102 terms
Pet care glossary
Updated By Petym
This glossary explains, in plain English, the words Indian pet owners meet on a vaccination card, at the vet, when booking a sitter and when travelling with a pet: DHPPi and Tricat, kennel cough and tick fever, meet and greet and care sheet, AQCS and the Advance NOC. Each term has its own page with its sources and the date they were checked.
Most looked up:Kennel coughDHPPi vaccineTick feverSeparation anxietyMeet and greetBrachycephalicHeatstrokeFVRCP vaccine
102 terms
- Travel and paperworkAdvance NOCThe Advance NOC (No Objection Certificate) is the clearance a passenger must hold before a pet dog or cat can board a flight to India. You apply on CBIC's ATITHI 2.0 portal at least 7 days before travel, and AQCS issues it within 1 working day of checking your documents. Airlines will not board the pet without it.
- Travel and paperworkAQCSAQCS, Animal Quarantine and Certification Services, is the Government of India service under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying that examines pets and issues the health certificate a pet needs to leave India, and clears pets arriving. It has six stations: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Its fees are paid online through Bharatkosh.
- Health conditionsArthritisArthritis, or osteoarthritis, is a long-term joint disease in which worn cartilage lets the joint surfaces rub, causing stiffness, swelling and pain. It is very common in older dogs and cats. It cannot be cured, but pain relief from a vet, a healthy weight, gentle regular exercise and a few home changes keep most pets comfortable for years.
- Vaccines and parasitesBabesiosisBabesiosis is a disease of dogs caused by Babesia, tiny parasites that live in and destroy red blood cells. It is spread mainly by ticks, and in India one species, Babesia gibsoni, also spreads through dog fights and blood transfusions. Signs are anaemia with pale gums, weakness, jaundice and red or brown urine. Dogs that recover can relapse.
- Services and bookingBackground checkA background check is what a pet care service verifies about a sitter before they care for your pet and enter your home. It can cover identity, police verification, references, training and the sitter's home. Services differ widely, so ask what was checked. Petym verifies identity with PAN; police verification is not one of its stated checks.
- NutritionBARF dietA BARF diet, short for bones and raw food or biologically appropriate raw food, feeds a dog or cat uncooked meat, organs and bones, sometimes with vegetables. Vets warn that the claimed benefits are not backed by science, while the risks are well documented: germs such as Salmonella and Listeria, bone injuries and unbalanced nutrition.
- Health conditionsBloat (GDV)Bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), is when a dog's stomach fills with gas and twists on itself, cutting off its blood supply. It mainly affects large and giant deep-chested breeds. Unproductive retching, a swelling belly, drooling and restlessness are the signs. It is a surgical emergency that can kill within hours.
- Health conditionsBOASBOAS, brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, is a breathing disorder of flat-faced dogs. Narrow nostrils, an overlong soft palate and a small windpipe block airflow, so affected dogs snore, snort, tire quickly and overheat easily. It is worse in heat, humidity and obesity. Surgery can widen the airway, and a lean weight helps.
- Breeds and anatomyBody condition scoreA body condition score (BCS) rates a pet's body fat by look and feel, usually on WSAVA's 9-point scale: 1 is emaciated, 9 is severely obese, and the ideal sits around 4 to 5. You check how easily the ribs can be felt, whether there is a waist from above, and whether the belly tucks up from the side.
- Vaccines and parasitesBooster vaccineA booster is a repeat dose of a vaccine that tops up or confirms a pet's protection. Puppies and kittens get a booster at about 26 weeks after their first course. After that, modern core vaccines for distemper, parvovirus and panleukopenia protect for years, while leptospirosis, kennel cough and most killed vaccines need a booster every year.
- Breeds and anatomyBrachycephalicBrachycephalic means short-headed: dogs and cats bred with a flat face and short muzzle, such as the Pug, Shih Tzu, French Bulldog, Bulldog and Persian cat. The squashed airway makes breathing and cooling harder, so these pets overheat more easily, a real risk in Indian summers. Several Indian airlines refuse them in the hold.
- Vaccines and parasitesBrown dog tickThe brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, is the most common tick on dogs in the tropics, including India. Unlike most ticks it lives and breeds indoors, in homes and kennels, as well as outdoors. It spreads ehrlichiosis and one form of babesiosis, the infections Indian owners call tick fever, so tick control is needed all year.
- BehaviourCalming signalsCalming signals, also called appeasement or displacement behaviours, are small body-language cues such as lip or nose licking, yawning, turning the head away, blinking, sniffing the ground or lifting a paw. Dogs often show them when they feel uneasy or in conflict. Noticing them lets you give a dog space before fear escalates to growling or snapping.
- Health conditionsCanine distemperCanine distemper is a serious viral disease of dogs that can attack the skin, airways, gut and nervous system. It spreads in droplets from coughing, sneezing and barking, and through body fluids. There is no specific cure, and some dogs do not survive even with treatment. The D in the DHPPi vaccine prevents it.
- Health conditionsCanine parvovirusCanine parvovirus, or parvo, is a highly contagious virus that attacks a dog's gut and immune system. It spreads through infected faeces, survives a long time in the environment and hits unvaccinated puppies between 6 weeks and 6 months hardest. Vomiting and bloody diarrhoea can kill within days, and it is prevented by the core vaccine.
- Services and bookingCare sheetA care sheet is the written plan you leave for whoever looks after your pet: what and when it eats, walks and toilet routine, medicines and how to give them, habits and fears, and who to call, including your vet. Welfare bodies list these as the essentials. On Petym, the sitter follows your plan as written and logs each task.
- Health conditionsCat fluCat flu is the everyday name for an upper respiratory infection in cats. More than 90% of cases are caused by feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus or both. Cats sneeze, have runny eyes and nose and may stop eating. Most recovered cats remain carriers, and stress can bring the virus back. Vaccination usually prevents severe disease.
