| Did you know that Boxer dogs can suffer from a | | | | going up, reluctance to jump or stand on hind limbs; |
| life-threatening disease called hip dysplasia? Many of | | | | swaggering movements, and so on. |
| us may be surprised why this kind of disease can | | | | Some owners opt for surgery or even a total hip |
| affect our pet dogs, but this is really true. Not only | | | | replacement for a complete recovery from dysplasia. |
| humans can have hip dysplasia; dogs can have it, too. | | | | Complication, however, can oblige the removal of the |
| Hip dysplasia or hip arthritis in layman's term, is a | | | | implants. There are also non-surgical methods for |
| legacy disease passed through the genes and can | | | | treating hip dysplasia such as pain medications, weight |
| also be acquired through some environmental factors. | | | | loss programs, controlled exercise, and physical |
| Most often, loose-hipped Boxer dogs that mate with | | | | therapy. These methods can be very effective in |
| one another will give birth to a dysplastic Boxer | | | | some cases. However, these treatments do have |
| puppy. | | | | their limitations, too. |
| Obesity is also a risk factor for the development of | | | | In order to reduce the incidence of hip dysplasia on |
| arthritis. Obesity in dogs is usually caused by dog | | | | Boxer dogs, careful breeding is the best measure of |
| food over-supplemented with extra proteins, vitamins | | | | prevention. Refrain from breeding two dysplastic |
| and minerals to make puppies grow faster. This fast | | | | dogs. However, it is not always easy to avoid |
| growth of puppies can create orthopedic problems in | | | | breeding dysplastic Boxers since it is so difficult to |
| some breed of dogs like Boxer dogs that may lead | | | | detect hip dysplasia in dogs that do not show signs |
| to hip dysplasia and arthritis. | | | | of arthritis. And so, some veterinary clinics use |
| When a dog has dysplasia, it has an abnormal | | | | PennHIP x-ray technique in order to detect hip |
| development of the ball-in-socket joint that makes up | | | | dysplasia early on. |
| the hip. In a dysplastic hip, the ball and the socket do | | | | A carefully planned diet is also a good way to |
| not fit together comfortably resulting to painful and | | | | prevent the disease. Avoid feeding your puppies with |
| damaging friction. When a dog bears its weight on | | | | over-supplemented, high-protein food in order to |
| the joint, the friction strains the joint capsule that | | | | avoid rapid weight gain. Dogs fed with calorie-limited |
| produces joint fluid. | | | | diet will reach the same adult size more slowly but |
| The straining damages the cartilage and leads to the | | | | with reduced possibility of developing arthritis. |
| release of inflammatory proteins within the joint. | | | | It is always best to consult with a veterinarian |
| Thus the cartilage is eventually destroyed and | | | | regarding specific diets and feeding schedules to |
| inflamed and with pain symptoms associated with | | | | minimize the risk of developing this life-threatening hip |
| arthritis. | | | | dysplasia. Many veterinarians recommend x-rays of |
| Just like any other breed of dogs, Boxer dogs with | | | | at-risk breeds like Boxer dogs, so have your Boxer |
| hip dysplasia experience the same sign and | | | | checked by his vet in order to keep him healthy and |
| symptoms like decreased activity, difficulty rising, rear | | | | active for a long period of time. |
| limb lameness, reluctance to use stairs especially in | | | | |