There is one drug commonly used in anesthetic protocols that should not be used in the Boxer. The drug is Acepromazine, a tranquilizer, which is often used as a preanesthetic agent. In the Boxer, it tends to cause a problem called first degree heart block, a potentially serious arrhythmia of the heart. It also causes a profound hypotension (severe lowering of the blood pressure) in many Boxers that receive the drug.

Recently, on the Veterinary Information Network, a computer network for practicing veterinarians, an announcement was placed in the cardiology section entitled "Acepromazine and Boxers." This described several adverse reactions to the drug in a very short time span at a veterinary teaching hospital. All the adverse reactions were in Boxers. The reactions included collapse, respiratory arrest, and profound bradycardia (slow heart rate, less than 60 beats per minute).The announcement suggested that Acepromazine should not be used in dogs of the Boxer breed because of a breed related sensitivity to the drug.

WARNING: 

This drug is the most commonly prescribed tranquilizer in veterinary medicine. It is also used orally and is prescribed for owners who want to tranquilize their dogs for air or car travel. I would strongly recommend that Boxer owners avoid the use of this drug, especially when the dog will be unattended and/or unable to receive emergency medical care if it is needed.

Wendy Wallner, DVM July, 1997

[MTBR addendum: There is a warning about this drug's effect on Boxers in the Handbook of Veterinary Drugs , which every vet has.]

HEART
Boxer Cardiomyopathy - An explanation of this deadly disease, its
                                      diagnosis and treatment.
Ventricular Arrhythmia in Boxers - Another explanation of Boxer
                                                       Cardiomyopathy.
Sub-Aortic Stenosis (SAS) - Another common heart disease in Boxers.
Boxer Heart Murmurs - a handout sheet for Boxer puppy owners.

CANCER
Cancer in Pets - Very general information.
Cancer Tutorial - More detailed information.

BLOAT and GASTRIC TORSION
Bloat - A description of the condition.
Bloat First Aid - Good advice if you suspect bloat in your dog

ALLERGIES
Pets Suffer from Allergies,Too
Canine Allergy - Good general information about types of allergies in dogs and their treatments. 

DEAFNESS -(A problem sometimes encountered in white boxers)
White Boxers and Deafness - Perhaps a little detailed, but interesting.
This article states that 40% of white boxers coming into rescue are deaf,
thus implying that 40% of white boxers are deaf. We believe the incidence
is much, much lower. The higher figure for rescue boxers is due to the fact
that deaf dogs are more likely to come into rescue than those who are not
deaf. Actual percentage is probably 15%-20%.
White Boxer Pages - A wealth of information about white boxers.
White Boxers - A nice little article about white boxers.
"Teacher" - A wonderful story about living with a deaf white boxer.
Dizzy & Bertie's Deaf Dogs Info Site - Another great resource site.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Common Conditions in Older Dogs
   the Senior Dogs Project  - Great source for information
                                             about older dogs.
   Arthritis
   Cushing's Syndrome - Excellent description of the disease, its
                                        causes and treatments.
   Senility - Yes, dogs can get senile, and it can be treated.
   Urinary Incontinence - Excellent article by Wendy Wallner, DVM.

Anesthesia - Sooner or later, our pets are going to need some sort of
       surgery, whether it is spaying/neutering, dental cleaning, taking
       x-rays, removal of suspicious lumps, or as a result of trauma or illness.
       Here is a brief discussion of various types of anesthetic drugs. It is
       important to find out what type your vet uses, so you will know what to
       expect. The link is to an article on ear cropping and tail docking, so
       scroll down a little to find out about anesthetics.

Dog First Aid Kit - It's a good idea to have everything you might need for
       an emergency ready to grab at a moment's notice. This website gives a
       list of things you should keep on hand. It would be a good idea to print
       out the page and show it to your vet prior to the emergency need.
       He/she will tell you the appropriate dosages for your dog, and may add
       other items to the list.

Considerations for Winter
Disaster/Emergency Animal Resources
Head Tremors
Household Medications for Pets  
    Ibuprofen - Extremely toxic to dogs. Read this dog owner's story.
Obesity in Pets
Underweight Pets - This recipe is guaranteed to put weight on your
                               dog, and dogs love it!
National Animal Poison Control Center - Costs $45 for a consultation, but
                               in an emergency, isn't your pet worth it?
The Dangers of Antifreeze
Plants Poisonous to your Pooch - Self-explanatory
Stings - Dogs, like people, can have allergic reactions to bee, wasp and
             other insect venoms. If you notice that your dog appears to have
             a swelling (usually on the face) or hives, call your vet. Most vets
             will advise administering Benadryl (1 mg/lb). If the swelling does
             not subside, or gets worse, or if your dog has trouble breathing,
             take the dog immediately to the nearest vet or emergency vet.
Parasites - Heartworm, fleas, ticks, earmites and sarcoptic mange.