- BehaviourCat scratchingCat scratching is the normal habit of dragging the claws down a surface. Cats scratch to keep their claws healthy, stretch the legs and spine, and leave scent and visible marks from glands in their paws. It should not be stopped, but it can be moved from the sofa to a well-placed, sturdy scratching post with patience and rewards.
- Health conditionsCherry eyeCherry eye is when the tear gland inside a dog's third eyelid slips out of place and shows as a smooth, red, cherry-like lump in the inner corner of the eye. It is common in young Bulldogs, Beagles, Shih Tzus and Pugs, and needs a vet, usually for surgery to put the gland back.
- Health conditionsChronic kidney diseaseChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a slow, lasting loss of kidney function, common in older cats and also seen in older dogs. Early on there are often no signs; later a pet drinks and urinates more, eats less and loses weight. It cannot be cured, but a kidney diet, water and regular checks can slow it.
- TrainingClicker trainingClicker training is reward-based training that uses a small hand-held clicker to mark the exact moment a pet does the right thing, followed every time by a reward. The dog first learns that the click means a treat is coming. Because the click is fast and always sounds the same, it tells the dog precisely which action earned the reward.
- NutritionComplete and balancedComplete and balanced is a pet food label claim that the food contains every nutrient a dog or cat needs, in the right amounts and ratios, so it can be fed as the whole diet for a stated life stage. Foods without it, labelled complementary or for intermittent feeding, are treats or toppers, not meals.
- Vaccines and parasitesCore vaccinesCore vaccines are the vaccines every dog or cat should have, wherever it lives, because they protect against widespread, serious diseases. For dogs they cover distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus; for cats, panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus. In India rabies is core for both, and WSAVA also treats leptospirosis vaccine as core for dogs where the disease is endemic.
- TrainingCrate trainingCrate training is teaching a dog to rest calmly in a crate, with treats and gradual steps, so the crate feels like a safe den rather than a cage. Used well it helps with house-training, keeps puppies safe and eases travel. It is never a punishment, never for long hours, and not a fix for separation anxiety.
- Services and bookingDaily photo updateA daily photo update is a photo of your pet, with a short note, that the sitter sends each day of a booking, so you can see your pet is fed, well and settled. The best updates are specific: food, walks, toilet, medicines and mood. On Petym, a daily photo update is sent every day of every booking.
- Health conditionsDehydrationDehydration means a pet's body has lost more water than it has taken in, through heat, panting, vomiting, diarrhoea or illness. Early on the gums turn sticky; then the skin loses its spring and the eyes sink. A mildly dehydrated pet needs water and a watchful eye; a weak, vomiting or collapsing one needs a vet now.
- Health conditionsDental diseaseDental disease in pets is mostly periodontal disease: plaque bacteria inflame the gums (gingivitis) and then destroy the tissue and bone holding the teeth (periodontitis). It is the most common disorder vets diagnose in dogs, and very common in cats. Bad breath, tartar and red gums are the early signs. Daily brushing prevents most of it.
- TrainingDesensitisationDesensitisation is a way of reducing a pet's fear by exposing it to the scary thing at a level so low it stays calm, then raising it very slowly. It is usually paired with counter-conditioning: something the pet loves, such as a treat, arrives with the sound or sight, so the fear is replaced by a pleasant expectation.
- BehaviourDestructive chewingDestructive chewing is when a dog chews things it should not, such as shoes, furniture, door frames, wires or cushions. Chewing itself is normal: puppies chew to ease teething and all dogs chew to explore. It becomes a problem through boredom, too little exercise, hunger, frustration or separation anxiety, and is fixed by redirection, not punishment.
- Breeds and anatomyDewclawsDewclaws are the extra toes with claws that sit a little above a dog's foot, on the inner side of the leg, most often on the front legs. Because they do not touch the ground, walking never wears them down, so they need regular trimming. Left long, a dewclaw can curl round and grow into the toe pad, which hurts.
- Vaccines and parasitesDewormingDeworming is giving a pet medicine, chosen by your vet, to kill intestinal worms such as roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms. Puppies can be born with roundworms and catch more from their mother's milk, so deworming starts in the first weeks of life. Some dog and cat worms can infect people, especially children, so regular deworming protects the family too.
- Vaccines and parasitesDHPPi vaccineDHPPi is the combined core vaccine for dogs printed on many Indian vaccine cards. The letters stand for distemper (D), hepatitis from canine adenovirus (H), parvovirus (P) and parainfluenza (Pi). DHPPiL adds leptospirosis (L). It is the same vaccine group that US cards call DHPP or DA2PP, and puppies start it at 6 to 8 weeks.
- Health conditionsDiabetes in petsDiabetes mellitus is a lifelong condition in which a dog or cat cannot make or use enough insulin, so sugar builds up in the blood. Signs are drinking and peeing more, hunger and weight loss. Most diabetic pets live well on insulin injections given at set times with meals, and some cats go into remission.
- Travel and paperworkDog boxA dog box is the compartment in a train's brake van, where a dog travels as luggage when its owner does not hold a whole First AC or First Class coupe or cabin. It is booked at the station's luggage office at least 3 hours before departure and charged at the Scale L rate on a fixed 30 kg.
- Services and bookingDoggy day careDoggy day care is daytime care for your dog while you work: you drop it off in the morning and collect it in the evening, with no overnight stay. The dog gets company, play, walks and rest instead of a long day alone. Good day care screens each dog first and keeps groups small.
- Breeds and anatomyDouble coatA double coat is two layers of fur: a soft, dense undercoat close to the skin and a longer outer coat of guard hairs. Huskies, Labradors, Golden Retrievers and Pomeranians have one. The undercoat insulates against heat as well as cold, so vets advise brushing it out regularly rather than shaving the dog in an Indian summer.
