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5 TOP BOXER DOG HEALTH ISSUES:
Number 1: Deafness in White Boxer dogs
When purchasing an adorable white boxer be cautious that 20% of them can be deaf!
Number 2: Boxer Cardiomyopathy or Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
Boxer Cardiomyopathy is a genetic disease in 40% of Boxer Dogs and generally will develop in mid age dogs around 5 to 7 years old. This disease causes the heart muscle to be replaced with fat and scar tissue which causes electrical instability inside the heart resulting in irregular beats or arrythmias. This is very hard to detect on a physical exam at the vet because these beats can become irregular at random times of the day and then be normal the rest of the day.
The dangerous arrythmia that comes with Boxer Cardiomyopathy is called VPCs or Ventricular premature complexes which are early abnormal heart beats.
A diagnostic tool that cardiologists use on Boxers is called a Holter monitor. This is a 24hr ECG worn at home to evaluate the heart rate and rhythm during a normal day. PROGNOSIS: Many boxers with ARVC can live a normal life with a veterinary cardiologists help!
NC state does have a DNA test that can check if your boxer carries the genes responsible for this disease.
Number 3: Degenerative Myelopathy
This is a genetically inherited disease causing a neurological condition Similar to Lou Gehrigs or ALS disease in people, that begins with hind end weakness and develops into full paralysis due to degeneration of the myelin sheath surrounding neurons in the lower body and brain. The onset is typically around 6 to 9 years old.
There are genetic tests that can be done to see if your boxer carries both genes or if they are a carrier. Carriers wont develop the disease. Unfortunately there is no treatment for DM. Most dogs with DM are humanely euthanized within 1 to 3 years of developing the disease.
Number 4: Mast cell skin tumors and internal tumors in Boxer dogs
Mast cell tumors are seen in the boxer breed more than any other breed that exists!They most commonly appear on the skin and look like raised lumps that can be hard or soft. A classic thing mast cell tumors do is change in size. This is again because they are made of those reactive mast cells which flare up and down depending on how angry they are.
Mast cell tumors can be benign or malignant. So any Boxer owners who notice a lump on their dogs skin should get it removed asap to prevent any issues. Your veterinarian will send the tumor out for analysis to see its grade which ranges from 1 (low potential to metastazise) and 3 high potential.
The average age Boxer dog owners find mast cell tumors is 8 years old.
Treatment involves surgical removal with good margins, followed by radiation or chemotherapy if needed.
This mainly depends on the grade of the mast cell tumor and where it is located. In regard to location, prognosis is best for those on the limbs. It is poor for those found on the genitals, muzzle, mouth, and nail bed area of the paws. It is very poor for those found in internal organs or in bone marrow.
In regard to the grade, for grades I and II that were fully removed, the success rate of no recurrence within 3 years is 90 to 95%.
Number 5: Hypothyroidism
A study at Michigan state university found that Boxer dogs are in the top 5 dogs diagnosed with Autoimmune thyroid disease or Hypothyroidism. This is a hormone imbalance disease where dogs have low thyroid levels due to an autoimmune disease destroying the thyroid tissue by causing inflammation in the thyroid gland called Thyroiditis.
This disease again develops when the dog is older around 6 years old, but some young dogs can still get it but that is rare.
Clinical signs include: Flank Alopecia (or hairloss along their sides), Weight gain and obesity, Your Veterinarian will do Bloodwork to test for Hypothyroidism by checking your dogs thyroid levels to see if they are alarmingly low.
Thankfully there is medication for dogs with Hypothyroidism that allows them to live out their normal lifespan!
Currently there is no genetic test for this.
Alright guys, I hope you enjoyed this video and learned a ton!
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