Giving up on the breed. Boxers need help

[porpulane]

After recently losing my 9 1/2 year old boxer named Dino to cancer. I can't help but to think about getting a different breed next time around. Nine years goes by way to fast.

I still have one of Dino's puppies (Molly) whom recently turned 8 yrs old. Obviously cancer runs in her blood line. I can't imagine losing her as well in the next 2 years, and I know I will. She is the lumpiest and bumpiest dog I have seen and it's just a matter of time before one of the lumps shows up as cancer.

I LOVE the breed but, it doesn't last long enough for me. Does anyone actually breed for health??? Or is it just for looks??? Breeders need to start taking agressive action against this big killer of boxers. The breed needs help. Why is it so dominate in boxers? When you type in a search engine, 'cancer and canine' , a picture of a boxer or boxer info comes up.

Does Europe have the same problems in there boxers as the American breeds??? I've always heard 'America has ruined all the breeds and Europe doesn't have all the problems we have'. Is that true???? Can anyone help or answer these questions??

 

[Austin's Mom]

I can't answer that question, but I agree boxers don't live near long enough. If it's not cancer it some kind of heart issue. Austin is my first boxer, and before finding BW I had no clue of the health issues. He's 9 and has already had cancer twice, but if I were to get another dog, (which I'm not even sure I will because I will be so terribly heartbroken when I lose Aus) I can't even imagine it being anything but a boxer. There's just something about their personality and being almost humanlike and their ability to make you laugh every single day. I'm a huge animal lover, and love all dogs, but it will never be anything else but a boxer for me.

 

[JulieM]

Boxers do have their share of problems, and there absolutely are breeders breeding for health - but cancer is a tricky thing. There are no tests to screen for it, and it is not always genetic. Some families may be predisposed to cancer, but if the dogs aren't exposed to certain environmental triggers it may not develop. Pets who live with smokers, for example, have higher rates of some cancers. Chemicals, pesticides, pollutants, etc. etc. are known carcinogens in humans and pets - and pets generally have a lower exposure threshold to these things. Vaccination has been linked to cancer in cats, and while I doubt any 'official' groups will admit it, it would make a great deal of sense to me that a dog eating a food preserved with a carcinogen (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin) would be more at risk of cancer - the levels in the food may be 'safe' as fed once, but I can't imagine they'd really be safe for a dog eating that amount twice a day, every day, for ten years.....

I'm not sure about continental Europe, but in the UK in general Boxers are longer-lived - due in large part, I would imagine, to the lower levels in general of environmental toxins and pollutants, as well as less widespread use of commercial dog foods. I'd expect the same, if not better, in Australia and New Zealand.

I've almost given up on the breed a number of times myself, and still may, but not because of cancer; it's the heart problems that distress me, and the lack of any truly effective means at this point of minimizing their occurrence in the breed. When you do everything 'right' and still end up with affected dogs, it's tough to justify going on.

The people at the Broad Institute Dog Genome Project are searching for genetic markers to many Boxer conditions, including several types of cancers. If you'd like to help the cause by submitting blood samples for DNA, information and instructions can be found here (there are more diseases being studied than listed on the page):
http://www.americanboxerclub.org/suki.html

You can also donate samples to the CHIC DNA Repository, where they will be stored until requested for future research:
http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/dnabank.html

(And I should note, lest you really think that Boxer breeders aren't doing anything about these issues, that the American Boxer Club's Charitable Foundation, supported in the vast majority by Boxer breeders, is consistently the largest single donor of any Club to the AKC's Canine Health Foundation, which funds research on canine diseases, and has been since the CHF's inception in 1995. In that time, the ABCF has sponsored 29 studies, 20 of which concern cancers. More information, including a list of research projects by breed, can be found at http://www.akcchf.org)

 

[kljarvis]

I agree, the heart problems and the cancer are very distressing. I have never dealt with anything like that with an animal, except hearing stories on here. I do hope that someday they can make a difference in the breed, but I also hope that scientists can make a difference in humans too. I was diagnosed myself in 2005. I just hope and pray I never have to deal with it for Hank. I would rather have 2,4, 6, 8 years with my Hank than none at all.

 

[catcrazy56]

I was thinking that myself but I would rather have 6 years with a boxer then without one!!!

 

[liamsmom]

as heart breaking as it was to lose our first boxer at 12 years old to cancer.
he left behind a deaf white sister and she was so lonely that we had to get another boxer. so our new rescue boy came home a month later. and 5 months later.....another rescue boy.
now we have three.
I don't think we will ever be without a boxer.
yes.......sometimes their lives are cut short by illness. but the joy they bring to us, our home and everyone who knows them is priceless.
even if their time with us is short........that's ok.
it gives us a chance to open our hearts to another.
i'll never give up.

 

[SILLY6PAK]

Sorry for your loss. It sounds like you did some backyard breeding and got what often results. I am 45. I have had Boxers as a child on. The only Boxer that died befor the age of 12 was hit by a car.

With the exception of our rescue (Rex) all have come from respondsible, health tested breeders. Nothing is a guareentee with any dog, or any breed.

Whatever you choose this time do so wisely. Spend time and money on a good breeder.

 

[Maxwell's Ma]

I will always have a boxer. I know there are risks but what they give us is amazing. They are the best dogs we have ever had.

 

[porpulane]

It sounds like you did some backyard breeding and got what often results. QUOTE]

Are you serious? Dino was my first dog and yes, I shamefully admit, I was uneducated at the time and bought her from a pet store. What's weird is I've never had to take her to the vet in 9 1/2 years (except for shots/heartworm). She has ALWAYS been beautiful and healthy........until she got the cancer.

My problem child Molly, whom has 14 champions in 5 generations has cost me well over $10,000 in vet bills over the last 8 years.

I'm not sure if I exactally agree with your statement without seeing the hard facts and statistical studies that have been done on this topic.
Has anyone on this board done a survey of sorts comparing;
BYB, Puppymill & Breeder vs. age at death and cause??

 

[ELubas]

Sorry for your loss. It sounds like you did some backyard breeding and got what often results. I am 45. I have had Boxers as a child on. The only Boxer that died befor the age of 12 was hit by a car.

With the exception of our rescue (Rex) all have come from respondsible, health tested breeders. Nothing is a guareentee with any dog, or any breed.

Whatever you choose this time do so wisely. Spend time and money on a good breeder.

While I agree the BYBs are contributing to the devastating health problems in boxers I have found that many times proper screening is still not being done by folks who should know better. My word of caution is get the test results and check out the longevity of thier lines-do not take anyone's word for it regardless of thier experience in breeding, titles, etc. My heartbreak has been heart disease but the cancers are equally prevalent and scary. But, like others here, I just can not give up this breed-I love them so