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boxer dog health problems

Read and learn more about boxer dog health problems. For more, visit the Dog Health website DoggyDogHealth.com

Q: Boxer Dog Health Problems?
I have a 12/13 year old boxer dog that has been in good health all her life. But about a week ago, she started vomiting yellow liquid, and now her eyes are bloodshot and a little cockeyed. She has also had a little loss of appetite. any clue as to why this is happening to her?
i also forgot to add that she had a seizure the other day. i think this might have led to these problems

A: This could be a range of things, and only your vet can tell you. 12 to 13 is very old for a boxer. Loss of appetite could indicate stomach problems, bowl problems, or even dental problems… Her teeth may be in too poor of shape to be able to chew dry dog food. Vomiting yellow liquid is not a good sign. It sounds like she is vomiting bile, which comes from intestinal problems, That needs a vet ASAP. Also, boxers are very prone to allergies, that could explain the bloodshot eyes. My best advice, take her to a vet to have some tests.

Q: Thinking about getting a boxer dog?
I’ve had dogs before so training etc is not a problem. I’m just wondering can anybody here offer their experience of this dogs health problems or otherwise? I’ve heard that the lifespan is quite short.

A: I have had boxers for over 25 years.

At the present I have 2 adult boxers and two 17 week old boxer puppies as well as a mutt.

Boxers are great family dogs, wonderful with children

They are highly intelligent and easily trained. They can be hard headed at times but because of their love to please, they pick it up rather quickly and training is not a problem.

They love to get human affection and crave to be near their human companions.

They are great protectors if they sense their property or family members are in danger.

They are playful, curious and energetic

They live 11-14 years if received from a reputable responsible breeder.

Have great temperaments

They are not outside dogs due to their short muzzles and short hair and do not do well in extreme hot or cold weather

They come in Fawn which is a tan color and Brindle which is black stripping over tan, some to the point where you can hardly see the tan which is referred to as reverse brindle (both of which may or may not have white markings known as flash) there is also the white boxer who should be sold as a pet with a Limited AKC registration and a spay/neuter contract.

There are no black boxers,some people advertise “rare black boxer” however there aren’t any.

All reputable breeders are white boxer friendly, not all white boxers are deaf and are just as good temperament and health wise as those with color (fawn or brindle) you do however have to be careful that they do not get sunburned on their ears and nose. White boxers usually are born from to flashy’s being bred. White boxers also are not rare as 25% of boxer puppies are white and within that 25% only 10% are born deaf.

If you decide that a boxer is the dog for you and your family, find yourself a responsible breeder that has bred for health, temperament and conformation as you will be less likely to have any problems with the pup/dog. Ask to see the Dam and Sire of the pups so you can evaluate their temperaments and can judge as to how big the pup may possibly get. Ask if the required testing for the boxer has been done and ask to see the results of the testing. Boxers should have an echo and a 24 hour holter monitor test, OFA hip or Pennhip testing, and an OFA thyroid test. Always have a contract, a health guarantee with a minimum of 2 years and all pets should be should be sold on a spay/neuter contract. Make sure you take any new puppy to the vet within 2 days of bringing him/her home for a wellness check.

All breeds of canines have some kinds of health concerns.

This however does not mean that each individual dog will have these problems or illnesses. It just means that they are predisposed to them. If you get a pup from a responsible, reputable breeder who has had all the required breed specific testing preformed you are less likely to have an ill pup/dog.

Some health issues that boxers are predisposed to are..

Cardiomyopathy –Aortic stenosis/sub-aortic stenosis – heart murmurs … many puppies are born with slight murmurs but will outgrow them .. make sure that the dam nad sire have been tested and cleared by a doppler echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) and holter monitor (24 hour electrocardiogram) All heart testing should be performed by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist

Hip dysplasia — Make sure the breeder has either had the dam and sire tested by a penn hip or OFA specialist and has cleared

Hypothyroidism — An inactive thyroid gland which can be responsible for such conditions as epilepsy, alopecia or hair loss, obesity, lethargy, hyperpigmentation, pyoderma and other skin conditions, make sure the dam and sire have had OFA Thyroid testing and cleared (A blood test to detect autoimmune thyroiditis)

Cancer. Boxers are particularly prone to the development of mast cell tumors, lymphoma and brain tumors

Bloat or Gastric dilatation-volvulus

Allergies…Boxers are rather prone to allergies, which can be environmental or food related. These often translate into itchy, scaly and sometimes infected skin. Boxers do not tend to do well on foods that have a high grain content, particularly those including corn, wheat or beet pulp

Acepromazine — an anesthetic should never ever be used on boxers as it ia known to cause death .. Before nay surgical procedure make sure your vet knows not to use this.

