Aortic Stenosis in Boxers: Physiology

Image by HeartBabyHome via Flickr
This is the first part of a series of articles on aortic stenosis in Boxers. Further articles will be posted shortly.
 
Aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aorta, is one of the most common cardiac diseases in all dogs. This narrowing may lead to exercise intolerance, fainting, and in severe cases death. Aortic stenosis is not uncommon in Boxers, but screening of breeding dogs has decreased the incidence of the disease in the breed.

Dog Toy Review: Cuz the Walking Ball

Whether your dog is a little devil or an adorable angel, there's a Cuz rubber squeaky dog toy that's just right for him. These toys are fashioned of thick-walled, heavy-duty rubber and finished with a long-winded squeaker. This is the one toy that every dog in my house loves to play with. (A warning--the squeakers are LOUD--and the Good Cuz is much higher-pitched than the Bad Cuz.)

Dog Nails: Keeping Your Boxer's Toenails Trimmed

Trimming your Boxer's nails can be a stressful experience for both you and your dog. Early exposure to trimmers and grinders can help, as can frequent, regular exposure throughout the dog's life. Start your Boxer puppy out with weekly toenail trimming sessions, and you'll have a far better chance of avoiding a wrestling match when you want to do your adult dog's nails.

How Much is That Doggy in the Window?

One of the questions you'll have when searching for a puppy is, "How much should I pay?" While it's a valid concern, it shouldn't be your first consideration--and in fact, many breeders are understandably turned off when it seems the only thing a person is interested in is getting the cheapest puppy they can find. You are not buying a toaster--you're buying a living, breathing creature that ideally will be part of your life for a decade or more. Take some time finding breeders who breed responsibly, health test the parents of their litters, and will stand by their dogs for life. Get to know them and find out if they're even someone from whom you'd want to purchase a puppy (and meanwhile they'll be getting to know you, too). If you're comfortable with them, then you approach the subject of price.

Coat Colors and Marking Patterns in Boxers

The Boxer breed is derived from early mastiff-type dogs used in hunting on feudal estates. Historical documents and drawings show that those early dogs were either fawn or brindle, with or without black masks. In the 1830s, English Bulldogs were crossed with Barenbeissers, the Boxer's immediate ancestors, which introduced white markings covering some or all of the body. Today, Boxer breed standards around the world list Boxer colors as fawn and brindle, consider the black mask an essential part of the breed, and allow white markings not to exceed 1/3 of the body.

What Do Pedigrees Tell Us?

A dog's pedigree is like a family tree - it lists his parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so forth for however many generations are listed.  Pedigrees give you the registered names of the dog's parents and ancestors as well as what titles, if any, they obtained. Often, pedigrees list other information about the dogs such as dates of birth and death, health registry listings, color, etc.

News You Can Use

Several Iams and Eukanuba dog foods have been recalled due to a possible salmonella contamination. The foods are sold in specialty pet stores and vet clinics in the US and Canada. Owners are advised to throw away the food and contact Procter & Gamble, the parent company for Iams and Eukanuba, with questions and for a product refund. Read more in my National Boxer Examiner column.

Locally, Western Michigan residents are watching the effects of an oil spill in the Kalamazoo River. Latest news is that the spill has been contained, though some are skeptical of these claims. Residents are still advised to avoid the area as much as possible, and to stop any water activities including using Kalamazoo River water for watering lawns, plants or animals. Some homeowners in Calhoun County, near the origin of the spill, are under a voluntary evacuation recommendation due to benzenes in the air. Read more in my Detroit Boxer Examiner column.

Thunderbolt and Lightning: Very, Very Frightening

Summertime is also thunderstorm time, which can mean fear and anxiety for your Boxer. Dogs can develop a thunderstorm phobia at any age, and for several reasons. For most, the noise is the problem; behavior modification often helps these dogs. Other dogs react to the changes in the atmosphere that accompany a storm, either the electrical charge in the air or the barometric pressure. Hands-on therapies may be more helpful for these dogs; pressure wraps, TTouch, and massage can help your Boxer relax during a thunderstorm. Some Boxer owners report success using melatonin, Rescue Remedy, or other flower essences. Quite often a combination of remedies provides the best solution.

Boxer Basics

If you are not too familiar with this breed, I'd like to introduce you to the Boxer as it should be.  If you’ve already owned a Boxer, you’ll recognize the unique set of traits that make this wonderful, intelligent breed a family favorite.