Boxer Dog

Boxer dog, originated from Germany, with a beautiful and strong body shape. The head and body are well-proportioned, with a large and black nose. The ears are positioned high and the ear tips are often artificially cut off. The eyes are black. The neck is strong and muscular, without saggy skin. The body is square, with a short and always raised tail. The front legs are upright and parallel. Loyal, not vengeful. Especially affectionate towards children, easy to train, can be used as police dogs, guard dogs, personal security dogs, and also can be used as guide dogs.

The ancestor of Boxer dog is the Mastiff breed. In the Middle Ages, it was used to attack wild buffalo, hunt wild boars and deer. In the 19th century, it was bred by crossing the Bullenbeisser Mastiff and the Bulldog in Munich, Germany, and crossing with other breeds to improve it into the current Boxer dog. It first appeared in Britain in 1930. In addition to its aggressive appearance and lively nature, it is also energetic, sensitive, and responsible. After World War II, this dog not only had a certain influence in the United States and Britain, but also was widely used as a family and guard dog worldwide, and was loved by people.

Suggested for dog lovers, Boxer dogs are obedient and also make great companion dogs.

1、Dog Infectious Diseases

Dogs are susceptible to infectious diseases, including distemper and canine coronavirus. Common clinical symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, difficulty breathing, bloody stool, purulent eye discharge, dry nose, cracked paws, etc.

Generally, these types of infectious and fatal diseases occur more frequently during the weaning period or around 1 year old. Puppies have a higher susceptibility rate, lower cure rate, and are more likely to leave sequelae.

Prevention:

When bringing a dog home, it is recommended for the owner to choose a dog through regular channels and have the dog vaccinated on time. The home should also be regularly disinfected. Do not take the dog out for a walk before completing the vaccination. Avoid contact with unfamiliar dogs and do not let others touch the dog's mouth or nose casually.

2、Dog Skin Diseases

Because dogs often go for walks outside, they can easily contract various skin diseases. If a dog is accidentally infected with mites, bacteria, or fungi, there is a risk of long-term difficult treatment, so owners must pay attention. Clinical manifestations of dog skin diseases include greasy skin, peeling, redness, itching, papules, ulcers, purulent discharge, hair loss, scabs, etc.

Prevention:

In daily care, it is necessary to keep the dog's living environment clean and tidy and avoid dampness and darkness. In addition, it is necessary to disinfect the dog's living environment regularly, conduct internal and external parasite control for the dog, use specialized shampoo for the dog, regularly groom it, and supplement vitamins and fish oil.

3、Dog Parasites

Common parasites in dogs include roundworms, heartworms, ticks, fleas, etc., which often cause skin diseases and intestinal diseases in dogs. They may cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats, affecting the dog's quality of life and physical development. Dogs with parasites are usually thin and listless.

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Prevention:

When feeding, owners need to pay attention and try not to feed the dog non-sterilized raw meat or unknown sources of meat. Dogs need to be dewormed internally every 3 months and externally every month. When going out, prevent the dog from eating or licking randomly and going into the grass. After returning home, be sure to check carefully.

Newborn period: The newborn period is when the dog is born, mainly relying on mother's milk for survival. The body cannot regulate temperature and needs maternal heat insulation. For the first day, there is no hearing or vision, only relying on weak touch to find the nipple. Around day 13, the eyes open, and around day 15, hearing develops. Teething begins around day 20. From day 21-28, the amount of milk is not enough, and the transition from liquid food to semi-solid food is necessary. This is when diarrhea and constipation may occur, so it is necessary to feed lactase, probiotics, or give them goat milk powder/pet milk powder. In case of constipation while consuming milk powder, a small amount of vegetable oil can be fed and massaging the abdomen can help with bowel movements. Deworming starts at 14-28 days old.

Early age: 1 month-2 months old. The puppy's digestive system is not fully developed yet, so it needs careful care from the owner. Generally, it should be fed at least 3 times a day, with smaller meals according to the puppy's condition. Soak the dog food in warm water or goat milk powder and feed it slowly. Do not overfeed as it may cause poor digestion. Make sure to provide the puppy with drinking water and do not give them milk, as it may cause diarrhea. Probiotics can be given to regulate the intestines and stomach. At this stage, puppies have poor resistance to viruses and bacteria, so they should not be taken outside or in contact with cold patients to avoid getting sick. Immunization starts at 6-7 weeks old, and ends at 3 months old. It is better to bathe them after immunization, and dry cleaning powder can be used for early baths. Teething starts at 19-28 days old, and all milk teeth should have grown out by 2 months old. They have a certain learning ability and can start toilet training.