I myself have never had any health issues with my boxers in my 25+ years of having them.

Good luck with your decision and no matter what breed of dog you choose make sure that you make an educated decision on not one on just how cute the pup is. Make sure you ger the results for any and all required health testing on the dam and sire before making any decisions.

Q: Would buying a boxer from a breeder reduce the chance of health problems?
My parents have an awesome boxer. I love him to death. But we bought him off an add on craigslist for $300 and the vet bills for this dog are outragous. I really want a boxer but I don’t think I could afford the vet bills. If I bought from a breeder instead of off the street would the health problems be reduced?

A: In a word, yes.

A responsible purebred breeder would know the genetic inheritance of dogs of their breeding & have the experience to draw on not to double up on genetic hereditary faults when carefully planning a litter.

The genetic inheritance of a poorly bred dog is a genetic lottery because the breeder would either has no idea why it’s so crucial to breed genetically well matched dog/b*tch or is indifferent & only view that b*tch as walking cash machine.

The objective of breeders who breed to the standard & prove their dogs against it by having them judged, is to breed dogs which are genetically sound in mind & body, with the ability to do the type of work the breed was originally created to do.

By health testing the sire/dam before the mating, the breeder can minimize the risk of serious health conditions, which could have a negative impact on the quality of life of a pup or be life limiting.

A terrible shame about your parents Boxer, but all credit to them for taking such good care of him.

Q: Comforting an old boxer dog with health issues?
My boxer dog of 12 years is constantly sleeping and not much movement, one of her eyes are cloudy and blood shot where she banged it on a door a few days ago, she also has lumps that I researched and I suspect it’s just fatty tissue, I know she is old now and she also has authritis. Is there anything I can help to comfort my dog, and ensure her last few months or last few years is peiceful. I will take her to the vet tuesday because this Monday it’s bank holiday.
I do not want to put her down (euthanasia) she does not seem to be in terrible agoney and she is still happy every day I see her, I just want to know how I can help her with problems.
Please any tips would be helpful, I just need to help her in anyway I can until Tuesday.
It’s very sad seeing her on her way out of life and I want to do anything I can until I get advice from a vetinary. Thank you.
Thank you very much to all of the answers it’s made me feel alot better and I will take on your advice. She is eating and drinking perfectly normal, nothing like that is a problem. I will take her to the vets Tuesday like I said, I don’t want her to go through unnessarsary pain or agravation, I will just see what the vet thinks about her condition but I don’t think putting her down will be an option hopefully.
Acually I might call the vet tonight her condition seems to be getting worse, she has started shaking an he has started making weird noises. wish us luck

A: The vet can tell you or give you something for the pain. At this stage in her life, just spoil her. Give her favorite foods, maybe a nice steak once in a while. Pet her, even if she is sleeping. Her favorite thing is probably just being near you. When my dogs got old the vet didn’t even want to give them any more vaccines or put them through any other kind of unnecessary aggravation. I don’t know if your vet is like mine but don’t let them do any unnecessary testing or anything that would be unnecessary aggravation.

Q: White Boxer- what health problems should be checked for?
A friend of ours just picked up an all white boxer puppy this weekend- I did try to discourage him, and we also told him to make sure its not deaf- I don’t know too much about boxers myself, but I know they’re not supposed to be white, what else should he have the dog checked for?
Unfortunately, I think he got hoodwinked….I’m sure its a pretty dog, but I can just picture the unscrupulous seller….”Rare white boxer!” I just hope its healthy, he just lost his last one to cancer.
Aaaarrgghh….as I suspected, it turns out he was getting this puppy from a pet store….he went to pick the white puppy up, and its eyes were all puffy and goopy, and it had a runny nose, so they settled on a brindle pup (from the same g*d awful store), brought it home and spent the weekend dealing with vomiting, diarreah, and a very sick puppy that wouldn’t even drink water, off to their vet who couldn’t find anything wrong with it (?!!!!), doesn’t think its parvo since it’s allegedly vaccinated, took it back to the store, and they are taking it to their vet (who probably operates out of a van in an alley somewhere). As of now, I just hope he walks away from the whole nightmare so I can put him with a real boxer breeder that I know, not a retailer for a puppy mill. Thanks everyone for your input.

