Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

GLOSSARY • 597
Peritoneal cavity The abdominal cavity, containing organs of the intestinal,
urinary, and reproductive tracts.
Placentitis Infection of the placenta, usually caused by bacteria that ascend
into the uterus through the cervix.
Plaque A soft, yellow-brown material deposited on teeth that hardens into
calculus.
Pleural effusion An accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity caused by
right-side heart failure, infection, or tumor.
PMN Polymorphonuclear leukocyte; inflammatory cells that make up pus.
Pneumothorax Air in the chest caused by a tear in the lung or a wound in
the chest wall. The lung collapses, resulting in respiratory distress.
Polygenic traits Heritable traits that are controlled by the effects of multiple
genes.
Polyuria The passage of large amounts of urine, usually recognized by more
frequent voiding.
Postmaturity The condition in which the puppies are mature and ready to
be born but the dam does not go into labor, especially after 67 days’ gestation.
Postpartum After giving birth; the period after whelping that lasts four to six
weeks.
Premature puppy A pup born alive before 56 days’ gestation.
Prepuce The foreskin; the sheath that surrounds the glans, or head of the
penis.
Productive cough One that brings up a quantity of phlegm. Also known as
a moist cough.
Prodromal The period in a disease just before the onset of symptoms.
Proestrus The initial stage of the estrous cycle, lasting, on average, nine
days. The first sign is a bloody discharge from the vulva.
Progeny Descendents or offspring.
Progesterone The pregnancy hormone, produced by the ovaries (corpora
lutea).
Prognosis A forecast based on the probable outcome of the disease.
Prolapse The protrusion or falling out of a body part; generally referring to
the gland of the third eyelid, the intestines, or the uterus.
Prophylactic A medication or a procedure used as a preventive.
Protrusion Extending beyond the normal location, such as a protruding
eyeball.