Boxers with Allergies – 7 Hidden Enemies Making Your Boxer Miserable: The Allergy Guide

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Boxers with Allergies – Introduction

Boxer dogs are beloved pets known for their playful nature and loyal companionship. However, like any other breed, Boxers can be susceptible to various allergies that may cause discomfort and distress.

In this blog post, we will explore the 7 most frequent allergies that affect Boxers with allergies and provide valuable insights on how to alleviate their symptoms.

Whether you are a Boxer owner or simply interested in understanding canine allergies, this comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge to help your furry friend lead a happier, healthier life.

So let’s dive in and discover the common Boxer dog allergies together.

7 Most Common Allergens for Boxers with Allergies

The 7 Most Common Boxer Allergens for Boxers with Allergies Reported In The Research are: 

• Dust and dust mites
• Dog Dander (dog epithelium)
• Flea Saliva
• Weed Pollen
• Tree Pollen
• Cat Dander (Cat Epithelium)
• Food Allergies

The Immune System and Allergies in Dogs

The immune system in dogs plays a crucial role in protecting their bodies from harmful substances, but sometimes it can overreact to otherwise harmless allergens.

As a result, dogs can develop allergies to various substances, with some being more common than others.

The seven most frequent allergies in dogs include food allergies, flea allergies, atopic dermatitis, environmental allergies, contact allergies, drug allergies, and inhalant allergies.

These allergies can cause a range of symptoms and discomfort for dogs, requiring proper diagnosis and management by veterinarians.

Understanding Allergies in Dogs

Just like humans, dogs can also develop allergies, which are overreactions of their immune system to harmless substances in their environment.

These allergens can be airborne, such as pollen, dust mites, and mold spores, or they can be ingested, such as certain proteins in food.

Common Allergies in Dogs

• Pollen: Pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds is a common allergen for dogs.

Dust mites: Dust mites are tiny insects that live in dust and bedding and can trigger allergies in dogs.

Mold spores: Mold spores are found in damp environments and can also cause allergies in dogs.

Food: Beef, chicken, and dairy are some of the most common food allergens in dog food: Beef, chicken, and dairy are some of the most common food allergens in dogs

Signs and Symptoms of Boxers with Allergies

Boxers with Allergies can exhibit a variety of signs and symptoms, including:

1. Itching
2. Scratching
3. Licking
4. Chewing
5. Red skin
6. Hair loss
7. Ear infections
8. Sneezing
9. Runny nose
10. Watery eyes
11. If you notice any of these signs or symptoms in your dog, it is important to take them to the veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. Early diagnosis and treatment can help to prevent serious complications from allergies.

Table 1 below was generated with the data from a Study: Canine Atopic Dermatitis in the Middle East, Published in Veterinaria Medicina, 2012.

The study showed the % of Boxer dogs responding to a specific allergen or substance.  We used the data to calculate the actual number of dogs having the specific allergic response and included in Table 1: 

Percent of Boxer Dogs Showing Positive Allergy Result to Allergen vs Total Number of Boxers

Notes: Total number of dogs -164

Total number of Boxer Dogs – 16

Key Findings from the study

• Boxer dogs showed the highest percentage of positive allergic responses to Tree Pollen than any of the other dog breeds in the study.
• Half of the Boxers in the study had positive allergic reactions to Dust and Dust Mites.

The 3 top allergens causing positive allergic reactions were

• Dust and Dust Mites
• Dog Dander (epithelium)
• Flea and Flea Saliva

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Boxers with Allergies – How often are boxer dogs affected by allergies?

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual – Allergies in Dogs, Boxers are one of the breeds identified as being pre-disposed to developing allergies.

In a Finnish Study, data collected from dog owners reported allergic and atopic skin conditions and symptoms, Boxers with allergies and boxer skin issues were reported by 40% of dog owners.

Boxer dogs ranked 2nd on the top 5 Breeds suffering most from allergies.

Signs and symptoms of these Boxers with allergies are typically seasonal in nature but can be experienced year-round depending on the offending allergen.

Allergies typically, manifest themselves as

• Boxer Skin Allergies 
• Boxer Food Allergies

Boxers with allergies typically develop between 6 months and 4 years old. In studies, most dogs developed allergies between 1 and 2 years old, then prevalence decreased with age.

Boxers with Allergies – Signs and Symptoms

So, how do you know if your Boxer is developing allergies?  They usually exhibit the following symptoms:

1. Itching – Itching is the most common sign your boxer is developing allergies.  Affected areas of the body can include.

• Feet
• Face
• Ears
• Front Legs
• Abdomen

While these are the most common areas, your Boxer dog may scratch, or bite/nip at a site to alleviate the itch.

Boxer dog owners need to be aware of excessive scratching which can lead to secondary issues including

• Scabbing
• Skin and ear infections
• Hair loss
• Scaling of the skin

Canine Atopic Dermatitis (CAD) – Boxer allergies most often appear on the skin as atopic dermatitis.  Based on the research, CAD affects bout 10% of all dogs.

Atopic dermatitis occurs when an airborne allergen (e.g, dust, tree pollen, weed pollen, etc) crosses your boxer’s skin barrier, which may be weakened or defective and cause their immune system to overreact to the allergen.

