boxers health

Question
MY BOXER, WHICH IS 7YRS.OLD WAS TOOK TO VET FOR ME, BY MY HUSBAND. HE WAS TOLD THAT MY DOG HAS A HEART MURMER. AND TO TAKE HIM TO A CARDIALOIST. BUT MONEY WISE, I AM NOT ABLE TO DO THAT. I LOVE MY DOG AND I AM STILL PAYING ON A VET BILL FOR HIS TEST RAN ON HIM.   WHAT IS A MURMER AND WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR IT.I AM SO SAD THAT I CAN NOT TAKE HIM TO A SPECIALIST. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF HIM. HE LIVES INSIDE AND IS VERY SPOIL.   THANK YOU, TERESA

Answer
Hi Teresa,  A heart murmur is where one of the valves closing in the heart doesn't close completely all the way so when the blood is getting pushed through, some of it goes back the way it came.  A lot of dogs and people (including myself) have heart murmurs.  Some are more serious than others depending on how much the valve doesn't close all the way.   Unfortunately in Boxers, heart problems are not that uncommon.  With their noses being the way they are, they don't get as much oxygen in as other breeds so it doesn't keep the heart as healthy compared to other breeds.  7 years old classifies him as a senior dog, so technically he should be showing slight signs of health problems like that due to his age, so don't blame yourself.  He is getting older and things like this will crop up over the next few years.  Just keep his weight down as it can be very taxing on his heart, don't over-exercise him and basically use common sense when it comes to his health care.  Hope this helps.

Dawn