Boxer Cardiomyopathy

Overview

Boxer cardiomyopathy is still being studied. There are many things that we know about this health issue...And some that we are still trying to learn.

However, as this disease is currently understood it is a Boxer heart condition that consists mainly of an electrical conduction disorder. This means that it causes the heart of a Boxer dog to beat erratically.

This is also more commonly known as an arrhythmia. This can happen randomly with no way of knowing when or how long it will happen for. This is often confused with a simple murmur which sometimes can not be a serious issue.

In cases where this does happen randomly and not often, the dog will probably not have symptoms of heart disease. However, if the erratic beats occur in sequence this will cause weakness, collapse or sudden death.

For this reason, all owners should know about this.

Taking steps to keep your Boxer healthy can go a long way in extending your dog's life span....And knowing the early warning signs of this serious issue can help with obtaining early treatment which can save the life of your dog.

This breed is prone to cardiomyopathy and other Boxer heart conditions...but this does not mean that your dog is bound to have these problems.

Age of Onset

In most cases, this will occur with dogs that are between the ages of 4 years old (2 years into the adult years) to the age of 10 years old (during the senior years)...Therefore puppies are rarely affected.

Symptoms

In many cases, there will not be early warning signs...or symptoms may be so subtle that owners do not take notice.

Once this disease gets severe enough to cause noticeable symptoms that are very clear to see, a Boxer dog may have:

Fainting – When blood is not pumped correctly, this can cause lapses where the dog is not receiving enough blood flow and the dog can faint.

The fainting will happen for a few seconds to a few minutes depending on how fast the dog’s heart corrects itself.

It should be noted, that for young puppies, particularly under the age of 6 months, fainting can be the sign of hypoglycemia...a rapid, dangerous drop in blood sugar levels (treated by rubbing Karo syrup directly onto the pup's gums for rapid transport into the bloodstream and then bringing him or her to the closest vet or animal hospital)....Therefore, any collapse or fainting must be treated immediately.

Coughing - Each case is different. However some Boxer dogs with cardiomyopathy will reach a point where the ventricles of the heart expand. This causes the walls of the heart to become too thin and the heart itself will decline in strength.

Coughing may occur at this point. Owners should not panic if coughing occurs, as it may be something as simple as allergies...However, it is important to have it checked out as soon as possible.

Diagnosis

Because the Boxer breed is prone to two different heart conditions (see also, Aortic Stenosis) , it is important for owners to bring their Boxer for wellness checks (once per year for adults and twice per year for seniors). It is during a vet check that an irregular heartbeat will be detected via a stethoscope.

If your Boxer has symptoms of cardiomyopathy, an ECG may be done, however an ECG tends to only pick up arrhythmias if they are very frequent.

For this reason, you will want to ask for a Holter monitor test, which involves a device about the size of a deck of cards to be attached to the Boxer for a 24 hour time period, which is a much better diagnostic tool. This will show if a dog has infrequent skips and how often this occurs.

Treatment

If a Boxer dog is diagnosed with cardiomyopathy arrhythmia, he or she can be treated with anti-arrhythmic medication. If the case is not severe, medication can help a dog lead close to a normal life and even life span may not be decreased.

Prognosis

This can be fatal if the case is severe enough. If a Boxer keeps getting barraged with skipped beats this can cause the heart to enter an unstoppable uneven rhythm which is fatal. This happens when 100’s or even 1000’s of skips occur in a 24 hour time period...It just puts too much stress on the heart and the body just cannot keep up with the attacks.

Does an Irregular Heartbeat Mean it is Cardiomyopathy?

No. Some Boxer dogs will have a disease that causes an irregular heartbeat. This can happen with some very serious infections and with certain types of cancer. Once that disease is under control, the heart will go back to beating normally. When the irregular heartbeats in a Boxer happen to an otherwise perfectly healthy dog, it is then that cardiomyopathy is suspected.

Are There Any Prevention Methods?

Studies are underway to find out more about the element of L-Carenitine and if this has an affect on a dog’s chances of improving or controlling this disease before it becomes serious. These studies are not yet conclusive.

When your Boxer is 1 year old, your dog should be checked for an irregular heartbeat during regular visits. A dog should be checked for this before any breeding is done. More often than not, a Boxer that has Cardiomyopath arrthymia will show signs by the age of 5...but some can not show signs until much later....by the age of 10 years.