A: It used to be common practice to kill white Boxer pups until they discovered that there is a 20% chance of a white pup in a litter. Yes, they are prone to deafness, but even then they make great pets!

Be careful of their skin. All dogs with thin fur that is white are susceptible to sunburn. Applying a dog sunscreen before exposure to sun is important.

I would love to add a Boxer to my pack, if I can find a white one! They are beautiful and many of them have black or brown spots that develop as they grow. I call them freckles!

Q: Should I get a boxer dog?
I want a dog that will be affectionate with my family and me. I also want there to be minimal shedding. All of the dogs I’ve found who don’t shed a lot are these little scrawny dogs. I want a dog that really looks like a dog (if you know what i mean). I want it to be about medium size and have not too many major health problems.

I think that I like the boxer breed. The only thing I’m not sure about is the drooling habits and the health problems.

My mom had a bad experience with dogs and doesn’t particularly like them. I think, though, if I find a dog that is loving and doesn’t shed, she might loosen up. My dad loves dogs. he had three when he was a kid. Any suggestions on getting my mom to agree to get a dog?

BTW My 13th b day is coming up and i thought that might be a good time to ask for a dog.

Is a boxer the right dog for me?
We live in an average-sized house in a neighborhood with lots of space for running and playing.

A: I would NOT recommend a Boxer for a first time dog owner, especially not someone as young as you. Boxers, although sweet and loving, are very high energy and requires lots of excercise and training from an experienced person. If you don’t know what you’re doing you will end up with a very difficult dog on your hands and I’m sure that your mom wouldn’t feel any better about dogs if that was the case. Boxers also tend to stay puppies for quite a while, meaning that they continue to have the unruly, super energetic behavior of a puppy for a longer period of times than other breeds.
Boxers are very cute dogs but they are not the dog for the inexperienced dog handler. I would recommend that you look for a particular personality in a dog instead of a breed and get an adult dog instead of a puppy who pees on the floor and chews up your shoes. I would suggest that you visit your local Humane Society and tell the staff what you are looking for in a dog and they can help you find one that would be a good match for you. If you don’t find the right dog the first time keep looking, new dogs come in all the time. The benefit with getting an adult dog is that you know what their personality is like already and adopting a dog will save the life of that dog which is a wonderful thing to do.

Good luck

Q: Boxer dog question?
I really want a Boxer but I hear they have soooo many health problems. Are there any boxer owners out there that can tell me if they are worth it?

Im mostly worried about tumors and epilepsy.

A: Yes, they have a lot of potential health problems, but they are such wonderful dogs. My boyfriend had one, and we had to put him to sleep at over 14 years old due to a tumor that burst. I would not hesitate to get another…probably will in the near future…they are so worth all the trouble. Just do lots of research, get it altered(to reduce testicular/ovarian cancers) and keep it at a healthy weight, and they will reward you with a lifetime of love and fun! You can’t beat the “Boxer wiggle” that they do when they are happy. Big problems I have seen working in vet clinics are: cancer, heart(tell your vet NOT to use acepromazine on a Boxer as it can cause cardiac problems) & kidney disease, seizures, obesity(owners overfeeding and killing them with kindness), bloat and hip displaysia. This site has tons of info http://www.boxerbark.com/ .

Q: Boxer health issues. hip problem?
I have a female boxer that is around 48lbs, and 6 years of age. She’s had problems with her leg in the past, and over the past 6 months has been diagnosed with hip displaysia. I was treating it with metacam, non steroid suspension anti inflam. Well after 3 months, the limp is back. I cant put anymore money into this dog (ie surgery) Ive spent around 700 already. Any other recommendations. Shes been on glucosimine. No other health issues. A friend said let it rock till she seems miserable and then have her put down. Boxers normally only live 9-11 years.

A: You have probably been buying Metacam from the vets, apart from this being expensive it can cause internal bleeding. You obviously love your dog and you don’t want her to suffer.

Although you have spent around 700 on her, this may not have included xrays. Vets always assume hip displasia and perhaps this is her problem or it could be arthritis.

Regardless, there are cheap and safe remedies available on the Internet and glucosimine on its own is not enough. My dog weighs 72ibs and the stuff that I buy on the Internet costs £16 per month. If I was clever at maths I could tell you how much that this will cost to treat your dog, however we both know that it will be less to treat a 48lb dog.

