![]() In addition to nail and ear care, it’s important to practice good dental care for dogs. If you see redness, excess wax, smelly discharge, or something else that is concerning, then you know it’s time to get to the vet. Ears should be dry, clean, and free of debris or pests. Weekly ear checks and carefully cleaning your dog’s ears as needed can help prevent ear infections. But, you may need to cut your dog’s nails more often if they grow quickly or aren’t wearing down as much between trims. Monthly nail trims are usually enough to keep nails from growing too long. Regardless of coat type, you will need to care for your Boxer Mix’s nails, ears, and teeth. Should they have a Boxer coat, they’ll shed a little year-round, require brushing once or twice a week, and a bath as needed. Since reputable breeders screen their dogs to avoid passing issues on to puppies, they should be able to answer your questions.Ī Boxer Mix can end up with a coat similar to one of their parents or a coat that is a combination of both of them. You can’t do much about their short muzzle or barrel chest, but you can ask the breeder about the health and genetic history of both of the parents. This can become dangerous, especially if the stomach flips, so you want to make sure you reduce the risk when you can and know the symptoms so you can get help as soon as possible. Because they are a barrel-chested breed, they are also at a higher risk for bloat in dogs. Boxers also tend to have sensitive digestive systems, which often makes them gassy.Īs a brachycephalic dog, they will also snort and snore. Or, they could inherit none of them.įrom the Boxer side, potential health conditions include degenerative myelopathy, thyroid deficiency, hip dysplasia, and heart conditions. A Boxer Mix can inherit any combination of the potential health issues common to one or both of their parent breeds. DNA My Dog makes the DNA My Dog breed identification kit.Are mixed-breed dogs healthier than purebred dogs? They can be, but it’s not a guarantee and is more up to chance. Changing the training method can lead to successful communication with your dog and ensure their breed-specific needs are met,” says Mindy Tenenbaum, who has an MS in Veterinary Forensics and is president of DNA My Dog in Toronto, Ontario. “An example of this is when people are having difficulty training their Lab mix, only to discover it is a Hound mix. ![]() The owner and the veterinarian also now have a plan for treating any future fevers that may arise.”īesides uncovering predisposed illnesses, dog DNA tests can also give you insight into your furred family member’s behavior, which can potentially make training more effective. They were able to treat her appropriately and she was home by that evening. “This is when the veterinarian realized that Honey was likely suffering from a condition called Shar Pei Fever. “The owner mentioned they had just done a Wisdom Panel dog DNA test and that Honey was half Chinese Shar Pei,” says Dr. After initial blood work failed to provide answers, the vet wanted to run more tests that would have been invasive and costly. Angela Hughes, veterinary genetics research manager at Wisdom Health in Vancouver, Washington, recalls a story about Honey, a dog who had become ill with a high fever. Knowledge is power, and these tests can give you some knowledge about the breed.”ĭr. Other breeds are predisposed to some types of cancers that we want to be screening for earlier. “Certain breeds have heart problems, and so you can have cardiologist consults more often to catch heart disease early. Jason Sweitzer, a veterinarian at Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital in Thousand Oaks, California. Knowing your dog’s breed profile makes it easier to identify illnesses he may be predisposed to, says Dr. This National Mutt Day, find out the benefits of getting a dog DNA test and meet the six most common mixed breed dogs that show up in the results. Still, learning about your dog’s lineage can provide you and your veterinarian with an invaluable wealth of information about his health, and can even offer insight into his behavior. Things like his capacity to display unconditional love are what’s important to you-not what breed of dog he is. You’re the proud pet parent of a mutt and wouldn’t have it any other way.
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