1. Symptoms include
   1. Reddish skin
   2. Itching and scratching
   3. Licking excessively at the skin
2.  Factors that affect Canine Contact Dermatitis Include:

• Climate – cold versus warm
• Vegetation – trees, weeds, grasses
• Pollution levels

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Rhinitis – inflammation inside the nose that causes sneezing and runny nose.

• 15% of dogs that have atopic dermatitis also develop rhinitis.
• Ear Infections – can be re-current or long-term depending on how often the boxer is exposed to the allergen.

Boxers are prone to developing ear infections (Otitis).  From our experience with adopting rescue boxer dogs through Adopt A Boxer Rescue, most had moderate to severe ear infections when they were rescued from the puppy mills.

Food Allergies – Your boxer may develop allergies to certain foods. 

1. Food allergies have signs and symptoms similar to airborne but are often less common
2. Food allergies frequently cause symptoms (itching, scratching, licking) to occur on an ongoing basis, whereas, airborne allergies are often seasonal.
3. Boxers can develop food allergies at any age.
4. Food Allergies are diagnosed by feeding your boxer an Elimination Diet, which limits certain ingredients to help identify what is causing your boxer’s food allergy.

Read our other articles on food-related allergies for Boxers with allergies.

6 Top Foods That Lead To Food Allergies In Your Boxer Dog

5 Dog Food Skin Allergies: Best Treatments

How To Select The Best Dog Food For Boxers With Skin Allergies

Boxers with Allergies – Risk Factors

If you can reduce the risk factors you can help alleviate Boxer Skin Allergies and symptoms.  So what are some of the Boxers with allergies risk factors?

• Sex
• Age
• Season
• Geographical Location 
• Climate
• Vegetation
• Lifestyle
• Breed

A study was conducted to evaluate the combination of these risk factors in causing positive allergic response by measuring the IgE (an immune response marker) levels in dogs’ blood samples.

The study Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Increased Serum Levels of Allergen Specific IgE in a Population of Norwegian Dogs, Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, December 2014.

This study evaluated 1313 dogs to assess how risk factors affected whether a dog got a positive allergic response based on exposure to indoor and outdoor allergens.

The results are summarized in Table 2 below.

Table 2: Positive Reactions To Indoor and Outdoor Allergens

Key Findings on risk factors and boxer dog allergy responses

• Boxer dogs were the only dog breed that generated positive test results that were significantly greater than either breed tested.
• Boxer dogs showed a higher incidence of positive allergic reactions to outdoor allergens.
• Boxers were the only breed that showed higher total positive allergic responses when compared to the overall average across all breeds of dogs.

• Boxers had 58 positive allergic test results out of 59 boxer dogs in the study
• Boxer dogs had the highest percentage of allergic responses to outdoor allergens in the study with 73% of boxers having a positive response

Boxers with Allergies – Helping Your Boxer With Symptoms

So, we know what the main sources of allergies are in Boxers with allergies

• Dust and Dust Mites
• Dog Dander (epithelium)
• Tree and Weed Pollen

We know what the major symptoms are

• Itching and Scratching
• Canine Atopic Dermatitis (CAD)
• Rhinitis
• Ear Infections

How can you help your Boxers with allergies with these symptoms?  While some of the symptoms are minor and can be treated at home, some require seeking veterinary intervention.

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The minor symptoms of itching and scratching can be alleviated with

• Antihistamines – e.g., Benadryl
• Topical creams – e.g., Cortisone

In cases where allergy symptoms include

• Canine Atopic Dermatitis
• Rhinitis
• Ear Infections

A visit to the veterinarian will be required so they can assess the severity of the symptoms and prescribe the appropriate course of medical treatment.

We can also help our boxers with allergies with their symptoms by

• Limiting their exposure to the offending allergen
• Treating their allergy symptoms with a daily antihistamine if approved by your veterinarian
• Regular baths and grooming to help remove offending allergens from their skin

Boxers with Allergies – Summary

Unmasking the hidden enemies behind your Boxer’s misery is just the first step. Now, armed with knowledge of the seven most common allergen culprits for boxers with allergies, you can take action to bring back the playful pup you know and love.

Remember, early detection and proactive management are key. By:

• Minimizing exposure to dust mites, pollen, and flea infestations.
• Regularly cleaning your home and maintaining your Boxer’s hygiene.
• Consult your veterinarian for allergy testing and treatment options.
• Implementing dietary changes if food allergies are suspected.

You can help your Boxer breathe easy, scratch less, and rediscover the joy of chasing squirrels and cuddling on the couch.

Don’t let allergies steal your Boxer’s sunshine. Embrace the power of awareness, proactive care, and the unwavering love you share with your four-legged friend. Remember, a happy and healthy Boxer is just a few scratches and sniffles away!

We hope you found this article to be helpful, please contact us with any comments you may have.

Boxer Dog with Allergies – Frequently Asked Questions

Discoverboxerdogs.com are Mary and Chris Kustanbauter.  We reside in Red Lion, PA with our two Boxers, Duke and Katie, who are both rescue dogs.  We have been working with Adopt A Boxer Rescue for the past 17 years and have adopted 5 Boxers from this fine organization. To learn more visit our Home, Boxer Dog Family, and Blogs Pages  Visit us on social media onFacebook – All About Boxers, Instagram, and Pinterest.