- Services and bookingDrop-in visitA drop-in visit is when a pet sitter comes to your home, once or more a day, to feed your pet, refresh water, clean the litter tray or take the dog out, give medicines and spend time with it, then leaves. It suits cats and independent pets that are happier at home. On Petym, drop-in visits are paid per visit.
- Health conditionsEar infection in dogsAn ear infection in dogs usually means otitis externa: inflammation of the outer ear canal, often with bacteria or yeast. Signs are head shaking, scratching, a bad smell, discharge and redness. It is one of the most common problems vets see, especially in breeds with floppy ears, and nearly always has an underlying cause such as allergy.
- Vaccines and parasitesEhrlichiosisEhrlichiosis is a disease of dogs caused by Ehrlichia canis, a bacterium carried by the brown dog tick. Signs appear 1 to 3 weeks after infection: fever, dullness, bleeding such as nosebleeds or bruising, and enlarged lymph nodes. Some dogs seem to recover but carry the infection silently and later develop a severe chronic form.
- Travel and paperworkExport health certificateThe export health certificate, formally the Certificate of Health for Export (Pet Animals), is the document AQCS issues after examining a pet in person, without which a pet cannot leave India. AQCS calls it "the NOC". It costs Rs 500, paid online through Bharatkosh, is normally issued the same day and is valid for 10 days.
- Health conditionsFeline panleukopeniaFeline panleukopenia is a severe, often fatal viral disease of cats caused by feline parvovirus. It causes fever, vomiting and diarrhoea and destroys white blood cells. Cats under a year old are most at risk. The virus can survive more than a year in the environment, and the core cat vaccine, the P in FVRCP, gives solid, long-lasting protection.
- Health conditionsFeLV (feline leukaemia virus)FeLV, feline leukaemia virus, is a virus of cats that weakens the immune system and can cause anaemia and cancers. It spreads through close contact: saliva in grooming, shared bowls and litter trays, bites, and from mother to kitten. Kittens are most at risk. A test comes before the vaccine, which reduces risk but is not complete protection.
- Travel and paperworkFit-to-fly certificateA fit-to-fly certificate is a registered vet's signed and stamped statement that a pet has been examined and is healthy enough to fly. Every Indian airline that carries pets asks for one, with the rabies vaccination record. How recent it must be differs: within 7 days on Air India, 15 days on Akasa Air, 48 hours on SpiceJet.
- Health conditionsFIV (feline immunodeficiency virus)FIV, feline immunodeficiency virus, is a lifelong virus of cats that slowly weakens the immune system. It spreads mainly through deep bite wounds, so unneutered males that roam and fight are most at risk. There is no cure, but many FIV cats live normal, healthy lives for years with good care. It cannot infect people.
- Vaccines and parasitesFlea and tick preventionFlea and tick prevention means regularly protecting a pet from these parasites with a product your vet recommends, plus checking the coat and treating the home. Tropical guidelines say dogs and cats in places like India should be protected all year, including indoor pets. Use products licensed for the species, and never put a dog product on a cat.
- Vaccines and parasitesFleasFleas are small, wingless, blood-feeding insects. The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, is the most common flea on dogs and cats worldwide, and the main flea on dogs studied in India. Fleas cause itching, flea allergy, tapeworm and, in heavy infestations, anaemia in puppies and kittens. Most of the flea life cycle happens in the home.
- Health conditionsFLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease)FLUTD, feline lower urinary tract disease, is a group of problems of a cat's bladder and urethra. Signs are straining, frequent small wees, crying while urinating, blood in the urine and peeing outside the tray. The most common cause is idiopathic cystitis, often linked to stress. A male cat that cannot pass urine is an emergency.
- Vaccines and parasitesFVRCP vaccineFVRCP is the core combined vaccine for cats. It protects against feline viral rhinotracheitis (herpesvirus), calicivirus and panleukopenia. Indian cards often show a brand name from the vial sticker instead, such as Tricat. Kittens start at 6 to 8 weeks, with doses every 2 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks or older, then a booster at about 26 weeks.
- NutritionGrain-free dietA grain-free diet is pet food made without cereals such as rice, wheat or maize, usually using peas, lentils, other pulses or potatoes instead. Grains are not fillers and most pets digest them well. Since 2018 the US FDA has looked into reports of heart disease, called DCM, in dogs on such foods, without proving a cause.
- Services and bookingGroup dog walkA group dog walk is when one walker takes several dogs from different homes out together, instead of a solo walk with one dog. It can give sociable dogs company and exercise, but more dogs means less control near traffic and street dogs. As a benchmark, England's licensing guidance caps a day care walker at 6 dogs at once.
- Health conditionsHairballA hairball, or trichobezoar, is a wad of swallowed hair that a cat brings up after collecting it in the stomach during grooming. Bringing one up every week or two is common and usually harmless. Repeated retching with nothing coming up, refusing food for more than a day or two, or lethargy can mean a blockage and need a vet.
- Travel and paperworkHealth certificateA pet health certificate is a vet's signed and stamped statement that your pet has been examined and is healthy, usually free of infectious disease and fit to travel. In India, Indian Railways, airlines and AQCS ask for one. The catch is timing: each wants a certificate issued within its own window, from 24 hours to 10 days.
- Vaccines and parasitesHeartwormHeartworm, Dirofilaria immitis, is a long worm that lives in the heart and lung blood vessels of dogs and, less often, cats. It is spread by mosquito bites and is widespread in tropical regions, including parts of India. Signs include coughing, tiring on exercise and weight loss. It can be prevented, and dogs should be tested yearly.
- Health conditionsHeatstrokeHeatstroke is a dangerous rise in body temperature that can damage organs and kill. In dogs it most often follows exercise in heat, not hot cars. Heavy panting, drooling, vomiting, wobbliness and collapse are the signs. Start cooling the pet on the spot with plenty of cool running water and moving air, then go straight to a vet.
