Hello. We have been considering adding another boxer to our family. We currrently have my Lilly who is now fifteen months. She is incredible. We are considering a white male boxer pup who is currently nine weeks old. Neither one of his parents is white and when I spoke to the breeder she would only place him in a home with limited registration which works for us. We are not inteding to use him for breeding and Lily is spayed. I've read and heard all kinds of stories regarding health problems in white boxers. Can you guys give me some input? Are they more suseptible to health problems? Any info is appreciated.
White Boxer Health Concerns
- Thread starter LillyBear
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No, white boxers are not more susceptible to health problems than their coloured littermates.
There are a couple of issues to be aware of - but these are the only ones. First, white boxers - due to their lack of pigment cells - are significantly more likely to be deaf than coloured boxers (perhaps up to 20% of them). However, IF a puppy is going to be deaf due to being white, he will be deaf by about 3 weeks of age - certainly by the 8 week mark when he's ready to be rehomed. So this is a known quantity (and deafness in dogs isn't that big a deal anyway). To reiterate - if he is not deaf by the time you bring him home at 8 weeks, he will NOT later become deaf (or at least, not because he is white).
The second issue with whites is sunburn. Actually, any white areas on coloured boxers are equally vulnerable, as both arise from lack of pigment. And sunburn for dogs, just like for people, can lead to skin cancer - which in turn can spread to become other sorts of cancer. However, just like for people, this is completely preventable via the use of sunscreen. So with appropriate care in the sun, a white dog is at no greater risk than a coloured one.
There are a couple of issues to be aware of - but these are the only ones. First, white boxers - due to their lack of pigment cells - are significantly more likely to be deaf than coloured boxers (perhaps up to 20% of them). However, IF a puppy is going to be deaf due to being white, he will be deaf by about 3 weeks of age - certainly by the 8 week mark when he's ready to be rehomed. So this is a known quantity (and deafness in dogs isn't that big a deal anyway). To reiterate - if he is not deaf by the time you bring him home at 8 weeks, he will NOT later become deaf (or at least, not because he is white).
The second issue with whites is sunburn. Actually, any white areas on coloured boxers are equally vulnerable, as both arise from lack of pigment. And sunburn for dogs, just like for people, can lead to skin cancer - which in turn can spread to become other sorts of cancer. However, just like for people, this is completely preventable via the use of sunscreen. So with appropriate care in the sun, a white dog is at no greater risk than a coloured one.
MypupShooter
Boxer Booster
Stella is healthy as can be and she's white 
I'd say the only difference between a white boxer and a coloured (aside from the above) is the tough task of trying to keep them white!
Can't wait to see pics of your little guy if you get him!
I'd say the only difference between a white boxer and a coloured (aside from the above) is the tough task of trying to keep them white!
Can't wait to see pics of your little guy if you get him!
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