Some of the known Boxer
health Issues
Boxers can suffer from a number of different ailments and conditions. Some of these are diseases that reputable breeders are fighting to wipe out, and others we don't know the true cause of yet. Some of these are:
1. Boxer Cardiomyopathy
2. Aortic/Subaortic Valvular Stenosis: AS/SAS
3. Degenerative Myelopathy
4 Hypothyroidism
5. Cancer
6. Brain Tumors
7. Bloat
What is Boxer Cardiomyopathy? It is a condition where there are abnormal heart rhythms involving the main blood pumping chambers of the heart. It is caused by an electrical conduction disturbance which causes the heart to contract too early, which means that the heart produces an extra, non effective beat. When a large number of these non effective beats occur close together the heart muscle cannot produce a normal effective contraction, and that results in a lack of blood flow to vital organs including the brain and heart. This in turn produces a seizure like or fainting episode. A prolonged sequence of these non effective beats can also lead to complete cardiac arrest. It is believed to be an inherited condition. This is another reason that health testing breeding stock is so very important.
There is some evidence that Cardiomyopathy can be helped through dietary supplementation. This is NOT to say that these supplements should be used in lieu of veterinary medicine, but rather that they may help in treatment in conjunction with veterinary medicine.
Some forms of cardiomyopathy may be caused by dietary insufficiencies of:
Calcium
Protein
Selenium
Niacin
Thiamin
Magnesium
It has also been found that a shortage of Vitamin E can leave the heart vulnerable to damage.
Some supplements that may help in the treatment of cardiomyopathy are:
CoQ10 - 120 - 360 mgs a day taken in doses of no more than 180 mgs (for people) most people see improvement in 4 weeks, although some may take as long as 3 months. Maximum benefit will be achieved by 6 months ( some researchers recommend 2 mgs per each kilogram of body weight for people, which is 0.9 milligrams per pound of body weight) Some important things to note about CoQ10 are that it works best when taken with a fat, so give it with some peanut butter. Also, it should be noted that the soft gel capsules are much more effective than the dry capsules. CoQ10 is very safe, even at high doses. There are a few (less than 1% statistically) that may experience nausea when taking CoQ10.
Selenium - It should be noted first that selenium is toxic when too much is given! It can be dangerous to supplement with selenium. Because of that, I wont advise giving it. It can be found in some of the cardio complexes that can be purchased. It can also be found naturally in foods such as herring, mackerel, cod, tuna, beef, lamb, pork, chicken liver, American cheese, molasses, and mushrooms, so I feel that you can supplement your dogs diet with these natural sources of selenium much more safely than giving a chemical supplement.
Vitamin E - 800 IU daily for dogs over 2 years of age. 400 IU for dogs under 2 years of age.
B-Complex Vitamin - B-Complex contain thiamin and niacin. It is a water soluble vitamin so it is safe to give as any excess will be excreted out with urine. For small dogs use the regular B-Complex. For medium dogs use high potency B-Complex (B-50's). For large dogs use the High Potency Stress Formula (B-100s)
Jasmine wears a holtor monitor to test for Cardiomyopathy.
Sonny is not thrilled to be wearing the holtor again.
Aortic/Subaortic Valvular Stenosis is another heart defect. A fibrous ring of tissue below the aortic valve causes a narrowing, which in turn causes the left ventricle to work harder to pump the necessary amount of blood. The increased workload can cause a thickening of the left heart muscle. It also increases the pressure in the heart since the blood is being forced through an opening that is too small. The increased pressure can cause the aorta to balloon, and the reduced flow of blood can cause fainting, and even sudden death. This is also believed to be an inherited disease.
Here are some other supplements that are not specific to heart issues, but may be beneficial to your dog:
Vitamin C - under 2 years 250 mg twice a day, over 2 500 mgs twice a day
Evening Primrose Oil - (gammalinolenic acid) - anti inflammatory and promotes the growth of hair, skin and nails. It may be good for skin conditions , arthritis, and autoimmune disorders. It takes 6-8 weeks to see changes after adding it to the diet. Small to medium dogs : 500 mg once a day. Large dogs 500 mg twice a day.
Ginko Leaves - can increase blood flow to the brain. Dogs with nervous system disorders give 1 capsule twice a day
Ginsing - (for males only) - there are two kinds of ginsing. Oriental (Panax ginsing) and American ( Panax quinquefolium). Oriental ginsing has been shown to increase the blood pressure of some people, so it is advised that only American ginsing be used for dogs. Ginsing works on the pituitary - adrenal axis. It increases resistance to stress and affects metabolism , skin and muscle tone, and hormonal balance. Ginsing probably has little to offer young dogs, but may increase vitality in older dogs. Dosage would be 1 capsule of American ginsing once or twice a day in dogs over 6 years of age
Dong Quai - is a Chinese herbal remedy derived from the root of Angelica sinensis, which is a large plant that is a member of the carrot family. It is a general tonic for women and the female reproductive system. It is a good remedy for female dogs that lack energy. Dosage would be 1 capsule once or twice daily for female dogs over the age of 5.
Siberian Ginsing - Siberian Ginsing is derived from the root of a large spiny shrub (Eleutherococcus senticosus) that grows in Siberia and Northern China. Although it is a relative of true Ginsing it has completely different properties. Siberian Ginsing reduces physiologic responses to stress. Some scientific investigations suggest that it increases physical performance and endurance and improves immune function. Dosage: 1 capsule twice a day.
Degenerative Myelopathy is a degenerative neurological condition which results in progressive spinal weakness and paralysis. Signs include a loss of coordination in the hind legs. The dog may wobble or drag its feet. It generally results in rear leg paralysis in 3 to 6 months, foreleg paralysis in another 3 to 6 months, and respitory failure roughly 3 to 6 months after that. This is a particularly heart wrenching disease, because the dog is not mentally affected and still wants to do all the things he could do before. He is still happy. The cause of DM is still unknown.
Hypothyroidism is caused when the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough hormone. The thyroid is the gland that is in charge of regulating the bodies metabolism. It is often caused when the dogs own antibodies attack and destroy the thyroid. Some of the signs of hypothyroidism can be: hair loss, weight gain or obesity, excessive pigmentation of the skin, lethargy, itchy skin, pus filled lesions, inflammation of the ear, crusts, scales, cool skin.
Boxers are also prone to different cancers. One of the most common is mast cell tumors. On the plus side, boxers tend to hand MCTs better than other breeds, but these should be removed as soon as possible. Other types of cancer can happen as well. Shayna has had surgeries to remove mast cells. One of her surgeries resulted in some complications in healing. You can see her road to recovery at the following link, but please be aware that the photos are VERY graphic. If you have a weak stomach, I wouldn't advise going to this page. Shayna Surgery Page
Boxers and other brachyocephelic dogs can be prone to brain tumors known as gliomas. These tumors start in the supporting cells in the brain and as they grow they cause the compression and death of the brain tissue around them. They can be slow growing, or very aggressive. They most often occur in older boxers, and the signs can vary depending on the size and place of the tumor, but they can include seizures, behavioral changes, circling, general clumsiness, head tilting, rapid flicking of the eyes, difficulty swallowing, and unsteady walking.
You might ask, with all of these health issues, and others that haven't been mentioned, why would you want a boxer? Because of the huge personality and warmth of the boxer. It isn't something that can be explained. It must be experienced. Once you have been owned by a boxer, there simply isn't any other breed. There have been people who have tried to switch breeds to avoid the heartache, but have come back to the boxer. When asked why, they reply simply that their new dog just wasn't a boxer.