Considering a Boxer?
The boxer is thought by many to be the ideal family dog. Those who love the breed know them to be exuberant, loyal and loving companions. They are NOT, however, the ideal breed for everyone. The same qualities and characteristics that endear them to those who love them may make them unsuitable for some households. To those who are considering owning a boxer we offer the following information - not to discourage potential loving owners, but to aid them in making a conscientious decision. Owning a boxer is a joy - acquiring one demand a true commitment to the physical and emotional health of the dog.
One of the primary characteristics that must be taken into account when considering a boxer is the high energy level common to the breed. Boxers are lively, active dogs, and may be too boisterous for some households. The proper balance of rest and exercise is essential.
Boxers are extremely "people-oriented" and have a great need for human companionship. Those who receive insufficient attention may resort to "bad" behavior in an attempt to gain it.
The boxer is a HOUSE dog. While they may enjoy regular play and exercise outdoors they are not suited for outside living. Their short coats cannot protect them from long exposure to cold temperatures and their short muzzles make them susceptible to extreme heat.
The boxer is a natural guardian of his home, but should NOT be purchased solely for that purpose. ALL dogs require intensive training in order to perform properly as protection animals. Only those with absolutely sound temperaments are suitable.
As with any breed, obedience training is essential for a well-mannered, disciplined companion. Boxers are an intelligent, clever breed. It is important to remember that an intelligent dog can devise more ways of getting into trouble than a dull one. Boxers must be trained in a firm but fair manner - they do not respond well to (or deserve) harsh treatment.
The boxer's short, tight coat requires little grooming, however like most breeds, they DO shed, particularly in Spring and Fall. The degree of shedding varies with the individual. Some lines are prone to skin allergies.
Boxers are not wet mouth also known as drooling. Usually this is only when they have just finished drinking water. They may also snore.
The Official standard of the boxer calls for cropped ears. While many pet owners opt not to have this procedure, those who have their boxer cropped must be prepared to perform the necessary aftercare and taping to ensure the ears stand properly. This CAN be a lengthy process.
Finally, on the rather delicate subject of flatulence- the boxers digestion is sometimes less than perfect. Even when fed a high quality food, SOME may have rather frequent and, well-noxious episodes of passing gas. This, of course, varies with the individual and may not occur at all. ( Just don't say you weren't warned if it does. )
The Power of Nutrition
Puppies grow rapidly. At times during their rapid growth and development — until around 4 to 6 months of age — puppies require up to two or three times the amount of most nutrients and calories per pound of body weight compared to their needs as an adult dog.
The first food that a breeder introduces to new puppies should provide complete and balanced nutrition and be formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of growing puppies. With proper nutrition, puppies are more likely to develop properly with strong teeth and bones, healthy vision, a lustrous hair coat, and energy and vitality.
Though rapid growth in many breeds is finished by 6 months of age, puppies continue to grow and develop for several months longer depending on the breed or size of dog. During this period, their nutrient requirements per pound of body weight are greater than they will be as adults, and thus, they should be fed a diet formulated to meet these increased nutrient needs.
Large and giant breeds, such as the Great Dane, Saint Bernard and Neapolitan Mastiff, may not mature physically until they are nearly 2 years old; these breeds should be fed a lower energy growth diet for a longer period of time. In contrast, toy and small-breed puppies may mature before 1 year of age, and they have an increased energy need relative to their body weight.
Nutrient Balance
The nutritional health of puppies — just like adult dogs — depends on receiving the correct amounts and proportions of six essential categories of nutrients: water, protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. These nutrients — except for water — must be present in the proper proportion to ensure a puppy food is balanced.
“Though fat, protein and calcium tend to get the greater emphasis in puppy foods, every single essential nutrient is key, especially during the period of rapid growth,” says Purina Veterinary Nutritionist Dorothy Laflamme, D.V.M., Ph.D., DACVN. “Deficiencies in almost any essential nutrient can lead to changes that can compromise short- or long-term health.”
Feeding a complete and balanced puppy food is important for numerous reasons. Laflamme notes problems that can happen if nutrients are not balanced:
• A zinc deficiency can contribute to compromised immune function and skin abnormalities.
