The Boxer dog is one of the most common breeds in both the UK and the USA; consistently featuring in the ‘Top 20 most common dog breeds’. They tend to be docile yet playful dogs, loyal to their owners, and can make great family pets. However, with the cost of owning a pet currently at the forefront of many people’s minds with the ongoing CMA investigation into veterinary fees, are Boxers a breed that could potentially be a regular visitor to the local surgery and do they get many health problems?

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How healthy are Boxers overall?

It goes without saying that nearly every disease can affect nearly every dog. There is no such thing as a perfectly healthy breed. Yes, some individual dogs (and their owners) are lucky enough to go through their whole life without falling ill, just as some dogs appear to get almost every illness going. A lot of it comes down to ‘nature vs nurture’. Through years of experience and research, we now know that certain breeds have a genetic susceptibility to certain diseases. Boxers are no different and have a number of conditions linked to their breed. These are by no means exclusively Boxer problems and occur in plenty of other breeds too. But certainly for some of them, Boxers are over-represented as an affected breed. 

If you were to ask a group of vets what they most commonly see Boxer dogs for, the most regular would probably be heart disease, cancers and conditions related to their facial structure such as BOAS (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome) or eye ulcers.

Heart disease

Heart disease encompasses a huge variety of different disorders of the heart which ultimately can all lead to heart failure. However, there is one heart condition that is nearly exclusively seen in Boxers. ARVC or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, otherwise known as ‘Boxer cardiomyopathy’. With this, the muscle of the right ventricle of the heart is infiltrated with fatty tissue; meaning it can no longer function efficiently.

This leads to an arrhythmia known as VPCs (ventricular premature complexes) where the ventricular muscle contracts independently of the normal electrical stimulation. A run of VPCs together  is known as ventricular tachycardia as the rate of the heart beat can exceed 400 beats per minute. The problem is that these are not effective heart beats so the blood is not expelled from the heart properly. Therefore the brain can be starved of oxygen. This can lead to the most common symptom of ARVC – fainting, or syncope. In severe cases, if the ventricular tachycardia doesn’t subside during an episode, death can occur. 

Studies have indicated that 40-50% of Boxers will carry the gene that can cause ARVC. It most commonly develops between 5 and 7 years of age. 

Boxers have also been found to have an increased risk of aortic stenosis; a narrowing of the very top of the left ventricle of the heart, just below the aortic valve which leads into the aorta itself. This can lead to abnormal blood flow within the heart which is heard as a heart murmur. 

Cancer

Unfortunately the ‘Big C’ is not exclusive to Boxers. But again, as a breed they are over-represented and seem prone to developing various types of tumour. In fact, in one study carried out in 2016, neoplasia was seen in over 14% of Boxers and was the leading cause of death in the breed. Lymphoma, mast cell tumour, brain tumour and skin haemangiosarcoma are the most common types seen. 

BOAS

BOAS stands for Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome. A condition where in short-nosed dogs, due to the severely shortened skull, the soft tissues are squashed and can become obstructed resulting in increased upper airway noise, increased risk of airway infections and severe breathing troubles. This is unfortunately due to selective breeding and affects dogs such as pugs, French bulldogs, Pekinese and Boston terriers. There is surgery available to help open up the nostrils and shorten the soft palate but this cannot cure the condition. 

Ocular conditions

Because of the shape of a brachycephalic skull, alongside the breathing troubles, Boxers can be prone to developing ocular conditions such as eye ulcers. This is because the eyes tend to be more protruding and more likely to dry out as the eyelids don’t always completely close over the surface. Eye ulcers in boxers can be frustrating to treat as they can develop into non-healing, or indolent ulcers, specifically called SCCEDs – spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects. Eye ulcers are notoriously painful and even once healed, can recur again. 

Oral conditions

Another issue related to the shortening of their skull is that along with other brachycephalic breeds, they can get oral problems such as dental disease and gingivitis. This is because they have the same number of teeth as every other dog breed, but in a relatively smaller area so the teeth tend to be very crowded or crooked. They often get gingival hyperplasia too and can sometimes develop benign growths on their gums called epuli. Neither of these problems are unique to Boxers but they are one of the more common breeds to suffer with them.

Ear conditions

Traditionally white Boxers are thought to have a relatively high incidence of deafness but the definitive research is currently lacking. However, there is evidence that Boxers are over-represented when looking at the number of dogs that suffer with ear infections. The reason for this could be because anecdotally, Boxers seem to have quite narrow ear canals, making then more prone to developing infections. The same is often true of other brachycephalic breeds. 

GDV

GDV stands for gastric dilation and volvulus, also known as bloat, a condition more common in deep-chested breeds like the Boxer, where the stomach fills with air and then twists upon itself. This is a life threatening situation and often the dog’s only hope is to undergo emergency surgery. Like a number of the conditions already mentioned, this isn’t exclusively seen in Boxer dogs but because of their body shape, they can be prone to it. The symptoms to look for are unproductive retching, being very uncomfortable, restlessness and bloating of the abdomen. 

Osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia

Osteoarthritis is probably the most commonly dealt with veterinary condition seen in UK practices. Many underlying joint problems can eventually lead to osteoarthritis, a common scenario seen in Boxers, where the breed is over-represented for hip dysplasia. Their relatively heavy bodies and large chests can put extra pressure on already diseased joints; exacerbating the inflammation and pain and progressing the condition. 

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is an endocrine disorder where the body doesn’t produce enough of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. Thyroxine is required to maintain the body’s metabolism and effective organ function and a lack of it can lead to lethargy, weight gain and hair loss. Research has shown that Boxers are around ten times more likely to develop hypothyroidism than would be expected on average. 

Juvenile kidney disease

There is a form of developmental kidney disease that is seen in Boxers aged between 4 months and 3 years, though the incidence is low – around 0.1%. The specific genetic link has not been identified but there is ongoing research and owners are encouraged to be on the lookout for suspicious symptoms – young dogs that may drink a lot, urinate a lot, are lethargic and may fail to thrive. 

Are they really that unhealthy?!

Although this seems like a lot, there isn’t a dog breed in the world that doesn’t have a predisposition to something. Through responsible breeding and Kennel Club health schemes, the incidences of some of these conditions can hopefully be reduced. In association with Boxer breed clubs, the Kennel Club are engaged in research into juvenile kidney disease, heart disease and BOAS. They are also monitoring research into cancers, skin disease, eye conditions and thyroid disease and are keen to develop a formal heart scheme for the breed. 

Pros for the breed

The Boxer temperament means that they can make brilliant pets, but their known health problems require the right owners to ensure they can care for them appropriately. The hope is that in the future and through responsible breeding, the risks of these diseases can be decreased and therefore a new chapter of the breed can begin. 

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