Fear of thunderstorms, thunderstorm phobia, fear of loud noises
Overview:
A very common problem in dogs, noise phobia is an excessive fear of a sound that results in the dog attempting to avoid or escape from the sound. As a result of its phobia, a dog may injure itself and damage or destroy property. Sounds that noise-phobic dogs commonly fear are thunder, firecrackers and gunshots.
Neutering, castration,
Overview:
Orchidectomy, or neutering, is a procedure that is performed on many male dogs. There are ethical reasons, as well as behavioral and medical conditions, that warrant this surgery. Although an orchidectomy requires general anesthesia, it is a short and simple procedure. Most dogs will return to their normal behavior by the following day. Nevertheless, they will need to have their activity levels reduced for the week following surgery; a rest period will allow the incision to heal properly.
Mitral valve disease, mitral valve degeneration, mitral valve insufficiency
Overview:
Mitral valve disease is a serious heart condition caused by the abnormal function of the valve that separates the upper and lower chamber of the left side of the heart. Dogs with mitral valve disease typically have difficulty exercising and a cough that increases in frequency as the disease progresses towards congestive heart failure and pulmonary edema.
The heart is made up of four chambers: the left and the right atria and left and right ventricles. Each upper chamber, or atrium, is separated from a lower chamber, or ventricle, by an atrioventricular valve. The valve on the left side of the heart is called the mitral valve, and the valve on the right side is called the tricuspid valve. In a normal dog, the leaflets of each valve open to allow blood to move from the atria into the ventricles and then close completely when the heart pumps the blood out of the ventricles and into the blood vessels.
Mast cell tumor, histiocytic mastocytoma, mast cell sarcoma
Overview:
Mast cell tumors, or MCTs, are among the most common tumors in dogs, with the skin being the most common primary site for MCTs in this species. Mast cell tumors can occur anywhere in the body. The systemic form of mast cell tumors, with visceral, lymphatic or bone marrow involvement is referred to as mastocytosis. Despite the sometimes "benign" appearance, mast cell tumors tend to exhibit a very unpredictable biological behavior. Therefore many veterinary oncologists consider all mast cell tumors malignant until proven otherwise.
Lyme disease, tick fever
Overview:
Without treatment, Lyme disease causes problems in many parts of the dog's body, including the heart, kidneys, and joints. On rare occasions, it can lead to neurological disorders. Lyme disease most commonly is associated with symptoms such as a high fever, swollen lymph nodes, lameness, and a loss of appetite.