Poisoning
Unfortunately, there are many ways your boxer can be poisoned. Many household items, from lawn chemicals to rodent poisons to chocolate, can poison a curious boxer. The symptoms of poisoning are as varied as the poisons. They can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding from bodily orifices, seizures, convulsions, rapid pulse, weak pulse, excess salivation, labored breathing, and collapse. No matter what time of the day or night the poisoning occurs, contact your emergency vet immediately, even if you do not know what the poison might have been. If you see any of these symptoms and know of no other cause, you can assume that some-how, your boxer had access to a poison or to a poisoned rodent.
If Your Dog Has Been Poisoned
In the case of poisoning, your vet may tell you to induce vomiting, which is why you should keep ipecac handy. However, should you find yourself without it, a teaspoon or so of hydrogen peroxide per ten pounds of body weight (about a quarter of a cup for an adult male boxer) will do the job. Certain types of poison, such as caustic materials like lye or petroleum products, will contraindicate treatment by vomiting. Contact your veterinarian first.
Not many adult boxers will ingest caustic substances or petroleum voluntarily. Your boxer is more likely to be poisoned by something that either tastes good or is fun to play with. Puppies, on the other hand, do not always have good enough judgment to avoid things that taste bad, so you must be more careful that they are not exposed to poisonous substances.
Snakebite
There are poisonous varieties of snakes throughout the continental United States and Alaska. That said, it is the West and Southwest that has the most snake bites, although poisonous snakes are also common in the South.
Any time a snake bites, it is probably poisonous. Nonpoisonous snakes are generally less aggressive and do not bite as often. It is important to know what your local poisonous snakes look like. Rattlesnakes are probably the most common threat to all dogs. Not all dogs die from snakebites, but some succumb to unattended secondary infections.
The most poisonous of all snakes are the babies; they have more poison per square inch, so to speak, than the adults, and they can bring it to their fangs and the surface of what they have struck more quickly. Be especially careful around immature rattlesnakes. Do not think they are less dangerous or toxic because they are small as just the opposite is true.
If you suspect that a rattlesnake or other poisonous snake has struck your boxer, call your vet so she can acquire the antivenom needed to treat your boxer. In addition, your boxer will also probably be treated with antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory drug of some kind. If you see two holes or puncture wounds anywhere on your boxer's body, very symmetrical and about an inch apart, you can assume that your boxer has been struck by a rattlesnake even if you have not seen it. However, sometimes a snake will strike and only get one fang in the dog. If you live in rattlesnake country and you know your boxer has not been in a fight, one puncture hole on a paw or lower extremity accompanied by swelling is a good sign that your boxer has been stuck by a rattlesnake. You need to see the vet as soon as possible. The effect of rattlesnake venom in the blood stream causes extreme thirst and irritability.
In some of the Western and Southwestern states, there are trainers who will snakeproof your dog to reduce the likelihood that your boxer will be struck by a rattlesnake. Many of these options use extreme aversive methods like a shock collar, so it might be worthwhile to put your nosy boxer through some snake avoidance training. However, before you undertake this, make sure your trainer thoroughly explains what the training will entail.