- Health conditionsHip dysplasiaHip dysplasia is an abnormal development of the hip joint that leaves it loose, leading over time to wear, arthritis and pain. It is most common in large breeds such as the Labrador and German Shepherd, and depends on genes, growth rate, diet and exercise. Many dogs are managed without surgery through weight control and suitable exercise.
- Services and bookingHome boardingHome boarding means your pet stays in a sitter's own home while you are away, living as part of the household rather than in a kennel run. It suits sociable dogs that settle well in new places. Good sitters take few pets, meet each one first and keep its records. On Petym, every sitter's home is checked by video first.
- NutritionHome-cooked dog foodHome-cooked dog food is a dog's main diet made in the family kitchen, such as rice, dal, eggs, chicken and vegetables, instead of a commercial food. It can be healthy if it is complete and balanced, but most generic recipes are not: a UC Davis study found 95% of 200 recipes short of at least one essential nutrient.
- Health conditionsHot spotsA hot spot, or acute moist dermatitis, is a red, wet, painful patch of skin that a dog creates by licking, chewing or scratching at an itch or sore. It can grow large in hours. The usual triggers are fleas, allergies, ear infections and damp, matted fur. A vet clips and cleans it and treats the cause.
- Services and bookingHouse sittingHouse sitting means someone lives in your home while you are away, looking after the house and often the pets. The arrangement is built around the home: security, plants, post. Pet sitting is built around the animal: its meals, walks, medicines and company. Many pet owners want both, which is what an overnight pet sitter staying in your home provides.
- TrainingHouse-trainingHouse-training teaches a dog to toilet in the right place, usually outdoors or on a chosen spot. It works by taking the puppy out often, especially after sleep, meals and play, and rewarding it straight away when it goes. Accidents are cleaned up without punishment. Puppies do not have full bladder capacity until about 12 months old.
- Travel and paperworkIATA pet crateAn IATA pet crate is a travel kennel built to the International Air Transport Association's Live Animals Regulations, Container Requirement 1, for pets flying in the hold. It must let the pet stand, turn and lie naturally, and be rigid, ventilated on all four sides, bolted together, with a water bowl filled from outside and the right labels.
- Breeds and anatomyIndie dogAn indie dog is India's native dog: the free-living type often called the Indian pariah dog, INDog or desi dog, rather than a pedigree breed. It is usually medium-sized, short-coated, prick-eared and curl-tailed, alert and territorial. Genetic research finds Indian village dogs show little European ancestry, making them one of the world's older dog populations.
- Health conditionsKennel coughKennel cough is a contagious airway infection of dogs, usually caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica, parainfluenza virus and adenovirus-2, often together. It causes a harsh, honking cough that starts 3 to 14 days after exposure and usually lasts 1 to 3 weeks. Most dogs stay bright, but puppies and older dogs can develop pneumonia.
- Services and bookingKey handoverA key handover is the agreed way a pet sitter gets into your home: a key handed over, one left with a trusted neighbour or the society office, or a digital lock code. In a flat it also means telling the watchman the sitter is expected. Done well, it is planned, written down and reversed when the booking ends.
- NutritionKibbleKibble is dry pet food: dough cooked and shaped under pressure, then dried to about 10% water. It is the cheapest and easiest way to feed a dog or cat a complete diet, keeps at room temperature, and can be measured exactly. Choose one labelled complete and balanced for your pet's life stage.
- BehaviourKneadingKneading, often called making biscuits, is when a cat rhythmically pushes its front paws into a soft surface such as a blanket, cushion or a person's lap, often purring. It starts in kittenhood, when kittens knead their mother to keep milk flowing, and many adult cats keep the habit when relaxed. It is normal and needs no treatment.
- Vaccines and parasitesLeptospirosisLeptospirosis is a bacterial disease spread through the urine of infected animals, especially rats. Dogs catch it from contaminated water, soil, wounds or damaged skin, and cases rise in India's monsoon. It mostly damages the kidneys or liver and can pass to people. A yearly vaccine, started as two doses a few weeks apart, reduces the risk.
- BehaviourLitter box aversionLitter box aversion is when a cat stops using its litter tray and pees or poos elsewhere in the home, because something about the tray, its place or its use has become unpleasant or frightening. Illness is a common cause, so a vet check comes first. Then fix the trays: enough of them, clean, quiet, with litter the cat likes.
- TrainingLoose-leash walkingLoose-leash walking means your dog walks beside you with a slack lead instead of pulling. It is taught with rewards: you stop the moment the lead goes tight, wait for slack, then reward and move on. Painful gear such as choke chains is not needed, and on busy Indian roads a calm, slack-lead dog is far safer.
- Vaccines and parasitesMangeMange is skin disease caused by microscopic mites. Sarcoptic mange, or canine scabies, is intensely itchy, spreads easily between dogs and can cause itchy spots on people. Demodectic mange comes from mites that live on every dog's skin, mostly affects young dogs and is not contagious. Both cause hair loss, and a vet's skin test tells them apart.
- Services and bookingMeet and greetA meet and greet is a short visit before any booking where the owner, the pet and the sitter meet. You see how the sitter handles your pet and ask questions; your pet learns the sitter's face and smell. Welfare bodies advise meeting a sitter before hiring. On Petym, the meet and greet is free, before the first booking.
- Breeds and anatomyMicrochipA pet microchip is a tiny identification chip, about the size of a grain of rice, injected under the skin, usually between the shoulder blades. It holds a unique number that a scanner reads, linked to your contact details on a database. It is not a GPS tracker. Most countries you might move a pet to require an ISO-standard chip.
- BehaviourNoise phobiaNoise phobia is an intense, lasting fear of loud or sudden sounds such as fireworks, thunder or gunshots. Affected dogs tremble, pant, hide, pace, try to escape or soil indoors, and some take days to recover. It is common: about a third of dogs in one large survey were noise-sensitive. A safe den, preparation and gradual training help.
