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Veterinary Medicine vocabulary · The Veterinary Practice

Triage

Meaning in veterinary medicine, with examples

/ˈtriːɑːʒ/nounCommon term

In veterinary medicine, triage means: Quickly assessing sick or injured animals as they arrive to decide how urgent each case is and which one should be seen first.

In Turkish: triyaj, önceliklendirme

How it is used

Used in emergency and out-of-hours work. Nurses triage patients at reception or on the phone, and vets talk about a triage examination of airway, breathing, circulation and neurological status.

Example sentences

  1. Triage showed that the dog hit by a car needed to be seen first.

  2. The nurse will triage your cat as soon as you arrive.

Common collocations

  • triage a patient
  • triage nurse
  • phone triage
  • triage assessment
  • vital signsThe basic measurements that show how well an animal's body is working: temperature, heart rate, pulse and breathing rate.
  • hospitaliseTo admit an animal to the clinic so that it stays for treatment, monitoring or care, for example on a drip. US spelling: hospitalize.
  • mucous membranesThe moist pink linings inside the mouth, eyelids, nose and genitals. Vets look at their colour, especially on the gums, to judge circulation and oxygen levels.
  • capillary refill timeThe time it takes for colour to return to the gum after it is pressed with a finger. It shows how well blood reaches the tissues; under two seconds is usually normal.

This word in other fields

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

More terms: The Veterinary Practice

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