If you have a boxer dog or are thinking of adopting this breed of dog, you should be aware of some of the boxer dog health problems that can afflict this breed and effect the quality of life for your dog. All breeds are predisposed to certain genetic problems and the boxer is no exception. While many remain healthy and happy their whole lives, there were five genetic conditions which affect boxers that you should be aware of.
Corneal Dystrophy
Health
Corneal dystrophy affects the cornea of the dogs eye. With this disease, the cornea becomes uneven which can cause corneal ulcers. These ulcerations can affect the dog's vision and in severe cases can cause blindness. It's important that you are aware of this condition so that you can be on the lookout because in some cases surgery can correct it.
Hip Dysplasia
Dysplasia is one of the boxer dog health problems that is shared with many other large breeds. This is a problem where the hip joints don't form properly eventually causing a lot of pain and many times causing the hip joints to give out and not be able to support the dog. You should watch your dog closely for this because if you catch it very early, your Vet may be able to do something, unfortunately, it's usually too late to do anything by the time symptoms appear.
Aortic Stenosis
This condition happens when the aorta becomes constricted lessening the blood flow throughout the body. This can cause your pet to seem to tire easily.
Boxer Cardiomyopathy
This is perhaps the most serious boxer health problem we will discuss in this article. Boxer cardiomyopathy causes your dog's heart to beat in an odd way. It doesn't really have any symptoms and can be fatal for your dog. Furthermore, it is often missed in a routine exam so if you have a boxer you should ask your vet to specifically look for this problem.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism effects are boxer just like it does people and symptoms can include stunted growth, basic lethargy, skin conditions and loss of hair. Luckily, just like with people, your vet can prescribe medication that will help your dog's thyroid function normally and restore him to good health.
These are the main boxer dog health problems associated with the breed, however there are many health and care issues that affect dogs in general. As a responsible pet owner, you should make yourself familiar with any health problems that might affect your dog so that you can be on the lookout for symptoms and have a good chance of a cure by treating the problem only on.
Boxer Dog Health Problems That Can Affect Your Pet's Quality of Life
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