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Veterinary Medicine vocabulary · Treatment and Medicines

Side effect

Meaning in veterinary medicine, with examples

/ˈsaɪd ɪˌfekt/nounCore term

In veterinary medicine, side effect means: An unwanted effect of a drug or treatment in addition to the intended one, such as vomiting, drowsiness or increased thirst.

In Turkish: yan etki

How it is used

Vets explain possible side effects before starting a drug and ask owners to report anything unusual. In formal reports and datasheets the terms are adverse reaction or adverse event, and suspected reactions are reported to the regulator.

Example sentences

  1. Steroids can make him thirsty and hungry; that's an expected side effect.

  2. Has she had any side effects from the new tablets?

Common collocations

  • possible side effects
  • common side effect
  • report side effects
  • serious side effect
  • doseThe amount of a medicine given at one time, usually worked out from the animal's body weight, for example in milligrams per kilogram.
  • prescriptionA vet's written authorisation for a medicine to be supplied for a specific animal, giving the drug, the dose, how often to give it and for how long.
  • NSAIDShort for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug: a medicine that reduces pain, inflammation and fever without being a steroid, such as meloxicam or carprofen.
  • antibioticA medicine that kills bacteria or stops them from multiplying. Antibiotics treat bacterial infections; they do not work against viruses.

This word in other fields

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

More terms: Treatment and Medicines

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