Epilepsy/seizure disorder

When your Boxer is between 2 to 5 years old, he may develop seizure disorder.

When he has an epilepsy attack, he’d be unconscious and may look like he is not breathing but he is. He is not suffering.

The information that would be important to your veterinarian regarding such episodes includes:

> Duration of the attack

> The type of muscular activity your Boxer exhibits during seizure

> Any abnormal behavior during the attack

> Frequency of the seizure

What you do in such instances is not panic and time the attack by actually looking at a watch or clock.

It may only take place for 30 seconds but may seem forever to you. You need a veterinarian if it lasts more than 5 minutes.

Emergency treatment is definitely called for if your Boxer goes into seizure for 10 minutes or longer, twice in the span of 24 hours, or if he has a second attack before he could completely recover from the first seizure attack.

Remain by your Boxer’s side; be there when he comes out of the seizure to calm him. Stroke and comfort him.

To keep your Boxer from hurting himself during the seizure, move away furniture from the immediate area and protect him from water, the stairs and any sharp objects. If you can, place a pillow under his head to protect him from head trauma.

Unlike seizure attacks in human, animals do not swallow their tongue. So you don’t have to put your hand or spoon or any other object into your Boxer’s mouth when he has an attack. You might get bitten.

Also, keep children and other pets away from your sick Boxer.

Coming out of the seizure, your Boxer will be groggy, confused and feel like he has done something wrong. He may make unusual sounds and stumble around.

Do not allow him on the stairs until he has fully recovered. In the mean time, sooth him by talking to him softly, offer him some water, stroke and comfort him.

And if he doesn’t recover fully after 30 minutes, consult your veterinarian or any emergency vet facility.

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Flea-infected Boxers

Flea-infected Boxers can develop skin diseases especially those allergic to fleas.

Black specs in the fur and bite marks on the skin tell if your Boxer has them. To check further, spread some newspapers and place your Boxer on top. Brush him and look for the black specs falling off.

Fleas live up to 6 weeks, feeding on blood and during that time would have laid hundreds of eggs that mostly land on your Boxer’s bedding, carpets and other favorable nests around your home.

The eggs hatch into larvae that seek nice, dark places while feeding on flea’s droppings, dust, human shed skin, dandruff and other such tasty morsels.

The larvae turn into hardy pupae that could survive for months before changing into adult fleas.

Fleas are host to tapeworms. Both problems are likely to occur together in your Boxer and, therefore, the treatments are also usually given together by the vet.

A bit of garlic a day may keep the fleas away from your Boxer.

Heart ailments

-Bradycardia or slow heart rate may be a symptom of thyroid disorder in Boxers.

-Dialated cardiomyopathy constitutes a serious, emergency case.

Your dog may collapse from it or the back legs have sudden pain and paralysis.

It is a serious heart condition whereby the heart muscle is enlarged and thin walled. Your Boxer will experience shortness of breath, coughing and can’t take to exercise.

Another serious heart condition is called cardiac conduction disease that is affecting Boxer’s longevity. It was previously known as Boxer cardiomyopathy but the new term is used to differentiate it from dilative cardiomyopathy.

Cardiac conduction is difficult to deal with due to 3 factors.

-One is many Boxers will not show any symptom (asymptotic) but will just drop dead suddenly from it.

-The Boxers develop this disease later in life, often after they have been bred.

-There was no good screening method for it until the one recently developed by Ohio State University researchers, called the 24-hour Holter monitor test.

However, there is still no assurance that Boxers “cleared” now from cardiac conduction disease by the Holter test will remain so in the future.

Many breeders and Boxer experts are now working to refine the test procedures, expand the database and come up with a guideline to select only, for breeding purposes, those Boxers with high probability of being free of the disease.

There are also concerns elimination of too many dogs from the gene pool would be bad for the breed diversity and could cause more problems in the future. Some opinions hold that extensive culling should only get done after more studies on genetic diversity in Boxers.