• Too little protein can cause disturbed growth as well as immune compromise and increased susceptibility to various stressor and infectious agents.
• Calcium in balance with phosphorus is particularly critical for large-breed dogs. Too little or too much can lead to skeletal problems.
Keeping Puppies Fit
Along with providing complete and balanced nutrition; puppies of all breed sizes need an appropriate amount of calories during growth. This is defined as the amount that supports normal growth but not excessive growth.
Excessive weight in large dogs that may be predisposed to developmental orthopedic conditions is a definite risk factor for these conditions. “When feeding a large-breed puppy, research shows that avoiding overfeeding may help development,” Laflamme says. “A breeder or owner should monitor a puppy’s weight, adjusting food intake as necessary to maintain ideal body condition.”
Just as in adult dogs, ideal body condition means the ribs are easily palpable, with minimal fat covering, and that the waist is easily noted when viewed from above. A puppy in ideal body condition has an obvious abdominal tuck when viewed from the side.
“Even pups not predisposed to skeletal problems should not be allowed to become overweight since fat pups often become fat dogs with increased risks for various health problems,” Laflamme says.
The Purina Life Span Study, conducted from 1987 to 2002, proved that a dog’s median life span can be extended by 15 percent — nearly two years for the Labrador Retrievers in the study — by restricting diet to maintain ideal body condition. Nutrition scientists also found that control-fed dogs allowed to eat ad labium tended to become insulin-resistant, a marker for onset of a number of late-life diseases.
A breeder or owner needs to keep in mind that puppy foods must be balanced in regard to expected intake, which is why the relationship between individual nutrients and the energy content of the diet must be in balance. “The idea is that once the puppy has consumed the appropriate calories, he or she will have met his or her need for all essential nutrients,” says Laflamme.
Some breeds and some individual puppies may have higher or lower energy needs compared to average. “In general, a puppy should be able to consume food in 10 to 15 minutes two to three times daily so that he or she gets all of the calories needed to grow at a healthy rate,” she says. “This should provide sufficient calories for healthy growth without excess body fat.”
“Portion sizes should be controlled, if necessary, to avoid excess calorie intake. Here, matching calorie density of the food is important to provide adequate satiety,” Laflamme says. “If a puppy eats everything offered and then seems hungry after or between meals, the energy density of the diet may be too high so that he or she is getting too little volume. On the other hand, if so much food must be provided that the dog appears bloated after meals or is losing weight, the diet may be too low in calories.”
Choosing the Right Food
Most breeders know exactly which puppy food they prefer. Sometimes if a puppy is not doing well on a food — losing weight, vomiting, or has excessively soft stool for more than a few days — you should try another, Laflamme advises.
With plenty of puppy foods on the market, it can be challenging to decide which one to try. “Assuming that each of these products is complete and balanced, and then the major differences are likely to be energy density and flavor or ingredient variety,” Laflamme says. “For the vast majority of dogs, the ingredient issue is not a factor for the puppy, but it may be for the owner. On the other hand, a few dogs may not fare well on one diet but do better on another. Generally, there is no pattern here, as it is based on individual variation.”
One thing to keep in mind, she says, is frequently switching foods is likely to create a pattern of pickiness and/or obesity in a puppy. “Beyond that, the key is to select a complete and balanced puppy food that matches the energy needs of the puppy,” Laflamme says.
ABOUT THE BOXER
Breed Characteristics: The Boxer shows fearlessness and outstanding courage; it's self-assured, high spirited, energetic, and alert. The Boxer shows affection and loyalty to its owner, and loves children.
General Appearance: The Boxer is a medium-sized, square built dog with a short back, strong limbs, and short, tight-fitting coat.
Height, Coat & Color: Adult Males stand 22.5 to 25 inches at the withers. Adult Females stand 21 to 23.5 inches at the withers. The boxers coat is short, shiny, lying smooth and tight to the body. The colors are fawn and brindle. Fawn shades vary from light tan to mahogany. The brindle ranges for sparse, but clear defined black stripes on a fawn background, to such a heavy concentration of black striping that the fawn background color barely shows (aka. reverse bridling). White markings should enhance the dog's appearance, but may not exceed 1/3 of the entire coat.
