney disease.

  2. The ultrasound helped us narrow the differential diagnosis.

Common collocations

  • list of differential diagnoses
  • rule out a differential
  • top differential
  • narrow the differential diagnosis
  • diagnosisThe identification of the disease or problem that is causing an animal's clinical signs, based on the history, the examination and test results.
  • blood testA laboratory examination of a blood sample to check things such as blood cells, organ function, infections or hormone levels.
  • clinical signSomething abnormal that a vet or owner can see, hear, feel or measure in an animal, such as a cough, a limp, a fever or weight loss.
  • historyThe information a vet collects from the owner about an animal's past and current health: when the problem started, diet, vaccinations, medicines and any changes the owner has noticed.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Diagnostics and Laboratory Tests

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.