Hip dysplasia

This is a bone disorder whereby there is an improper fit of the large femur bone with the hip socket, causing lots of pain and lameness.

It occurs more in male

Cryptorchidism is peculiar to male dogs and a condition present at birth.

The testicle/s, which developed in the abdomen, fail to descend into the scrotum. The usually underdeveloped and non-functional testicle/s should be removed, as it could turn cancerous later in life.

If the condition remains after the puppy is more than 2 months old, then the chances are it will remain so permanently.

Eye ulcers, if caught early, are easy to treat. Late treatment can be expensive for you as well as painful for your Boxer.

Dermodicosis or non-contagious mange first appears as numerous patches anywhere on the Boxer’s skin. The hair will fall off, leaving bald patches in large areas, and the bald skin starts to break down, turning into crusty sores.

Atopy is itchy (pruritic) skin disease caused by allergy to something the Boxer breathes in or touch.

It cannot be cured and is the number two common allergic skin condition in dogs, after flea allergy dermatitis. Having fleas would make it worse for your Boxer.

A Boxer suffering from atopy would have itchiness particularly on the hands and feet.

He’d be chewing his paws, scratching his ears, shaking its head, scratching the muzzle or rubbing it on the ground. These same symptoms can also be brought about by food allergy.

Acne in young dogs shows as red bumps (papules) and blackheads (comedones) on the chin and lips.

Shorthaired dogs like Boxers are more likely to get them. And like in human, they start getting acne around puberty, but the problem would usually go away after one year old or so.

However, you may have to help with some topical gel medication similar to the one used by teenagers. Such lesions may become infected and develop pus, which becomes itchy for your Boxer and he starts rubbing his face in the carpet or against furniture.

Urinary incontinence in dogs can be due to a neurological lesion – something not normal with the parts of the nervous system that deal with urine regulation.

A Boxer with incontinence will dribble urine and if a neurologic lesion is the cause, then this has to be removed.

There are also other reasons not related to the nervous system like congenital defect and bacterial urinary tract infection, also known as bacterial cystitis or bladder stone.

If your Boxer leaves wet spots where he has slept and he has skin irritation from contact with the urine, then he may have incontinence.

However, wet spots around the house alone may simply mean that he drinks a lot more and needs to relieve himself often but you are not allowing him outside frequently enough. Straining while urinating and blood in the urine are two signs of bladder stone.

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Deafness

Boxer is among the more than 35 breeds of dogs on record to have hereditary sensorineural deafness.

The condition cannot be reversed with medications, surgery or hearing aids. Dogs also could become deaf from old age, toxicosis or infection.

How do you tell if your Boxer is deaf?

He doesn’t respond to spoken commands and only responds to you when he sees you.

He keeps shaking his head and pawing his ears or turns in the wrong direction when you call him.

He sleeps more than normal and would not wake up till you physically touch him.

But not to worry, you can still have a wonderful companion in your deaf Boxer through sign language.

Dogs have been known to learn as many as 65 command words in sign language. These include signs for, among others, “stop”, “potty”, “drop it”, “stay”, “lay down”, “sit”, “come” and “cookie”.

As extra measures, you want to keep the deaf Boxer in a safe environment as he cannot hear approaching dangers like an approaching car. So keep him on a leash and close to you when in traffic or out for walks.

On his nametag, add the word “deaf” so he will not be misunderstood if he ever gets lost. Some suggest putting a bell as well so you know where to find him if he gets lost.

And finally, if your Boxer tested positive for inherited deafness in one or both ears, do not breed him or her.

- Skin allergy
- Food allergy
- Cancer
- Hip dysphasia
- Bloat
- Heart ailments
- Hypothyroidism
- Fleas
- Worms

Knowing what they are will help you to better monitor your pet’s health and to gather the pertinent information, in case of an illness, that would assist your veterinarian to administer the correct diagnosis and treatment. Below are some common afflictions of Boxers.

