Hypothyroidism
Of all the diseases that boxers can get, hypothyroidism is the easiest to treat. Hypothyroidism is the most common endocrine disease in all dogs. The thyroid gland controls the speed of metabolism of almost all body cells. When the thyroid produces lower-than-normal levels of hormones, many bodily systems can be affected.
The typical clinical symptoms of hypothyroidism include weight gain, sluggishness, ear inflammation, weakness, cold intolerance, and infertility. Skin and coat problems are also common, including hair loss, thickening of the skin, pruritus (itchy skin), pyoderma (inflammation of skin with pus-filled lesions), hyperpigmentation (skin turns very dark), and crusty, flaky skin.
Many boxer owners have found that sudden displays of aggression are an early sign of thyroid disease. In performance dogs, thyroid disease is often marked by sudden confusion when asked to perform well-known tasks.
Through a number of studies, Michigan State University has developed a thyroid panel to determine whether the body chemistry of an individual dog has the major elements associated with thyroid disease, specifically with the form known as autoimmune thyroiditis. This makes it important to test breeding dogs in order to reduce the incidence of thyroid disease. If you suspect that your boxer is suffering from thyroid problems, be sure you ask your veterinarian to perform the comprehensive Michigan State University thyroid panel. A less extensive panel is likely to miss important warning signs.
Because hypothyroidism affects the body's metabolism and all internal organs, leaving the condition untreated means sentencing your boxer to a substandard level of existence. Autoimmune thyroiditis generally responds well to Soloxine, which your regular veterinarian can prescribe for your boxer.
The best way to prevent this disease is to remove affected dogs from the breeding program, although their tendency to infertility may be nature's way of doing just that.