DISEASES CAUSED BY PARASITES:
      Canine Heartworm Disease - Explanation, prevention and treatment

We do NOT recommend the use of ProHeart 6, the six-month injectable
heartworm preventative. There have been some serious bad effects in many
dogs, including deaths, and until this new preventative has been around for
quite a bit longer, we highly recommend sticking with the tried and true monthly
heartworm preventative HeartGard.

For statistics on adverse effects of ProHeart 6 during one study, click here.
For an article that will make you think twice about ProHeart 6, click here.

      Mange mites - Demodectic Mange
                             Sarcoptic Mange
      Ticks - Many tick-borne illnesses are extremely dangerous and can
                  be fatal, both to humans and dogs. Dog should be treated
                  with tick repellent (currently Frontline is the most popular
                  choice), and any ticks that are found should be removed
                  immediately. Tick-borne diseases are notoriously difficult
                  to diagnose, and prompt diagnosis and treatment are
                  essential to successful recovery. If you find a tick on your
                  dog, watch the site of the bite carefully and be familiar with
                  symptoms to note.
                  Several good websites are:
              Deer tick - Lyme Disease
          Brown Dog Tick - Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
                                        - Ehrlichiosis
       Fleas - Fleas can actually be the carriers of extremely serious
              diseases, such as the plague . For most pet owners, however,
              the major concern is that the flea will infect the dog with
              tapeworms or cause the dog to have (often severe) allergic
              reactions. Even if the dog does not have flea allergies , fleas
              are terribly uncomfortable for the animal, and can easily be
              controlled these days by topical treatments such as Frontline or
              Advantage . Flea dips can be very dangerous to dogs, and are no
              longer recommended as the treatment of choice.

       Worms - Dogs can get several type of intestinal worms (most commonly              
              roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms), which can do
              serious damage if not treated. Although they can sometimes be
              seen in the dog's stool, this is not always the case. Usually,
              worms are diagnosed when your veterinarian finds worm eggs
              in a stool sample. Because of the damage intestinal worms can do,
              it is important to have your dog checked at least annually (more
              often, if your dog has been diagnosed with worms already). Do
              not ever use over-the-counter dewormers that are found in pet
              stores!  Without knowing exactly what worms your dog may have,
              you may be giving your dog an unnecessary, or even dangerous,
              treatment. Most common symptoms of worms are weight loss, hair
              thinning, dry hair, diarrhea or vomiting. Always consult your vet
              if you suspect your dog may have worms. 
              Canine Worms: Watch Out for Worms
              Worms and Your Dog

       Giardia - Giardia is now common in most areas of the country, except
               dry regions. Areas with heavy wild mammal populations are
               especially at risk. Dogs (and humans) can pick up giardia in
               contaminated streams, or even on moist ground that has been
               contaminated. It can be extremely difficult to diagnose
               accurately, but fortunately, the treatment is not dangerous, and
               can be given without definitive diagnosis if all else fails.
               Symptoms are continuing diarrhea, often bloody or with mucus,
               and abdominal pain.
               Managing Giardia in the Carrier Dog

        Coccidiosis - Fairly common in puppies, coccidia are picked up from                   
               contaminated ground. They are detected in fecal samples.
               Animals with coccidia usually have watery diarrhea, sometimes
               bloody. If not treated, coccidiosis can be fatal to a young puppy,
               through dehydration.
               Coccidia and Coccidiosis 

Kennel Cough

Skunk - Sooner or later, many pets encounter skunks. Here's a foolproof
            way to eliminate the skunk odor safely.
Odor Control
Sunburn - One boxer owner recommends using a product called
                "Waterbabies SPF45," which is sold for use on children. Also,
                Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Sunblock has been mentioned as
                effective.

PRODUCTS TO AID HEALTH
A bed for incontinent dogs - It's about time!
Make your own orthopedic bed

OTHER GENERAL BOXER HEALTH SITES
Common Boxer Medical Information - What should a normal dog's
       temperature be? Why does my dog have spasms of snorting? What are
       the most common dog diseases? What parasites might my dog get?      
       General information about 'normal' dogs.