Alapechia (Lost of hair on the trunk)

Seems to be more common in male Boxers.

One, which died at the age of 12 years and 4 months, was diagnosed with seasonal alopecia. “He used to go bald once a year but the hair always grew back on,” said its owner.

Bloat

Gastric torsion or GDV or bloat in your Boxer can be life threatening so bring him to the veterinarian immediately.

The stomach gets filled with air and twisting and this can happen suddenly. The symptoms include restlessness, drooling and nausea and the stomach is bloated (distended abdomen). Your Boxer may vomit and continue to retch but nothing would come out.

Cancerous and benign tumors

Boxers are highly prone to cancer.

So any time you see a bump on your Boxer, you should check it out. About 20 out of 100 cases are cancerous.

Watch out for both external and internal lumps, eye ulcers or cherry eye as they called it, as well as dermodicosis or skin sores.

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Mast cell tumors are malignant and they do not occur very often but can form either in the skin or within the body.

The related disorders reported along such tumors are round raised masses in the skin of your Boxer, lack of appetite, vomiting and abdominal pain. Check for tarry stools due to bleeding in the upper intestinal tract.

Boxers of any age can develop mast cell tumor but older ones, above 8 years, are more prone to it.

Never take tumors in your Boxers lightly, even a small one! The veterinarian would usually have them removed immediately because of their high susceptibility to cancer.

One owner noticed her Boxer had a bump the size of a mosquito bite that did not go away even after 10 days. The vet diagnosed it a malignant tumor and removed it the very next day. The owner felt so relieved that the tumor was removed before the cancer had a chance to spread.

Another owner found both his Boxer girls had lumps and had it checked out immediately. The vet removed the lumps due to their breed and the Boxers were all fine now!

Yet another owner was not so lucky.

“I have had the pleasure of raising two great Boxers but both passed away much too young of cancer. The last one, Nick, died one week after being diagnosed with anal cancer. It spread rapidly and he was only 7 years old!”

Original source: http://www.boxertopia.com/dog-health.php

PROTECT YOUR DOG FROM THE HEAT

Don’t leave your dog outside in the heat without proper water and shelter. It can cause heat exhaustion, stoke and even death. Dogs don’t have sweat glands, so they have to pant to cool themselves down, and more than 200 pants per minute is a warning sign.

Never leave your dog in a parked car. The temperature inside a parked car with the window cracked can quickly soar to 120 degrees, long before you can return.

KNOW WHAT TO DO FOR HEAT EXHAUSTION

Submerge or soak your dog in cool water as soon as you can. If you grab the hose to do this, make sure it’s running cool. Then wrap your dog in cool, wet towels as you get him or her to the vet as quickly as possible. Do this regardless of how you think your pet is doing. Heat stroke can be serious.

HEAT AND MOSQUITOES DON’T MIX

Dogs get heartworm from mosquitoes. Get your dog tested for heartworm, and administer the prevention. SNAP (Spay/Neuter Assistance Program) can test your dog for $10 and dispense the necessary preventative.

In the case of heartworm, never has it been more true that the cure can be worse than the disease, and that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Take action now. The treatment is very hard on the dog, and there are no guarantees.

LEARN TO MAKE YOUR DOG SMILE

There’s a great book out called “97 Ways to Make Your Dog Smile.” Author, Jenny Langbehn, a veterinary nurse, has some great ideas to get that back leg shaking. For instance? No. 1 is blowing bubbles for them to chase. No. 60 is hiding treats for them to find, like a shell game. Ear noogies? Why of course! Cute book.

MORE THAN 85% OF ADULT DOGS DEVELOP PERIODONTAL DISEASE

This is the most common disease affecting older dogs, and it usually is there by the age of 3, so start early. Buildup of tartar and plaque over the years can cause serious health problems. Dog biscuits aren’t enough; learn how to brush your dog’s teeth.

