Probably the last thing you want to think about as you go to buy a new Boxer pup are the health concerns associated with the breed.  But taking the time to learn what problems the Boxer is prone to before can save a lot of heartache and money at a later date, as well as a lot of pain and suffering for the Boxer.  One of the most well known problems that Boxers in particular can suffer from is something called Hip Dysplasia (Dis-plas-i-a).  It is the number one cause of lameness in the back legs of the dog and something which all Boxer owners should be aware of from day one. 

Hip Dysplasia is an arthritic condition stemming from a looseness in the hip itself.  It happens in the ball and socket joint that connects with the pelvis.  Over time the tissue that holds these together becomes thinner and leads to abnormalities in the leg bone, hip and the actual joint. Researchers who have studied Hip Dysplasia generally agree that it occurs more in older dogs and after a long time causes arthritic problems for the dog.  They also agree in the fact that male Boxer dogs are more prone to this ailment than their female counterparts.

When the Boxer is over four months old there will be little change and thus testing is quite possible.  Those that pass the test will be given a certificate which ensures a certain degree of peace of mind.  Testing is done with the use of X-rays which are used by a veterinarian who has been trained specifically in the area of diagnosing Dysplasia.  It is quite possible that the Boxer would need to be sedated for the X-ray process as the position of the leg and hip is critical in order to give the correct diagnosis.  Once completed, the veterinarian has to grade the Boxer on the degree of Hip Dysplasia present. 

There are six different grades depending on severity:

Excellent
Good
Fair
Borderline
Moderate Dysplasia
Severe Dysplasia

Overall the Boxer is ranked 67th in the list of occurrences of Hip Dysplasia in dogs.  Reputable breeders are very concerned with this and are almost seeking to improve this classification by working closely with veterinarians and other breeders.
The best course of action if you are thinking of buying a Boxer is to go to a reputable breeder who actually has all their Boxer dogs tested for Hip Dysplasia.   Buying a dog whose parents are also free of this condition is also a very good way to go, although the price of the pup will usually be much higher on account of having been certified.  But in the long term, paying more money for a pup will work out cheaper as veterinarian bills can quickly add up and you will end up paying a lot more and have to suffer your Boxer going to the vet’s for X-rays and operations.  Having a Boxer with Hip Dysplasia is not the end of the world, but you should not breed the dog.  All you have to do is take care of him and make sure he is as comfortable and happy as possible.