- Vaccines and parasitesNon-core vaccinesNon-core vaccines are vaccines recommended only for pets whose location or lifestyle puts them at risk of a particular infection. For dogs they include kennel cough (Bordetella and parainfluenza), canine influenza and Lyme disease vaccines; for cats, Chlamydia, Bordetella and, in some places, FIV vaccines. Your vet decides which your pet needs.
- Health conditionsObesity in petsObesity in pets means carrying so much body fat that it harms health. Vets judge it with a body condition score, felt over the ribs, waist and belly, on a 9-point scale where 4 to 5 is ideal. Overweight dogs live shorter lives, and extra weight worsens arthritis, diabetes and breathing problems in flat-faced breeds.
- Services and bookingOvernight pet sittingOvernight pet sitting means a sitter stays in your home, including overnight, while you are away, so your pet keeps its own home, routine and company. It suits dogs that cannot be left alone, senior pets, pets on medicine and anxious animals. It is Petym's main service: the sitter follows your pet's plan and is paid by the day.
- Services and bookingPet first aidPet first aid is the immediate care given to an injured or suddenly ill animal to keep it safe until a vet can take over: keeping yourself safe, checking breathing, controlling bleeding, cooling a pet with heatstroke, then getting to a vet fast. It never replaces veterinary treatment. Every Petym sitter completes pet first-aid training before their first booking.
- Travel and paperworkPet passportIndia does not issue a pet passport; the EU pet passport is issued only by authorised vets to owners living in the EU. When people in India say pet passport, they usually mean the travel papers: microchip and vaccination records, a vet's health certificate, the AQCS export certificate, and the destination's own certificate or permit.
- BehaviourPicaPica is eating things that are not food, such as fabric, wool, plastic, paper, rubber, stones or soil. In cats it often starts as wool or fabric sucking, especially in Oriental breeds; in dogs it can be a habit, a compulsive disorder or a sign of illness. Swallowed objects can block the gut, so a vet check comes first.
- TrainingPositive reinforcementPositive reinforcement is a training method in which a pet gets something it likes, such as a treat, toy, play or praise, straight after doing a behaviour, so that behaviour becomes more likely. It is the core of reward-based training, which the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends for all dog training and behaviour problems.
- Health conditionsPyometraPyometra is a pus-filled infection of the womb in female dogs and cats that have not been spayed. It usually shows a few weeks to months after a heat, with drinking and urinating more, lethargy, poor appetite and sometimes discharge. It is a medical emergency, usually treated by surgery to remove the womb, and spaying prevents it.
- Vaccines and parasitesRabies titre testA rabies titre test is a blood test that measures the rabies antibodies in a vaccinated pet, to prove the vaccine worked. The UK and the USA ask for it before a pet from India can enter. The UK wants at least 0.5 IU/ml from an EU-approved laboratory, and no lab on the EU or US lists is in India.
- Vaccines and parasitesRabies vaccineThe rabies vaccine protects dogs and cats against rabies, a virus that is almost always fatal once signs appear and that dogs pass to people in up to 99% of human cases. Rabies is endemic across India, so the vaccine is core for both. The first dose is given at 12 weeks or older.
- BehaviourReactive dogA reactive dog overreacts to everyday triggers such as other dogs, strangers, bikes or autos, usually by barking, lunging, growling or pulling, most often on the lead. Fear is the most common driver, with frustration and pain also playing a part. It is managed by keeping distance from triggers and changing the dog's feelings with reward-based training, never by punishment.
- TrainingRecallRecall is a dog's trained response to come straight back to you when called, every time, whatever else is happening. It can save a dog's life near traffic. A reliable recall is built with high-value rewards, a dedicated cue word, short easy practice that gets slowly harder, and a long line for safety, never with punishment or shock collars.
- BehaviourResource guardingResource guarding is a dog protecting something it values, such as food, a chew, a toy, a bed or even a person, from people or other animals. It is normal, often fear-based behaviour, ranging from eating faster or freezing to growling and biting. It improves with management and reward-based training that teaches the dog an approaching person brings good things.
- NutritionResting energy requirement (RER)The resting energy requirement, or RER, is the number of calories a healthy pet needs in a day lying at rest in comfortable surroundings. Vets calculate it from body weight as 70 times the weight in kilograms to the power 0.75, then multiply it by a factor for life stage and neutering to estimate daily food.
- Vaccines and parasitesRingwormRingworm is a fungal skin infection, not a worm. In cats about 98% of cases are caused by the fungus Microsporum canis, and about 70% in dogs. It causes round patches of hair loss and scaly skin, spreads easily from pets to people, and its spores survive on shed hairs in the home. Cats can carry it without any signs.
- Travel and paperworkScale LScale L is Indian Railways' luggage rate: its Scale P parcel rate plus 80%. A dog on a train is charged at Scale L on a fixed weight, whatever it weighs: 30 kg in the brake-van dog box, 60 kg if it rides with you in a First AC or First Class coupe or cabin. Distance does the rest.
- Breeds and anatomySenior petA senior pet is in the later part of its expected life. For cats, vets' guidelines say senior means over 10 years. For dogs it depends on size: AVMA counts giant breeds as seniors from about 6 to 7 years and small dogs from about 8 to 11. Old age is not a disease, but seniors need closer checks.
- BehaviourSeparation anxietySeparation anxiety is a fear response in which a dog panics when left alone or apart from the person it is attached to. Signs include howling, destruction near doors, toileting indoors, drooling and escape attempts, usually worst in the first 30 minutes. It is treated with gradual, reward-based training, sometimes alongside medicine from a vet, never with punishment.
- TrainingSocialisationSocialisation is the gentle, positive introduction of a young animal to the people, animals, sounds, places and handling it will meet as an adult. The main window is short: about the first three months for puppies and roughly two to seven weeks of age for kittens. Animals that miss it are more likely to be fearful later.