About the Author: Susan Dunn may be contacted at http://www.susandunn.cc or sdunn@susandunn.cc. Susan Dunn, MA, Clinical Psychology, certified Emotional Intelligence Coach, The EQ Coach™ . Coaching around EQ for relationships, career, resilience, transitions, personal and professional development. I train and certify EQ Coaches, therapists and managers. Susan is the author of numerous ebooks, including “How to Live Your Life with Emotional Intelligence,” “Depression,” and “How to Develop Your Child’s EQ.” she is widely published on the Internet, a syndicated columnist for WebProNews and Family-Content, and a regular speaker for cruise lines. (See “How to Get to Present on a Cruise.”) She offers home study programs through her distance learning school.

Choosing a Boxer dog health information guide before or after buy a puppy is good to keep your Boxer healthy strong. This wonderful breed need daily exercise to the development his bones and muscle mass.

Avoid allowing sedentary habits to develop as healthy activity will contribute to maintaining good alignment, prevent obesity, and will help prevent posterior complications.

Active games with your buddy, will not only maintain his form, but will also be some of the happiest time of his life.

The short coat of the breed doesn’t need much work on your part: brushing a few times per week will to promote the exfoliation of the dead skin cells and will help them maintain healthy skin. The brush to use  should have strong hard bristles such as ruber but shouldn’t be made of metal. First brush against the growth of the hair (from the tail to the head, from belly to back, and from the paws all they way up the legs), and later brush with the growth of the hair.

Boxers shouldn’t be bathed very frequently, and should be protected from the cold as soon as the bath is finished, and even more care should be taken if they are puppies. Luke warm water should be used and the bath should be given in a well heated area (in winter) then well dried with towels and then with a hair dryer (on low heat!).

During the warm months baths should be given in the fresh air. After each bath it is nice to apply a drop or two of olive oil in each eye to protect them from the eventual irritation caused by the soap or shampoo and in both auricular pavilions corks of cotton will be placed not very small avoiding therefore the arrival of water to the ears.

Eyes:  The eyes of Boxers will typically accumulate a goopy substance in the surrounding wrinkles which intern attracts and traps dirt and if not cleaned regularly can emit a distinct odor.  Cleanliness in this area can be maintained with the application of boric acid powder, which should be left to work for a couple of minutes to later be removed by a moist cloth.

Ears: To maintain the cleanliness of the ear and ear drum special prepared solutions can be used. Alter applying the solution use a Q-tip to gently remove the remaining liquid and ear wax. It is also very important to verify the state of the ear drum to make sure that there is no presence of ear mites.

The Boxer Dog Nose: Many times the nose will become very dry irritating the skin.  When this occurs it is advisable to apply baby oil to hydrate the nose.

The Boxer Dog Teeth: At birth puppies don’t have teeth, they start developing at around 15 days of age. One is the calls milk teeth, since its fall takes place between the 3 to 5 months of age, to be replaced totally towards the 6 to 7 months by the definitive teeth. During this period you might offer a puppy a chew toy (that can not be swallowed or broken) to start working on.  When a dogs’ teeth have fully matured, daily tooth brushing can prevent the build up of plaque, just like in humans.  If the veterinarian is to find that there is a large amount of plaque that accumulates in the dogs’ mouth, he should take charge; otherwise it will jeopardize the integrity of the teeth and gums.

The Boxer Dog Nails: A dogs’ nails consist of two parts, one alive which is irrigated and contains a nerve, and when cut will bleed and hurt, and a dead part that needs to be trimmed regularly.  If the dog has a white nail, both parts can be differentiated and thus cutting reference can be taken from the part that is not white.  In the case that the nail might not be white, it is advised to cut slightly below the pad of the paw to be sure not to injure the dog.  It is also possible to maintain an optimal length by filing them with metal file.  In case the nail bleeds, it can be cauterized with iron sulphate.  The cutting the vein and artery these can prevent this occurrence as well.