That depends on the cause. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathies, we're trying to make sure that we're getting medications on board that increase the ability of the heart to pump and decrease the resistance the heart has to work against. In dilated cardiomyopathy, where we're seeing that taurine-deficient cause, we're recommending a diet change to supplement that taurine.

An enlarged heart is what we would call any sort of dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy where either the heart is enlarging and thinning in dilated cardiomyopathy, think like filling a water balloon, it gets stretched and thinner, versus hypertrophic cardiomyopathy where the heart is actually laying down extra muscle, and that's usually in response to increased resistance or increased regurgitation through one of those one-way valves.

It absolutely can. So in the 70s and 80s, we were noticing an increase in dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs that typically was a result of a lack of taurine in their diet, and we've actually seen a resurgence of that disease in the past 10 to 20 years as grain-free diets have become more popular. A lot of the grain-free diets don't add in that taurine. It's an amino acid that is very common in grains, and if we're using a grain-free diet, we're not getting those grains. We need to replenish that taurine somehow.

Cardiomyopathy is a blanket term for a problem in the muscle of the heart, so cardiomyopathy is a problem in the heart muscle, and that can arise from a number of causes.

A heart murmur is really just a sound. It's an abnormal sound between the first and second, the lub-dub of the heart. Typically, it sounds like rushing water, various volumes, so we'll describe it as a grade one to six, grade one being very quiet, grade six being fairly loud.

Most commonly, we see two forms of heart enlargement, one due to a leaky valve, the mitral valve, typically, that we call hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The other is dilated cardiomyopathy, which we typically recognize as dietary in origin.

Spaying or neutering can sometimes help with specific behavioral issues, but it's not a cure-all. Additional measures, like specific training or medication, are usually required to fully resolve the problem.

Socialization is paramount. Your dog should ideally meet 100 people and 100 dogs by the time they're 16 weeks old. If you adopt an older dog, you'll have more work to do, but starting as soon as possible and exposing them to different situations, people, and dogs is the best approach.

I would recommend seeking professional help as soon as you notice any issues. The sooner we address problems like aggression, mounting, inappropriate urination, defecation, or destructive behavior, the less likely they are to become lifelong problems.

Usually, behavioral problems do not resolve themselves. If there's an underlying behavioral issue, it typically needs to be addressed, whether it's fear, anxiety, or a medical condition.