How to Choose a Vet

[bairosk]

I'm pretty new to BW and I have a lot of questions! I don't quite have a boxer yet, my pup isn't ready to leave his litter until August but I'm preparing for him now. I was wondering if anyone can give me tips on choosing a veterinarian. Luckily I'll be in the city where the Ontario Veterinary College is so I have lots of vets to pick from! My breeder gave me a few tips such as finding out how familiar he is with boxers, is she willing to accept personal choices regarding heartworm meds, are they willing to follow a specific vaccination schedule, etc. One thing he also advised me about was to ask if the vet is aware of potential problems with boxers and anesthetics. I'm not quite sure what he means. Do boxers have some sort of problem with anesthetics? If anyone can give me some more tips, that'd be great! Thanks

 

[boxer]

Not exactly anasthetics, but sedatives. The boxer breed has a known sensitivity to a particular sedative - Acepromazine. In boxers, this is known to cause severe lowering of blood pressure and can result in respiratory arrest, heart failure and consequent death. Ace (as it is widely known) is probably the most commonly prescribed sedative for dogs, and is often used pre-anasthetic. Obviously, this is a drug that should not be given to boxers under any circumstances. Not all dogs will react badly to it - but the way to find out if yours is one is when it dies or not on the operating table... And dogs may react that way to the drug even if they've had it before without incident.

Here is a link to the veterinary warning on the American Boxer Club's website: http://www.americanboxerclub.org/ace_boxers.html

The issue with vets is that not all of them will accept that there is a problem with the use of Ace on boxers - despite that sensitivity being recorded in veterinary drug textbooks. Some will insist they've never had a death yet (want to risk yours being the first?), others that it is just a matter of dosage. That is why your breeder has, very sensibly, advised you to shop around and find a vet that either is already aware of the issues with the use of this drug in brachycephalic breeds like the boxer, or who is open minded enough to be given the information and NOT use that drug on your dog (they have no right or business insisting anyway). There are, of course, perfectly safe alternatives such as valium.