Dental Prophylaxis
A professional veterinary cleaning procedure that prevents dental diseases by removing plaque and tartar buildup.
Desensitization
A gradual training method that reduces a pet’s fear or anxiety by slowly exposing them to triggers in a controlled, positive environment.
Deworming
A crucial veterinary procedure involving medications to eliminate internal parasites like roundworms and tapeworms in pets.
Dietary Enrichment
Providing pets with a varied and nutritionally balanced diet to stimulate mental and physical health.
Dilution Gene
A genetic trait in pets that lightens coat colours, turning black into gray (blue) or brown into lilac, common in certain breeds.
Distemper
A highly contagious and potentially fatal viral disease affecting dogs, characterized by respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological symptoms.
Docking
The controversial practice of surgically removing part of a dog’s tail is often done for specific breeds or working dogs.
Domestication
The process through which wild animals adapt to living with humans over generations, becoming pets or working animals.
Drive
Refers to the innate motivation in animals to engage in behaviours like chasing (prey drive), playing (play drive), or completing tasks (work drive), influencing training.
Dual-Coated
Describes pets, especially dogs and cats, with two layers of fur: a dense undercoat for insulation and a protective topcoat.