- Breeds and anatomySpay and neuterSpaying and neutering are surgeries that stop a pet breeding. Spaying a female removes the ovaries and usually the womb; neutering or castrating a male removes the testicles. Besides preventing litters they lower some health risks, such as womb infection in females. The right age depends on species, breed and size, so your vet decides the timing.
- NutritionTheobromineTheobromine is a bitter natural chemical in cocoa, from the same family as caffeine. Dogs clear it slowly, so a chocolate snack can build up to a poisonous level, causing vomiting, restlessness, a racing heart, tremors and seizures. Cocoa powder and dark chocolate carry the most. If a dog eats chocolate, call a vet straight away.
- Health conditionsTick feverTick fever is the everyday Indian name for blood infections that ticks pass to dogs, mainly ehrlichiosis, babesiosis and anaplasmosis, which often occur together. Signs include fever, tiredness, poor appetite, pale gums, bleeding such as nosebleeds, and dark urine. A blood test confirms which infection it is, and treatment varies. Prevent it by stopping ticks.
- Travel and paperworkTransfer of residenceTransfer of residence is the customs category for a passenger moving to India after living abroad for two years or more. Under it, the passenger may bring up to two pet dogs or cats as baggage, with an Advance NOC from the ATITHI 2.0 portal. Anyone abroad for less than two years needs a different route, usually a DGFT licence.
- NutritionTreat allowanceA treat allowance is the share of a pet's daily calories that can come from treats, chews, toppers and table food without unbalancing its diet or causing weight gain. Vets' nutrition guidance puts it at no more than about 10% of the day's calories, with the other 90% from a complete and balanced food.
- BehaviourUrine markingUrine marking is using small amounts of urine as a scent message rather than to empty the bladder. Cats usually spray backwards onto upright surfaces with the tail raised and quivering; dogs lift a leg against furniture or doorways. It is commoner in unneutered animals and stressed or crowded homes. Rule out illness first, then reduce the stress behind it.
- Vaccines and parasitesVaccination cardA vaccination card is the record of every vaccine your pet has had: the date, the vaccine and batch, often as a peel-off sticker from the vial, the vet's signature and stamp, and the next due date. In India it carries names such as DHPPi and Tricat. Licences, boarding sitters, airlines and sitters ask to see it.
- NutritionWet foodWet food is canned, pouch or tray pet food, sealed and then heat-sterilised, and roughly 68 to 78% water. It is tasty, filling and adds water to a pet's day, which can help cats with urinary problems, but it costs more per calorie than kibble and spoils quickly once opened, especially in Indian heat.
- NutritionXylitolXylitol is a sugar alcohol used to sweeten sugar-free gum, mints, sweets, some nut butters, toothpaste and medicines. In dogs it triggers a large release of insulin, so blood sugar can fall sharply within 10 to 60 minutes, and some dogs go on to liver damage. Any amount eaten is a reason to call a vet straight away.
- BehaviourZoomiesZoomies, or frenetic random activity periods (FRAPs), are short bursts of wild running, circling and spinning that dogs and cats do out of the blue, often after a bath, a nap, a meal or time in a crate. They are normal, usually a release of pent-up energy. The main risks are slippery floors and clutter.
Which glossary words do I need?
Start from what is in front of you. Each answer opens the term's own page, which links on to the guides that explain it in full.
If you are reading your dog's vaccination card
Start with DHPPi, the combined core vaccine most Indian cards show, then the rabies line beside it. DHPPi vaccine
If you are reading your cat's vaccination card
FVRCP is the cat's core vaccine; Indian cards often show a brand name from the vial sticker, such as Tricat. FVRCP vaccine
If the vet said your pet is due a booster
A booster tops up protection; how often each vaccine needs one differs. Booster vaccine
If you are about to book a pet sitter
The meet and greet comes first, before the first booking. Meet and greet
If you are writing instructions for a sitter
A care sheet puts feeding, medicines, walks and contacts on one page. Care sheet
If you are flying or taking a train with your pet
Every journey needs a vet's health certificate, each issued within its own window before departure. Health certificate
If you are taking your pet out of India
AQCS examines the pet and issues the export certificate it needs to leave. AQCS
If you have a flat-faced dog or cat
Brachycephalic is the word vets use, and it changes how you handle heat. Brachycephalic
If your dog has had ticks and seems unwell
Tick fever is the everyday name for the infections the brown dog tick spreads. Tick fever
How do you read an Indian vaccination card?
Indian cards use letters and brand names that differ from the ones in foreign guides. These are the lines you will usually see, and what each one means.
- DHPPi
- The combined core vaccine for dogs: distemper (D), hepatitis from canine adenovirus (H), parvovirus (P) and parainfluenza (Pi). US cards call the same group DHPP or DA2PP. WSAVAstudy
- DHPPiL or L
- DHPPi with leptospirosis added. Leptospirosis vaccines carry one to four types of the bacteria; L4 means four. The L part is repeated every year. WSAVAstudy
- Tricat or FVRCP
- The cat's core vaccine against panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus. Tricat Trio is one brand; the card often shows the vial sticker instead of the letters. MSD Animal Health New Zealand
- Rabies
- A separate line from DHPPi. Rabies is endemic in every Indian state and union territory except the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, so the vaccine is core for dogs and cats. Indian Journal of Public Health (2019)study
- Sticker, batch and expiry
- WSAVA says the record should show the date, the vaccine name, lot number, expiry date and maker, and who gave it. Peel-off vial labels make this easier. WSAVAstudy
- Vet's signature and stamp
- Mumbai's BMC dog licence asks for rabies and leptospirosis certificates signed and stamped by a registered vet. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
- Next due date
- The date that matters to a sitter, a host or an airline: rabies must be in date for the whole stay or trip, not just the day you leave. Municipal Corporation of Delhi
- 7-in-1 or 9-in-1
- Brand counts of the parts in one vial. No veterinary body defines them, so a 9-in-1 vial is not necessarily better than DHPPiL; ask your vet what it covers. WSAVAstudy
Which vaccines do dogs and cats get in India?