Metacam and Rymadal are usually prescribed by vets for arthritis and pain from any cause. Unfortunately both of these medications can cause internal bleeding and they horrify me; however at the onset of pain they give relief.

My GSD was diagnosed with arthritis in her knees, she suffered from internal bleeding when she was prescribed Metacam, this was apparent when her stools became almost black. I investigated other meds on the internet and discovered Flexadin. It’s about £70 from the vets and £20 on the internet. It contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin which help enormously with pain and bone problems; however it also contains Devils Claw which also helps with pain.
Later I accidentally discovered that Seraquin has other virtues because as well as the above stuff it also contains Turmeric, this is about £60 from the vets and £16 on the internet. My ten year old is now chasing rabbits and she appears to be pain free. Be aware that both of these or any suppliment can take up to six weeks to take effect. Eventually this will help your dog.

Incidentally I don’t like your friend who said “let it rock till she seems miserable and then have her put down. Boxers normally only live 9-11 years”.

Q: What is a good dog food to fatten up my rescued Pit Bull/Boxer mix?
I recently rescued a Doggie from Abusive owners. He is wonderful and luckily has a clean bill of health. Only Problem is he is very underweight! What are some good quality Dog foods that will fatten him up and also taste good? (he is a picky eater)

A: Blue Buffalo is a great, high quality, fair priced food if your looking for doggie food.
However, consider people food.
(Always make it plain, no spices, etc.) Broiled chicken, plain white rice, turkey, cheese, some dogs like cream cheese, peanut butter, carrots, green beans, dog meatballs (google for the recipe, can’t remember where I found it.) and other wholesome, organic foods.
Just make sure the meals are balanced and that he gets ALL of his food groups!

Q: My sister had to put her dog down this morning, is there any kind of consolation gift I can give her?
My sister had to put her 12-year-old boxer down this morning due to multiple health problems. She is 30 and has no kids yet, so this dog was essentially her baby (she had him since he was a puppy, she was only 19 when she got him). She is very depressed about it, and I’d like to get her some kind of consolation gift to help her feel better. Any ideas?
I am in no way even considering buying her a new dog. I know how detrimental that can be to her mental health. And I am very sympathetic to this only because in November 2005, my chihuahua was only 2 and I thought I’d have to put him down due to a health issue (I couldn’t afford the $3000 surgery). But by some miracle, he recovered on his own with steroids, and he is the best companion to my one-year-old son. So I know exactly how hard that must be to make that decision.

A: I extend my sympathy to your sister, and I thank you for being such a good support for her. Sometimes it’s hard to find people who take one’s grief over a pet seriously, and that alone is a great gift.

I’d suggest a memorial donation to the American Boxer Charitable Foundation, a group that raises money for research into the health problems of boxers. A donation in your sister’s dog’s name is a hopeful gift that keeps his memory alive and benefits boxers in the future. See the website below. Hope this helps.

Q: Dog has serious rectal bleeding after surgery (possible reaction to anesthesia?)?
My boxer had surgery yesterday to remove growths around his teeth. He has had bleeding from his rectum (continuous flow) and this morning he went into shock. Right now the vet has him on IV fluids and drugs to keep him calm while he tries to figure out what is wrong with him. He says he is unsure of the cause right now and that it is very serious. Does anyone have any advice they can give? Should I be worried that he will possibly die? He is only 5 years old and has always been a very active dog with no health problems. I’m very concerned that he might have had a reaction to anesthetics. The vet says he may have a twisted intestine or something serious with his colon. It seems to me that it would be surgery related. Can I please get some insight into this. I don’t want him to die. He is my baby and I’m extremely upset and concerned right now.

A: It does have to do with surgery. I don’t know what happened, but it happened at the vets. I hope he lives. I’m so sorry.

Q: Does anyone know if a Boxer/Mastiff mix is a good idea?
I am thinking about buying a boxer/mastiff mix and would like to know if anyone has a dog like this? I would like to find out the temperment, training ability, how much they eat (I know it’s a lot), any health problems, just in general anything that will help me make my decision. I know I want an english mastiff at some point but now I’m thinking about a boxer/mastiff mix. Does anyone have any helpful tips on these mix breeds of dog?

