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Boxer Dog Health (Part 1):
Top Ways How to Keep Healthy Boxer Dogs
"I've learned that it's important to act quickly on health issues with our dogs."
Boxer Dog Health: Who doesn't want to keep their boxer happy and healthy? Surely not you.
When you're a boxer lover, you want the best for your dog... and that includes good health, of course. This 3-part article will give you some starting tips on keeping your boxer healthy and how to handle common emergencies, but you may also want to read more about our book, "Keeping Your Boxer Dog Healthy" here.
Some General Tips for Boxer Dog Health
Here are some general tips to help you keep your boxer dog healthy...
- Feed him a balanced diet.
- Give an occasional yogurt treat.
- Ask your vet about giving boxers calcium tablets as they could have some problems later on in life!
- Keep him comfortable, so his immune system can remain strong.
- Boxers are shorthaired and sensitive to extreme elements of the weather so do not make them stay outside full time. Their shortened muzzles also make hot and humid weather uncomfortable for them.
- Give boxers lots of regular exercise.
- Remember that he is a big and strong breed and requires physical outlets for his boundless energy and high play/prey drive.
- Walk them three times a day or have play sessions. Provide plenty of space for them to bounce around. You want to keep their spirit up and not break it or they won't be the dogs you fall in love with in the first place. Healthy and happy boxers are a joy to live with.
- Make a breeder your friend. Keep in touch with the breeder who sold you the boxer. The breeder can advise you about care and health matters that are unique to the breed. Any boxer breeder, for that matter, can be an invaluable ally to you throughout your boxer's life.
Following these boxer dog health tips on a regular basis can make a big difference in whether you have a healthy boxer dog... or not.
Boxer Dog Health Medical Terms You Should Know
Familiarize yourself with at least some of the following boxer dog health terms, so you can "talk the talk" with your boxer's veterinarian.
| HEALTH TERM | DEFINITION |
| Alopecia | Hair loss |
| Aortic stenosis | Narrowing of a heart valve |
| Atopy | Itchy, allergic skin disease |
| Axonopathy | Disease of the nervous system |
| Bacterial cystitis | Bladder stones |
| Bradycardia | Slow heart rate |
| Calcinosis cutis | Calcium deposits in the skin |
| Cardiac conduction | Heart ailment related to irregular heart beat |
| Cardiomyopathy | Heart ailment |
| Cherry eye | Eye ulcer |
| Comedones | Blackheads/acne |
| Cryptorchidism | Undescended testicle |
| Cushing's syndrome | Adrenal gland disorder |
| Dermodicosis | Non-contagious mange |
| Dilative cardiomyopathy | Enlarged and thin-walled heart muscle |
| Eye sclera | Mucus membrane in the eyes |
| Gastric torsion/GDV | Bloat |
| Hip dysplasia | Genetic disorder of the hip bones |
| Hyperadrenocorticism | Overactive adrenal gland |
| Hypothyroidism | Underactive thyroid gland |
| IBS | Irritable bowel syndrome |
| Incontinence | Poor control of urination |
| Intervertebral disk disease | Spinal cord disease |
| Mast cell tumor | Malignant tumor |
| Oral mucosa | Mucus membrane in the mouth |
| Papules | Red bumps/acne |
| Polydipsia | Increased water consumption |
| Polyphagia | MIncreased appetite |
| Polyuria | Increase urination |
| Syncopal episode | Fainting spell |
Knowing Which Boxer Dog Health Problems to Look For
Boxers, unfortunately, are prone to several potential health problems such as:
- Acne
- Alopecia
- Atopy (Skin allergy)
- Bloat
- Cancer
- Cryptorchidism
- Dermodicosis
- Eye ulcers
- Deafness
- Epilepsy (Seizure disorder)
- Fleas
- Heart ailments
- Hip dysplasia
- Hyperadrenocorticism
- Hypothyroidism
- Intervertebral disk disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Kidney problems
- Progressive Axnopathy
- Urinary Incontinence
- 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.
To read about each of these ailments and how to deal with them, continue to Part 2 of Boxer Dog Health...