Common Boxer Breed Medical Issues

A Boxer dog can be awfully cute – even when he or she is roaming around the house at the speed of sound trying to find you and get all of your affection. Care, of course, is the keyword here. If you want your dog to always be healthy, there are some things you should pay attention to and that should prompt you to take your furry companion to the vet as soon as possible.

Sometimes, dogs may require much more attention than a human being – mostly because they can’t actually tell when they’re sick or not. That’s why you should be the one looking after him or her and make sure the puppy is healthy.

To help you prevent any illnesses and care for your dog properly, we will present you some common Boxer breed medical issues, as well as the actions that are required when you spot one of them.

Heart Disease

Aortic stenosis, which is a hereditary heart disease, is something Boxers are usually affected by. It’s very important that you take your pet to periodical check-ups as this disease is fatal, causing sudden death. If diagnosed properly, the veterinarian can give you medication that can control this disease.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is another heart-related disease that your dog could suffer from – it means that the heart is not able to sustain efficient blood pumping. As these diseases are not noticeable is advised to take your dog to regular check-ups to make sure everything is okay.

Acne

You might not have expected this illness to be on this list, but it’s a very common problem when it comes to Boxers. It can appear when your dog reaches puberty, in the form of pimples, and could be just a chronic issue. However, it’s something you should be taking care of.

If you fail to treat his or her acne, it could develop into an infection, and later on into scarring. Keep your dog’s fresh look by consulting a vet at the appropriate time.

Cancer

Mast-cell cancer is a serious disease that Boxers are prone to. It can affect the dog’s reproductive organs, heart, lymph nodes, thyroid, and spleen. By taking your dog for monthly check-ups, this disease can be spotted early on and you can start a treatment as soon as any symptoms begin to occur.

Don’t forget, monthly check-ups – they might cost you a bit, but it’s better you give away money than affect the health status of your dog.

Hypothyroidism

Being alert and active is the best description for this breed of dogs. If you notice lethargy, weight loss, exercise intolerance, and depression on your Boxer dog, it might be because he or she is suffering from hypothyroidism, which is an endocrine disorder.

It occurs quite frequently in this breed, and especially in middle-aged and older dogs. Still, the dog being tired and having a generally poor condition should not be associated with his or her age or personality. Taking him to a vet as soon as possible and giving him the recommended medication can prevent the symptoms of this disease.

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV) – Bloat

Bloat is a very serious condition that affects not only the Boxer breed but most of the dog breeds out there. It can be fatal, ending your dog’s life in only one hour. When this condition occurs, the stomach of the dog gets twisted because of the gases trapped in there. When noticing it, you should rush to the vet so the dog can get proper treatment.

The best way to prevent this condition is to feed your dog small meals throughout the day. Of course, this means spending more time feeding your furry companion, but it’s for your pup’s health – that’s where a pet sitter could come in handy. Avoid feeding the dog large meals and water before and after his or her meals, and also try not to exercise with or train your pooch in these periods.

When he or she is just a puppy, it’s recommended that you feed the dog with the proper puppy food for Boxers, so that you’ll make sure everything is going well in that little stomach.

Colitis

The inflammation of the colon, also known as Histiocytic Ulcerative Colitis, is another disease that Boxers might develop. You will notice the first symptoms as soon as the pup does the basic needs, more specific diarrhea with mucus and blood. In case you have failed to notice this – which shouldn’t happen – you will instead notice that your dog has lost some weight.

Either way, you should make a visit to the vet, as Colitis’ symptoms can be prevented with the right medication.

Hip Dysplasia

This is a genetic condition and it affects many other dog breeds. It is a malformation of the hip joints, and can lead to Osteoarthritis. As mentioned before, the disease is genetically passed on and it is also a progressive one, meaning that it will get worse as time passes.

With the help of medication prescribed by a vet, the dog will be able to move more freely – and prevent the complete loss of use of the hip joints. There’s also the option that involves surgery if the condition reaches more severe states.

Pyloric Stenosis

Boxers, as well as Boston Terriers, are prone to having this disease, which is a stomach condition – however, it’s not bloat. In the case of Pyloric Stenosis, the muscles that are found around the stomach’s exit get very thick – the main symptoms are bloating and vomiting. Because of this disease, your dog might vomit right after he or she eats, and even 24 hours after, at the moment when no food should have been left in the stomach. This is due to the thickened muscles that prevent food from leaving the gastrointestinal tract.

It’s also likely that the vomit will contain undigested food in quite large pieces.

The best way to diagnose this disease is by analyzing when the dog eats and vomits. As soon as you notice any symptoms, you must take your pet to the vet so the dog can be given proper treatment. Depending on the case, your dog might be required to undergo treatment – either immediate or in time – or even surgery.

However, the good news is that the treatments and surgeries performed to loosen or remove the tightened muscles are very successful. Therefore, remember having that monthly check-up we talked about before done and everything should be just fine.

Now that you know what some of the common Boxer breed medical issues are, it’s time to take your dog to yet another check-up to make sure everything is fine and take care of the furry companion properly.