Character & Temperament: The boxer is somewhat of a "guard dog", bring alert, dignified and self-assured. With family and friends his temperament is fundamentally playful, yet patient with children. Deliberate and wary with strangers, the Boxer will exhibit curiosity and fearless courage if threatened, yet responds promptly to friendly jesters. The Boxer's intelligence, loyal affection, and tractability to discipline make it a a highly desirable companion.
FOR BOXERS (AND THEIR OWNERS.)
(by a non-veterinarian Boxer lover who does dog sports in hot weather)
First of all, you might ask your vet in your area if they have any specific recommendations to help prevent your Boxer from the effects of heat stress.
Here in Southern CA, we have almost no indoor dog facilities, so those of us who are active in dog sports end up taking our Boxers out in the hot weather for dog shows, training, and just for fun. While there are some dangers in
doing this, we have learned, over the years, how to diminish the risks to our Boxers.
For those of you in cooler states, you need to remember that your Boxer, who is used to cooler weather overall, can overheat faster when your weather warms up because they are not used to it. So, in summertime or unseasonably
warm weather everywhere, it is a good idea to be prepared.
First, what happens to dogs in hot weather?
As we know, people 'sweat' as their form of respiration (cooling off), and may breathe more heavily.
Dogs do not have the same kind of sweat glands. They PANT, and they have some sweat glands on the bottoms of their paws, but that's it. Bracecyphalic dogs, like Boxers, have a shorter nose, and often, additional flesh inside their mouth and throat which makes their respiration less efficient. In other words, Boxers overheat more quickly than many other breeds of dogs, and this is very important to bear in mind. Weather that might not be too hot for another dog, MIGHT be too hot for your Boxer. High humidity may make it harder for your Boxer to cool off, too.
So, how can you get your Boxer safely through hot and humid weather?
1.) Lots and lots of cool, fresh drinking water, available at all times for the dog, in the house or in the yard. If the weather is hot, and your Boxer is digging, it might be due to heat stress. This is an important time to help your Boxer cool off NOW! A child's wading pool filled with water is a great idea for many Boxers.
2.) A place to cool off. A dark, quiet place with a fan, drinking water, a cool mat to lie on, or again, the child's wading pool in the yard. You can buy a 'cool mat' from most pet supply places or you can make one from wet towels.
3.) A 'wet coat.' Again, you can buy these at dog shows or from pet supply catalogs, but you can make one from a wet terrycloth towel or a chamois. Place the wet, wrung out 'wet coat' over the dog.
4.) NEVER leave your Boxer unattended in a car, truck or backyard. Especially without water and/or shade. Even on cloudy days, the temperature can rise quickly in a closed car. And even on cloudy days, the humidity can be too much for your Boxer.
Fine tuning...more prevention: Again because we have to learn to deal with heat as a constant in Southern
CA, we have learned a few tips over the years to help our Boxers deal with the heat.
Nupro Custom Electrolyte Formula for Dogs: This is like Gatorade for humans. It replaces the electrolytes that your Boxer loses in panting when overheated. You can get this at your pet food store or some pet supply places (like JB Wholesale, who always carries it). Some people use infants' and children's Pedialyte, which could work in an emergency. However, do NOT give your Boxer Gatorade, as it tends to make the dog's stomach crampy and that's the last thing you need if your dog is feeling heat stress. You can give the Nupro electrolytes in food daily and in water. It really helps my Boxers tolerate the heat better.
Vitamin B Complex: My wonderful Southern CA vet recommends up to 100 mg for an adult Boxer per day in hot, humid weather. This helps your Boxer deal with stress (and heat stress is a form of 'stress') better. I simply crush
it into my Boxers' food.
Honey: Honey has a lot of vitamins and minerals, so it helps to restore lost electrolytes like Nupro or Pedialyte. However, it isn't as powerful, but it can help prevent heat stress. Add it to food, or take a squeeze bottle with you that is just for your Boxer if you need to be out in the heat and humidity.