WSAVA splits vaccines into core, which every pet should have, and non-core, which depend on where and how a pet lives. India adds rabies to the core list because the disease is endemic. Your vet decides your pet's schedule.
| Dogs | Cats | |
|---|---|---|
| Core everywhere WSAVAstudy | Distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis) and parvovirus: the DHPPi line | Panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus: the FVRCP or Tricat line |
| Core in India Indian Journal of Public Health (2019)study | Rabies, because the disease is endemic across India | Rabies, for the same reason |
| Common non-core WSAVAstudy | Kennel cough (Bordetella and parainfluenza) for dogs that board, go to day care or meet many dogs; leptospirosis where it is a risk | Chlamydia and, in some places, FIV; Bordetella only for cats in unusually large colonies |
| First dose WSAVAstudy | DHPPi at 6 to 8 weeks, then every 2 to 4 weeks until 16 weeks or older; rabies at 12 weeks or older | FVRCP at 6 to 8 weeks, never before 6 weeks; rabies at 12 weeks or older |
| First booster WSAVAstudy | At or shortly after 26 weeks, under WSAVA 2024 | At about 26 weeks, under WSAVA 2024 |
| After that ICAR-IVRI | WSAVA and AAHA: core parts no more often than every 3 years; ICAR-IVRI lists every vaccine yearly; leptospirosis yearly under all | Cats that board regularly may need the herpesvirus and calicivirus parts up to every year |
Where Indian and global schedules differ, the term pages show both. None of this replaces your vet's advice for your own pet.
Which words come up when you book a pet sitter?
The words of a booking, from the first visit to the last day. Each card opens the term's page, with what to ask and what Petym does.
Before booking
Meet and greet
A short visit where you, your pet and the sitter meet. The RSPCA advises meeting a sitter before hiring them. On Petym it is free, before the first booking. RSPCA
Before you leave
Care sheet
The written plan for whoever looks after your pet: food, amounts and times, medicines, walks, fears and contacts, as the RSPCA lists them. RSPCA
Service
Overnight pet sitting
A sitter stays in your home, so your pet keeps its routine. The RSPCA names a familiar routine as the reason home care works best. RSPCA
Service
Drop-in visit
A sitter comes in to feed, clean the litter tray, give medicines and keep your pet company, then leaves. RSPCA Australia advises at least one or two visits a day for a cat. RSPCA Australia
Service
Home boarding
Your pet stays in a sitter's own home as part of the household, not in a kennel run. On Petym, a sitter's home is checked by video first. Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (UK)
Access
Key handover
How the sitter gets in: a key, a trusted neighbour or a lock code, plus a word with the watchman in a flat. Planned, written down and reversed at the end.
During the stay
Daily photo update
A photo and a short note each day on food, walks, toilet, medicines and mood. Petym sitters send one every day of every booking.
Sitter training
Pet first aid
The care that keeps a pet safe until a vet takes over. The 2026 RECOVER guidelines name pet sitters among the people vets should teach. RECOVER Initiative (Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, 2026)study
Which papers does a pet need to travel, in order?
Travel paperwork has its own vocabulary, and the order matters: each paper depends on the one before it. This is the path for a pet leaving India, with the one for a pet coming in at the end.
Vaccination card
The rabies certificate goes on every journey; Merck lists it among the papers to carry with a pet. Merck Veterinary Manual
Microchip
A chip the size of a grain of rice under the skin, holding a number a scanner reads. It is not a GPS tracker. PDSA
Health or fit-to-fly certificate
A registered vet's signed statement that the pet is fit to travel. Windows differ: Air India asks for one within 7 days of departure, SpiceJet within 48 hours. Air India
AQCS export certificate
To leave India, every pet needs the AQCS Certificate of Health for Export, valid for 10 days. AQCS, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
No Indian pet passport
India does not issue one. The EU pet passport is issued only to owners living in the EU, so a pet from India travels on certificates instead. European Union (Your Europe)
Advance NOC, coming in
A pet dog or cat flying to India needs an Advance NOC from the ATITHI 2.0 portal, applied for at least 7 days before travel. AQCS, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
Which pet care words are often mixed up?
You may have read
DHPPi includes the rabies vaccine.
Myth
What the sources say
It does not. Rabies is a separate vaccine on its own line of the card, and licences and airlines usually ask for the rabies certificate separately. WSAVAstudy
You may have read
A microchip lets you track a lost pet.
Myth
What the sources say
Microchips are not linked to GPS. A scanner reads the number, which only helps if your contact details on the database are current. PDSA
You may have read
You can get a pet passport in India.
Myth
What the sources say
India does not issue one. What people mean is the set of travel papers: vaccination and microchip records, a health certificate and the AQCS export certificate. European Union (Your Europe)
You may have read
Non-core means a vaccine is optional for every pet.
Myth
What the sources say
WSAVA calls non-core vaccines highly recommended for pets whose location or lifestyle puts them at risk, such as a dog that boards or goes to day care. WSAVAstudy
You may have read
Brachycephalic is just a word for a cute flat face.
Myth
What the sources say
It describes a short skull that narrows the airway. Flat-faced dogs had about twice the odds of heat-related illness in a large UK study. Scientific Reports (2020)study
Which words on this list mean see a vet now?
Most glossary words are for reading and planning. A few name emergencies, and if you or your sitter suspect one, call the vet or go to the nearest 24-hour vet without waiting.
If Heatstroke: heavy panting, drooling, vomiting, wobbliness or collapse, most often after exercise in heat.
Cool the pet on the spot with cool running water over the body, then go straight to a vet. RECOVER Initiative (Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, 2026)study
If Bloat (GDV): a large dog retching without bringing anything up, drooling and restless, with a swelling belly.
A surgical emergency that can kill within hours. Go to a 24-hour vet at once. Merck Veterinary Manual
If Parvovirus: an unvaccinated puppy that is dull, off its food and vomiting.
