How doomed are we?

[Kerry Jane]

Yes, 0VPCs is indeed a good thing.
However, even with champions, they have not necessarily had their hips checked.

Preferably you would want a puppy that had all of the appropriate tests done. However, I agree that heart problems are by far the bigger issue, because heart problems kill. I personally haven't heard of much in the way of hip problems amongst the show population of boxers here in the US. So, from my perspective, although hips would be nice, they are not essential, whilst the heart tests absolutely are.

Good luck with your search!

 

[ashp]

Just one more quick question (I promise): Can you heart test puppies?

 

[gmacleod]

Yes and no... but that's not the issue

Yes, you can (and should) have a vet listen to a puppy's heart to see if a murmur exists. If it does, then you face waiting a few months to see if the pup just grows out of it, as many do. And if it doesn't, then a trip to a cardiologist is in order to determine how serious the murmur may be, and what may be the cause. The most likely issue in this case is aortic or sub-aortic stenosis.

BUT: There is a second heart condition that boxers suffer from, and it's more common in North America. That's a condition commonly known as "Boxer Cardiomyopathy" (for obvious reasons) and which is technically Arrythmic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy. This will not be picked up by a vet listening to the dog's heart - it's not an audible murmur you're looking for, but premature ventrivular contractions (PVCs). In order to identify ARVC, the dog needs to wear a device known as a holter monitor for 24 hours. It's not worth doing on a puppy though ARVC commonly develops only once the dog is 3-6 years old. That's why the holter monitor is an annual test for breeding stock, not a one-off. Obviously, the more 'clear' years of history a dog has, the more confidence you can have that they aren't going to develop the disease and thus won't be passing it to offspring.

Incidentally, the minimum recommended age for screening is 12 months for AS/SAS and 24 months for ARVC. Like hip xrays, testing earlier can tell you that the disease already exists (if it does), but it cannot give any confidence that the disease won't later appear. Those age guidelines are there for a reason

And so, likewise, testing a puppy can also tell you if a heart condition is *already* evident. But it can give you no clue at all as to whether or not it will develop in future. The best indication you can have of that is whether or not the *parents* carry the disease and can therefore pass it on. That's why it's the parents that need to be tested.

 

[ELubas]

Just one more quick question (I promise): Can you heart test puppies?

Usually your vet will check for any murmur activity, which many puppies have and sometimes they just go away. Absent any other symptoms it has been my habit to ultrasound them at a year, but I am pretty paranoid. My boy started collapsing at five months so he is tested with a holter every year. My last girl died of BCM at three with no warning so I am overly cautious. I just tested my one year old and she is clear of disease so I will not retest her for some time as long as there are no idicators. The first warning would be a murmur that does not go away so you want to be sure you have a vet with a "good ear"-my one year old was deemed murmur free by my regular vet but my cardiac vet picked up a low grade murmur. So, yes, you could test, but I would not go to the expense on a baby boxer except for ascultation if there are not other indicators or famliy history. Good luck. I am jealous of anyone who gets to get a baby boxer

 

[BostonMommie]

I totally would NOT buy the dog. The moderator said it all. Seriously, I could not bring myself to buy a dog from a BYB or from a puppystore. I do dog rescue (specifically Boston Terriers though), and so I see the products of too many dogs.
Another thing that could go wrong with a poorly bred dog is temperament. I wouldn't want an 80# dog with attitude problems either.
My advice: don't buy that dog. Do your research and find a reputable breeder. It will be WELL worth the wait.