Doggy Air Conditioner's: You make these yourself by freezing water in the 1 or 2 litre Coke bottles or other large soda or water bottles. Put in a crate or small room with your Boxers, these provide cool air as they evaporate, and cool drinking water. Several will keep your Boxer nicely cool for several hours.
Splash water on the bottom of their paws, ears, private parts, and tummies. This helps to cool them down.
How to tell if you're Boxer is overheating?
Rapid panting, with tongue hanging out, and a tight look around the eyes. The Boxer's sides are heaving.
A Boxer who does not ordinarily dig, who is digging, and who is very dirty. This Boxer is trying to get to cool ground to cool it's body off.
A Boxer who when drinking water, shoves its head up to the eyeballs and tosses water over it's back.
Your Boxer's ears and gums and pink or white parts get very RED.
Your Boxer is becoming uncoordinated (loss of electrolytes).
Okay, so you've provided water, a cool place, shade, and fortified your dog's diet against heat stress, exhaustion or heat stroke, and still your Boxer is in distress. What to do?
First, call your vet and tell them what has happened. Follow whatever directions they give you. If you cannot reach a vet, do everything you can to get your Boxer's temperature down. If you can, put your Boxer in a bathtub of cool water. In the meantime, splash water on the bottoms of their paws, tummies, private parts, and ears. IF your Boxer is conscious or still responding, give them water to drink. If they are panting too hard to drink the water, trickle just a little in their mouths. Not a lot or they might choke. You might place ice packs on their chests and underbody areas. Keep trying to contact your vet in the meantime. Depending upon how severe the heat stress/exhaustion is, your Boxer may be shocky and may well need medical attention.
Summer is our fun time, and should be...With our wonderful Boxers, it can be a lot of fun, if you just take a few precautions.
WARNING!
Is your boxer having a surgical procedure or
Needing to be tranquilized?
MUST READ!
If you are considering ear crop!
Acepromazine
There is one drug used in anesthetic protocols that should not be used on the Boxer. That drug is Acepromazine, a tranquilizer that is often used as a preanesthetic agent. In the Boxer, it tends to cause a problem called first degree heart block, a potentially serious arrhythmia of the heart. It also causes a profound hypotension (severe lowering of the blood pressure) in many Boxers that are given the drug. Recently on the Veterinary Information Network, a computer network for practicing veterinarians, an announcement was placed in the cardiology section entitled "Acepromazine and Boxers". This described several adverse reactions to the drug in a very short time span at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital. All the adverse reactions were in Boxers. The reactions included collapse, respiratory arrest, and profound bradycardia (slow heart rate, less than 60 beats per minute). The announcement suggested that Acepromazine should not be used in dogs of the Boxer breed because of a breed related sensitivity to the drug.
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Further warning from a boxer breeder and veterinarian:
This drug is the most commonly prescribed tranquilizer in veterinary medicine. It is also used orally and is prescribed for owners who want to tranquilize their dogs for air travel. I would strongly recommend that Boxer owners avoid the use of this drug, especially when the dog will be unattended and/or unable to receive emergency medical care if it is needed.
- Wendy Wallner, DVM December, 1995
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If your vet needs more than your word that you do NOT want your boxer treated with this drug, tell your vet to refer to their "Handbook of Veterinary Drugs". Every vet has one. Tell them to go to the section on ACEPROMAZINE. In this section (1993ed) They will find this information:
"Prolonged effects of the drug may be seen in older animals. Giant breeds, as well as greyhounds, appear quite sensitive to the clinical effects of the drug, yet terrier breeds appear more resistant. Boxer dogs, on the other hand, are predisposed to hypertensive and bradycardia effects of the drug."
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When you first take your boxer to a vet (or to a new vet), for any kind of treatment have them write in red on the outside of the patient record "NO ACE". Be firm! If they refuse to do this then I would immediately remove my dog and find another vet.
Don't be fooled by an uninformed vet...this is a matter of LIFE AND DEATH!
