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Veterinary Medicine vocabulary · Clinical Examination

History

Meaning in veterinary medicine, with examples

/ˈhɪstəri/nounCore term

In veterinary medicine, history means: The 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.

In Turkish: anamnez, hastalık öyküsü

How it is used

Vets take a history at the start of every consultation, and the reason the animal was brought in is the presenting complaint. Notes often use the abbreviation Hx for history.

Example sentences

  1. Before we examine him, can I take a quick history? When did the coughing start?

  2. The history suggests he ate something in the park on Sunday.

Common collocations

  • take a history
  • clinical history
  • vaccination history
  • full history
  • history of vomiting
  • physical examinationA systematic check of an animal's body by looking, feeling and listening: temperature, heart and lungs, eyes, ears, mouth, skin, lymph nodes and abdomen.
  • 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.
  • consultationA meeting, usually booked as an appointment, in which a vet examines an animal, discusses the problem with the owner and agrees a plan.
  • diagnosisThe identification of the disease or problem that is causing an animal's clinical signs, based on the history, the examination and test results.

This word in other fields

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

More terms: Clinical Examination

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