Health Issues
Aortic Stenosis
All breeds have their own baggage of genetic problems and boxers are no different.
Heart murmurs have found to be common in boxers, it should be said however that these do not affect the health in the great majority of dogs (which is around 95%)
The few dogs with loud murmurs can be subject to fainting and possibly sudden death.
Aortic Stenosis is a heart condition most commonly associated with heart murmurs, but cases of Pulmonic Stenosis and Cardiomypathy, as found in other breeds has also been found.
It should be STRESSED that "minor flow" murmurs are commonly found in younger boxer puppies, as in other breeds, but most disappear by around 16 weeks of age.
Should the murmur be present after 16 weeks of age there is no cause for alarm if they are quiet. Such genuine flows are not considered to be associated with heart disease in adult dogs.
The incidents of boxers with severe aortic Stenosis has increased in recent years although compared to the number of boxer puppies being bred the number is quite low.
To keep this problem under control the Boxer Breed Council have with the aid of veterinary cardiologists throughout the country developed a system of testing based on a simple stethoscopic examination by the cardiologist, establishing a breeding control with healthy heart tested stock.
Therefore should a heart murmur or any heart condition other than the genuine puppy flow be recognised in a boxer, it should be referred through your vet to one of the cardiologists?
The Breeder and the Breed Council should be informed.
Dependant on the findings, the condition may be treatable.
This is why, when considering buying a boxer puppy, for your own satisfaction and peace of mind, you should be able to see whether or not the breeder has carried out the relevant testing on their breeding stock.
True heart readings are not usually given until the puppy is about 12 months old, this is not something that is normally done by your vet but they usually put you on to the specialist in this particular field. The cost of this testing is around £25.00 on which you receive a certificate stating what heart scoring your puppy has with the results posted on the Boxer Breed Council register.
The scoring is then used in the breeding programme, ensuring that mating takes place between healthy heart tested stock.
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