my boxer/shepard breaths hard going up the stairs

Question
QUESTION: Renee,
Can you please help my boxer/shepard mix breaths hard going up or down the stairs sometimes I heard that boxers can get heart problems is this true. I don't know his age due to the fact that my husband got him from our local ASPCA for christmas, the previous owners had him for 3 years and on the paper it states he is between 5-6 yrs.I think he is older because he has white hairs under his chin and the start on his nose. Can you help. Thank you Dorothy

ANSWER: Hello Dorothy and thank you for your question.

I should start by asking if you have had your dog examined by a vet since he was adopted? If not, then it would be a good idea since sometimes the rescues/shelters only do minimal testing.

There are many breeds with a predisposition to heart problems, but there are other illness and conditions that can also cause cardiovascular issues. Tooth and gum disease can be a major player in the circulatory system, as can heartworm. Brachiocephalic (squished face) dogs can have breathing problems due to the shortened features of the muzzle and face. This can affect the way oxygen is exchanged. It makes it harder to get enough oxygen to the heart, thus causing panting or labored breathing.

If all is right medically, I would recommend an exercise program to get your dog in shape, physically. Start out slow and build up for stamina by taking long walks. Use your dog's ability to deal with the current activity as a barometer for how much he can handle. As he gains strength, you can increase the lengths of the walks and add some active play time. Your dog may never be up to strenuous exercise due to his approximate age, so just adapt and let him tell you when it's enough.

Remember, large breeds have a shorter life expectancy than smaller dog, generally speaking. You will see some graying around the muzzle and face at younger ages in these breeds. Five to six years is considered middle-aged in large breeds and 7 - 8 is considered a senior.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Renee,
Thank you for answering my question. My dog gets a lot of excerise and plays also. Is there a way that I can tell the what the real age of my dog is? and how long do boxer/shepard mix live?

Answer
With the proper health care and nutrition, large breed dogs can live up to 15, but that is not as common as say 10 - 12 years of age. Trying to determine the real age of a dog is not that exact if you don't know it's history but a vet can usually come pretty close by examining the teeth and the wear pattern on them.

How does your dog respond to his exercise and play (breathing-wise)?