Thunderbay Boxers
Welcome to ThunderBay Boxers
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ABOUT THE BOXER
General Appearance:The ideal Boxer is a medium-sized, square-built dog of good substance with short back, strong limbs, and short tight-fitting coat. His well developed muscles are clean, hard, and appear smooth under taut skin. His movement denotes energy. The gait is firm yet elastic, the stride free and ground covering, the carriage proud. Developed to serve as guard, working and companion dog. He combines strength and agility with elegance and style. His expression is alert and his temperament steadfast and tractable.
The chiseled head imparts to the boxer a unique individual stamp. It must be correct proportion to the body. The broad, blunt muzzle, a distinctive feature of the boxer should be of proper form and balance with the skull.
For a more detailed description of the Boxer Standard see the american Kennel Club web-site mailto:www.americanboxerclub.org
Acepromazine:
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 hypertension (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). The announcement suggested that Acepromazine should not be used in boxers because of a breed related sensitivity to the drug.
This drug is the most commonly prescribed tranquilizer in veterinary medicine. It is generally prescribed for oral use by dog owners who want to tranquilize their dogs for auto or air travel or to calm fearful dogs in frightening situations such as thunderstorms. I would strongly recommend that Boxer owners avoid the use of this drug, especially when the dog will be unattended or without access to emergency medical care.
Wendy Wallner, DVM, July 1997
Links
Clubs:
MidWest Boxer Club: http://midwestbxrclub.tripod.com/
Great Lakes Boxer Club: http:www.greatlakesboxerclub.com
Glenbard All Breed Obedience Club: http:www.gaboc.org
United Kennel Club: http:www.ukcdogs.com
American Kennel Club: http:www.akc.org
Health Testing:
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: http:www.offa.org