A: I am not sure about a Boxer/Mastiff, they are going to be prone to joint problems (especially because they probably do not certify your puppy’s hips as being healthy like reputable breeders do, and hip replacement surgery is necessary for big dogs[or euthanasia _<. You have to really be in love with the breed to put up with their unpleasant quirks and love them for being the beautiful giants they are. Monty is the most loving dog I've had, I enter any room or nearby where he is and he wags his tail, but he doesn't do it for my sisters that don't play with him, they really remember and have a bond with each individual person. If you have the money to afford one [vet fees, tons of food, a big yard] and the time and energy to spend playing and feeding and letting in and out from outside then I think you should do it. If you are purchasing an adult, I would be apprehensive entirely about that decision. But if it is a puppy, the way you raise it, and the things you expose it to as a puppy will get him used to it as an adult and be fine. Goodluck, sorry this is SO LONG! Just warning you in advance. Buying a dog is a HUGE deal.

Q: I’m having a small health problem with a female boxer?
well the boxer stayed with my friend for some weeks while i was away and from what i heard they didnt feed her good she was fed all hot dogs and other house food and now shes been back for about a day now and she wont stop farting i mean really im starting think somethings wrong with her what can i do to make her stop????
sorry this is a weird question

A: First off don’t let her back in the ring for a bit. Take her gloves and say no more boxing tell you get better. Ok seriously I’d think calling a local vet would be your safest bet. Good luck and I hope you aren’t a smoker….KABOOOM

Q: What breed of dog should I try to talk my parents into for getting me as an Xmas gift?
OK so I really really want to get another dog, I currently have a 7 year old male boxer..he’s one of the best dogs I’ve ever seen, he has the best temperment and never snaps at people and I bet he can do well with a trainable puppy. Soo here are my requirements for the puppy I want a get:

*trainable
*doesn’t mind the heat, as well as the cold (Southern California weather)
*great family dog and gets along well with people of all ages
*gets along well with other dogs (I could get my boxer to behave with the puppy easily..my family has done it with other dogs)
*not hard to groom
*not an expensive breed, my parents will not spend $1,000 dollars for a puppy. Mayb $700 or $800 MAXIMUM

Those are things I would really really like to have..if it’s a little off then I guess it’s fine. And here are some things I would like, but aren’t neccessary.
*good at disc training
*good at agility training (I don’t know if I could try this but I would love to!)
*I prefer medium or large dogs when they are full grown, I DON’T want a small dog
*a healthy breed of dog with not too many problems (my boxer actually has a lot of health problems we learned in the past, he suffered from gingivitus and almost died from cancer recently..luckily we caught it in time and cured it)

Just a reminder, I want a puppy for Christmas from my parents. I’ll do my research on the suggestions you give and pick which one I’d like. Another thing; I want to be the one to train the puppy. If I do get a dog..then I would probably be the one to go to classes and train the puppy and take care of it, etc. so I would prefer that the dog isn’t a hard breed to take care of/handle.

Thank you very much!
sorry I didn’t mention this..well I thought I did but anyways I’m 12, and the only reason my parents said no was because they thought I wouldn’t stick to taking care of the dog, and I have my ways. Instead of getting allowance, it would go torwards the dogs food and such..my parents would be willing to split the vet costs. Other thing, I didn’t make this clear haha I meant to mention it doesn’t have to be ON CHRISTMAS DAY. I know it takes many many days to decide, I was thinking to get one in January or February.

I was thinking maybe a border collie? I’ve been watching a bunch of dog shows and they always seem to do amazing, and have great reputaions. Yes I’m going to do my research though! Out of just looking at the basics it’s exactly what I want so I’m going to look and see all the details

A: I would say you’d be best with some kind of Collie or an Australian Shepherd. However, if you’re wanting to get a dog from a breeder you’re not going to get it by Christmas. Try www.petfinder.com or local shelters and rescues.

Q: What kind a dog should I get?
Okay so here is what i am looking for:

- Dog with minimal health problems
- Active, a dog that can fetch well and run far or walk a lot
- Friendly, a bit defensive and dedicated to the owner
- Medium or large
- Low to medium maintenance
- Very affectionate and playful

I really love retrievers or any types close to. Goldens are too big though XD
I will be a first time dog owner, but I know I will be dedicated, I’ve dog walked for a boxer and a golden retriever and I have volunteered at a vet office :3

A: I think this website will help you… if you take the quiz it will give you a list of breeds that fit your requirements….. if you click on the breed there will be pictures and descriptions of the breed that might help you choose your right breed!

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/search.htm

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