Pet-Care Terms, Explained
Plain-language explanations of the terms owners meet at the vet, the shelter, and the pet store — from spaying and microchipping to body-condition scoring and core vaccines. Definitions to help you ask better questions, not to replace your vet's advice.
Body-Condition Score
Body-condition score is a hands-on, visual way to rate whether a pet is underweight, ideal, or overweight — often more useful than the scale alone.
ConceptCore vs Non-Core Vaccines
Core vaccines are recommended for essentially all pets against serious widespread diseases; non-core vaccines are advised based on a pet's individual risk.
ConceptMicrochipping
A microchip is a tiny implanted identifier that, when registered and kept up to date, permanently links a lost pet back to its owner.
ConceptSpaying & Neutering
Spaying (females) and neutering (males) are surgical procedures that prevent reproduction and can affect certain health and behaviour outcomes.