Originally bred to serve as a guard, the boxer has also found work as a hunting dog, circus performer, courier during wars, and as a seeing-eye dog. Today, of course, his most popular role is as the beloved family companion.

The boxer got his name from the way he uses his paws when fighting. Alert, self-assured and fearless, this is a dog that can distinguish a friend from a foe pretty accurately.

And indeed, the boxer is a popular dog—currently, the boxer is listed as the ninth most commonly registered breed of the American Kennel Club. This trend continues to grow: the number of registered boxers has grown from 34,998 in 1999 to 38,803 in the year 2000.

The boxer got his name from the way he uses his paws when fighting. Alert, self-assured and fearless, this is a dog that can distinguish a friend from a foe pretty accurately. Yet, he reserves his bark (and his mean right hook) for situations that call for it; among family members, the boxer is gentle and playful. He is especially protective of children.

According to AKC standards, the boxer should be a medium-sized, squarely built dog of good substance with strong limbs and a short, tight-fitting coat. He should show well-developed muscles under taunt skin. An acceptable height at the withers is within the range of 21 inches for a smaller female, and up to 25 inches in the male. The weight of the males can range from 65 to 80 pounds, with females weighing about 15 pounds less.

The short, close-lying coat comes in two basic varieties, fawn and brindle. The fawn may vary from a tawny tan to a stag red. Brindles can range from sparse, but clearly defined black stripes to a heavy striping with a small amount of the fawn background showing through. White markings should only enhance the dog’s appearance and be limited to less than one-third of the entire coat. In paintings and in popular culture, the boxer is well known for the expressive features of his head and face.

Like all animals that have been bred selectively, the boxer is predisposed to develop certain diseases, some of them quite serious. Dilated cardiomyopathy of the boxer dog is a progressive heart disease unique to this breed that can be particularly lethal, with many patients experiencing sudden death. Boxer cardiomyopathy is often heralded by an electrical conduction disorder within the chambers of the heart, which causes the heart to beat erratically. As the disease progresses the heart muscle thins and begins to contract inefficiently, which is termed myocardial failure.

With this disease, when the heart beats prematurely, an extra but ineffective contraction of the heart muscle—called a premature ventricular contraction (PVC)—occurs. This problem becomes quite serious when a number of PVC events occur together, and the heart is unable to achieve a normal contraction. Without the effective pumping of blood, the vital organs such as the brain and heart fail to receive an adequate supply. This will result in a fainting episode or syncope—and complete cardiac arrest, if the heart is unable to return to a normal rhythm. Other progressive complications may include dilation of the dog’s heart and congestive heart failure, respiratory distress, exercise intolerance, fluid distention of the abdomen, and coughing.

A diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmia may be made using a stethoscope if PVCs occur at the time that the heart is being ausculted. However, if the arrhythmia is erratic in nature, it would be easy for the abnormality to missed on a physical exam of an otherwise healthy dog. The problem is much more likely to be found with the use of a 24-hour electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. Heart enlargement and signs of congestive heart failure may be detected on routine x-rays of the chest, but documentation of myocardial failure requires a cardiac ultrasound or echocardiogram. Treatment of boxer cardiomyopathy is aimed at decreasing the frequency of the runs of PVCs, treating the signs of heart failure, and improving the quality of life. Some dogs may do well for years with heart medications but eventually succumb to congestive heart failure.

The cause of the disease is still poorly understood. Dogs are most commonly affected around the age of seven years but it has been reported in dogs as young as one year. Because of its heritable nature, dogs should be screened before being used for breeding purposes.

Dilated cardiomyopathy of the boxer dog is a progressive heart disease unique to this breed that can be particularly lethal, with many patients experiencing sudden death.

Another cardiac condition seen in the boxer is aortic or subaortic valvular stenosis, in which a fibrous ring narrows the aortic valve of the heart. This results in an increased workload for the left ventricle, a chamber of the heart, which has to pump oxygenated blood through the valve and into the aorta for distribution throughout the body. With this increased work, the muscle layers of the left ventricle become thickened over time. The high pressure of the blood flowing through the abnormally small valve results in a ballooning of the aorta, and the reduction in the amount of blood reaching vital organs can result in syncope and even sudden death.

Dogs with moderate to severe aortic valvular disease should be restricted from exercise. Medical therapy is often instituted in order to maximize the heart’s effectiveness. Surgery is not commonly used to treat this disease, but dilation using a balloon catheter may be recommended to reduce the severity of the obstruction.

Unfortunately, the boxer also seems to be affected by many forms of cancer. Lymphosarcoma, mast cell tumors, and squamous cell carcinomas are just a few that are commonly diagnosed. Boxers should be monitored closely by the owner for any masses on the body. Regular examinations by a veterinarian with diagnostics for abnormalities are critical for early detection and possible successful treatment for cancer.

Although bringing a boxer into your home may mean dealing with some heart-breaking diseases later on, it’s more likely that you’ll enjoy many happy years with this charming, sensitive dog.

Article republished here with permission from VetCentric.com
Copyright(c) 2000 by VetCentric.com