Adolescence: 3 months-6 months. At this time, puppies can gradually transition from soaked dog food to dry dog food. Adjust the puppy's eating time slowly and make it more regular. They still eat dog food and drink water. However, during this time, the puppy's bones and muscles grow rapidly, so they need a large amount of protein and calcium. Their fur also gradually changes to that of an adult dog, and it is a critical period for hair beauty, so there may be an awkward stage. The puppy starts to develop dominance and tries to have its own territory, dominating the owner. Destructive ability increases. During this time, the dog's body length and height develop rapidly, so they need regular exercise to maintain their growth.

Sexual maturity period: 8 months-14 months. At this time, the dog enters sexual maturity and experiences its first estrus. The first estrus is prone to hormonal imbalances and can cause estrus disorders. Continuous estrus, no estrus, or false pregnancy may occur, and the conception rate is low, while the rate of difficult delivery is high. Nutrients that promote reproduction should be supplemented: vitamin E, organic chromium, folic acid, etc. Note that mating is not allowed during the first estrus. Pay attention to hygiene during estrus to prevent infection. If the dog does not need to reproduce, sterilization can be done after estrus.

Adolescence: 6 months-10 months, 6 months-18 months. At this time, puppies can eat dry dog food completely, and can also be fed some cooked meat such as beef and chicken to enrich nutrition. However, be careful not to give the puppy chicken or duck bones, as it may cause poor bone development. If necessary (such as poor nutrition, weak body, picky eating, etc.), some nutritional supplements can be given. According to the puppy's actual situation, select supplements such as vitamins, calcium, protein, or hair care nutrients. Do not be greedy and do not feed a large amount of supplements all at once because you feel sorry for the puppy. This stage is a period of rapid growth of the puppy's bones and muscles, so they need a large amount of protein and calcium. They are curious and have strong cognitive abilities and deep memory, making it the best learning period.

Adult: Dogs aged 1-6 years old. At 1 year old, the dog is already an adult and has almost fully developed. There will not be much change in body size afterwards. During this stage, they still eat dog food normally, and there are not many restrictions on diet. However, it is still important to supplement nutrients appropriately, avoid feeding chicken or duck bones, avoid salty and spicy foods, feed cooked food instead of raw food, and avoid eating animal fat. If the dog catches a cold or gets sick, it should be taken to a pet hospital for treatment in a timely manner. Do not make blind judgments and self-medicate unless you are a veterinarian, otherwise you should be responsible for your beloved pet.

Elderly period: 8-18 years old. Dogs over 8 years old are equivalent to over 50 years old in human age, so they should enter the "senior years" of their lives. At this time, the dog's organ functions decline, and elderly diseases such as diabetes, weakened liver and kidney functions, and skeletal and joint diseases may appear. It is more susceptible to diabetes, liver and kidney diseases, hypertension, fractures, arthritis, and other diseases, so calcium supplementation is especially important. You can choose to eat more soy products and cartilage, or use calcium supplements available on the market for dogs. Basking in the sun and taking walks more often, paying attention to hygiene on a regular basis. It is believed that the time spent with your dog will be longer.

1. Do not bathe frequently.

Giving dogs a bath should not be too frequent. It should be based on the dog's hygiene. In hot weather, you can bathe the dog one or two more times, and in winter, you can reduce it by one or two times. However, in total, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!

2. Brush regularly.

Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. If you want their fur to grow well, regular brushing is an important step. Pet owners can use pet-specific brushes to help dogs remove naturally shed hair and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is sufficient.

3. Sunbathe.

Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. In addition to making the fur more shiny, letting dogs sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, pet owners can let dogs exercise a bit, which can improve their physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.

4. Deworming.

Poor fur condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites consume a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, causing a nutrient imbalance. Therefore, deworming is necessary. It is recommended to deworm dogs internally and externally. Deworming medicine can cause significant damage to a dog's gastrointestinal tract, so it is advisable to feed probiotics regularly to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.

5. Pay attention to diet.

In order for dogs to have a beautiful coat, a good nutritional foundation must be established, and attention should be paid to daily diet. On one hand, feed dogs with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a brand that is suitable for dogs and provides sufficient nutrition to meet their needs. On the other hand, dogs can be given lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and vegetable oil in moderation.