Call the vet now and keep it away from other dogs; the virus spreads in faeces. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
If FLUTD: a male cat straining in the litter tray and passing little or no urine.
A blocked urethra is an absolute emergency. Go to the vet straight away. Cornell Feline Health Center
If Pyometra: an unspayed female drinking and urinating more, dull and off food a few weeks after a heat.
A medical emergency that needs rapid treatment. Call the vet today. American College of Veterinary Surgeons
How is each definition written and checked?
Each term page opens with a 40 to 60 word definition, then three to six key facts, each with the veterinary, welfare or government source it came from and the date that source was checked. Health terms say plainly that the page is not a diagnosis and link to the emergency vets directory. Where Indian and international advice differ, as on how often adult dogs need boosters, the page shows both and leaves the decision to your vet.
The glossary uses the names you will actually see in India: DHPPi rather than DA2PP, Tricat beside FVRCP, the Indie dog, tick fever, the dog box in a train's brake van. Other names people search are listed with each term, so a search for DHPP or desi dog finds the right page.
The first time a glossary word appears on any other Petym page, it links here, so you can look up a word on a guide, a breed page or a rules page without losing your place.
Questions owners ask
What does the Petym pet care glossary cover?
- The words pet owners and sitters in India meet at the vet, on vaccination cards, when booking a sitter and when travelling with a pet. Terms are grouped into vaccines and parasites, health conditions, behaviour, nutrition, training, breeds and anatomy, services and booking, and travel and paperwork, each on its own sourced page.
What does DHPPi mean on my dog's vaccination card?
- DHPPi is the combined core vaccine for dogs: distemper, hepatitis from canine adenovirus, parvovirus and parainfluenza. DHPPiL adds leptospirosis. US cards call the same group DHPP or DA2PP. Puppies start it at 6 to 8 weeks, and rabies is a separate vaccine on its own line of the card.
What is Tricat on my cat's vaccination card?
- Tricat is a brand of the cat's core combined vaccine, often called FVRCP, which protects against feline panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus. Indian cards often show the vial's sticker instead of the letters. Kittens start at 6 to 8 weeks, with a booster at about 26 weeks under WSAVA's 2024 guidelines.
What is the difference between core and non-core vaccines?
- WSAVA defines core vaccines as those every dog or cat should have, such as distemper and parvovirus for dogs. Non-core vaccines are for pets whose location or lifestyle puts them at risk, such as kennel cough for dogs that board. In India rabies is core for both dogs and cats because it is endemic.
Does India issue a pet passport?
- No. The EU pet passport is issued only to owners living in the EU. A pet leaving India travels on its vaccination and microchip records, a vet's health certificate, the AQCS export certificate valid for 10 days, and whatever certificate or permit the destination country asks for.
What is a meet and greet with a pet sitter?
- A short visit before any booking where you, your pet and the sitter meet, so you can see how the sitter handles your pet and go through its routine. The RSPCA advises meeting a sitter before hiring. On Petym the meet and greet is free and comes before the first booking.
Where do the glossary definitions come from?
- From veterinary and welfare bodies such as WSAVA, the Merck Veterinary Manual, PDSA, the RSPCA and Cornell, and from government pages such as AQCS and the airlines' own rules. Each term page names its sources with the date they were checked. Health terms are not a diagnosis: call your vet about your own pet.
Why do some words on other Petym pages link to the glossary?
- The first time a glossary term appears on any Petym page, it links to its definition, so you can look a word up without losing your place. Each term is linked once per page, and only to pages that exist, so the links stay useful rather than cluttered.
Sources
Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources
- RSPCA: Exploring pet sitting options (opens in a new tab)
- AQCS, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying: Export of pets (dogs and cats) (opens in a new tab)
- European Union (Your Europe): EU rules on travelling with pets and other animals in the EU (last checked 01/09/2026) (opens in a new tab)
- MSD Animal Health New Zealand: Nobivac Tricat Trio (product page) (opens in a new tab)
- Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation: Manual for application for dog licence (opens in a new tab)
- Municipal Corporation of Delhi: Standard operating procedure for pet dog registration (opens in a new tab)
Show all 21 sourcesShow fewer
- ICAR-IVRI: Vaccination of dogs and cats (Hindi leaflet, 2020) (opens in a new tab)
- RSPCA Australia: Can I take my cat with me when I go on holiday? (opens in a new tab)
- Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (UK): Home boarding for dogs licensing: statutory guidance for local authorities (updated 1 June 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Planning for travel with pets (opens in a new tab)
- PDSA: Microchipping your pet (opens in a new tab)
- Air India: Travelling with pets (opens in a new tab)
- AQCS, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying: Import of live pet dogs under the Livestock Importation Act, 1898: standard operating procedure (August 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Gastric Dilation and Volvulus in Small Animals (opens in a new tab)
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Parvovirus: transmission to treatment (Riney Canine Health Center) (opens in a new tab)
- Cornell Feline Health Center: Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (opens in a new tab)
- American College of Veterinary Surgeons: Pyometra (opens in a new tab)
- WSAVA: 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats (WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group, Journal of Small Animal Practice) (opens in a new tab)
- Indian Journal of Public Health (2019): Assessing rabies-free status of Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands (abstract read) (opens in a new tab)
- RECOVER Initiative (Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, 2026): RECOVER guidelines: first aid for dogs and cats, clinical guidelines (opens in a new tab)
- Scientific Reports (2020): Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness in UK dogs (opens in a new tab)
Going away soon? Tell us your dates.
A checked local sitter feeds, walks and keeps your pet company at home, follows your care sheet to the letter and sends a photo every day. Petym is opening city by city: send your dates and we will tell you when a sitter can take them.
- Meet your sitter first, free
- PAN-checked, first-aid trained
- A photo every day
- Pay through Petym, never cash
