There's some great options that are super easy to use, and very comfortable for dogs. There's images down below for you to see several options that just make a whole lot of sense; and one of the safest and most comfortable ones is the
Kurgo Tru-Fit Crash Tested Car Harness
.
Stress.
Chaotic households that cause a dog to feel stressed can affect the dog in a number of ways. Stress will affect the dog's quality of life and in terms of long term issues, it can increase the risk of everything from diabetes to gastrointestinal problems.
What to do:
Try to keep the house chill. Just like you would if a kid were around. Because your Boxer is your kid.
And if there is
lots of commotion, give your Boxer somewhere to retreat to if he wants. This can be a quality bed in a quiet corner, where he can get away but not feel isolated.
Weight.
Excessive weight puts a strain on the entire body. It's unhealthy for the heart and puts stress on joints. Long term effects can include exercise intolerance which leads to muscle loss, breathing problems, high blood pressure, canine diabetes, liver dysfunction and osteoarthritis.
What to do:
Carefully choose a high quality food (see next point below), set an eating schedule, do not feed table scraps, and keep up with daily exercise.
Type of food.
No doubt, a dog's diet will affect both his current health and his health in the future. Such elements as chemical preservatives, coloring and flavoring can cause allergic reactions that lead to itchiness (chewing at the paws, skin rash, poor coat, etc.). There is concern that
some preservatives are linked to liver issues and to cancer. Included in this is ethoxyquin, to which the EPA answers "potential cancer risk is below the Agency’s level of concern.”
That's not too comforting to hear that cancer causing agents are
there but not at high doses. Of additional concern are the artificial preservatives BHA and BHT which are considered to be carcinogens by the National Institutes of Health.
Finally, poor nutrition is connected to increased risk of tooth decay, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis and some cancers.
It is also risky to offer treats that can cause possible blockage; raw hides are notorious for this dangerous and sometimes fatal issue.
Always
feed your Boxer a 5-star food and choose all-natural, healthy snacks. Don't assume that any brand is a good one based purely on name recognition. Some of the worst
dog food manufacturers pay for commercials and are the first thing you'll see stacked in the supermarket. You can use
Dog Food Advisor
to see how your Boxer's food scores. And if you puppy or dog is not eating at least a 4-star food, make an immediate change.
There's a few superior foods out there, and one of the best is
Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Dry. It's hard to beat this. It has no fillers and no by-products. It has ZERO additives. No artificial colors, no chemical preservatives. Nothing; just good, wholesome food.
This has antioxidants (immune strength), omega 3 (healthy skin and coat), glucosomine (important for joint health), and probiotics (great for good digestion). And, it's made in the USA.
Hazards.
Never underestimate what a Boxer dog can mouth and accidentally swallow. Dogs do not mouth non-food items to eat them; it's done out of curiosity and/or boredom, so nothing is off limits. This can lead to choking and quite possibly
internal blockage
that can be fatal.
Additionally, the use of aerosol sprays such as air fresheners and cleaning products can produce a type of indoor air pollution. There are some known toxins in many of these products including formaldehyde, camphor, ethanol and phenol and some of these sorts of sprays contain known carcinogens.
In regard to lawn care chemicals, the majority are toxic to canines. These can be ingested if the Boxer chews at grass or a dog can be exposed simply walking over the area.
Finally, don't forget about toys that may be chewed to such a degree that they become choking hazards.
What to do:
1.
Routine proof the house. Go over all the floors and ANY areas that your Boxer could reach. Put locks on lower cabinets.
2.
Limit the use of aerosol sprays and be aware of what may be being placed down on your lawn. If you take your Boxer out to public parks, try to stay informed about what sort of weed killer or lawn treatments may be used there.
3.
Every week or so, take a look at your Boxer's toys. Toss those that are torn or look worn. If your Boxer rips through toys like they're made of butter, buy toys that stand up to aggressive chewers.
If you're giving Goughnuts to your Boxer, look for the red inner layer; that's why it's there, to keep your dog safe (plus you get a free replacement!).