I'm sorry to hear of the sudden loss of Tug. It's always difficult to lose a pet so young.
I'm sorry to say that it isn't rare at all. Cardiomyopathy (specifically "boxer cardiomyopathy" or arrythmic right ventricular cardiomyopathy) is one of the most common conditions that boxers are known to suffer from. It is a genetically inherited disease, and one that all responsible breeders should be screening for prior to considering breeding their dogs. There is some information on cardiomyopathy, and also on aortic stenosis (the next most common heart condition in boxers - which is also genetic) on our health information page here at www.boxerworld.com/health_testing
sanford7 said:This is from what I understand very rare and not something seen often. It can occur with no warning or symptoms, which unfortunately was Tug's case.
I'm sorry to say that it isn't rare at all. Cardiomyopathy (specifically "boxer cardiomyopathy" or arrythmic right ventricular cardiomyopathy) is one of the most common conditions that boxers are known to suffer from. It is a genetically inherited disease, and one that all responsible breeders should be screening for prior to considering breeding their dogs. There is some information on cardiomyopathy, and also on aortic stenosis (the next most common heart condition in boxers - which is also genetic) on our health information page here at www.boxerworld.com/health_testing