My boxer puppy is inbred. Will he have health or behavior issues?

In-breeding over time can cause certain characteristic traits and genetic qualities (including defects) to be selected for that are undesirable. However it is unsure what exact characteristic traits will predominate in each individual puppy and to what degree. I think it is fair to ask if this line of pedigree has any genetic defects that you should be concerned about that could possibly pass on to Mabei, to make this breeder a bit more transparent in information and also hold them accountable for informing you as a concerned potential adoptee. Also another great tool is the DNA genetic testing (the blood test that is done through a vet, not the cheek swab one which is highly inaccurate) which will give you a list of genetic predispositions and abnormalities that Mabei currently has so that you are aware from the very beginning of any disease processes she will be vulnerable to developing later in life. In-breeding is not what we want to see done in any situation, because it creates all kinds of genetic nightmares in most situations and does not speak highly of this breeder in my professional opinion. I hope this helps and best wishes on your decision making when it comes to adopting this pet. Best wishes and take care.

Yes, genetics can go awry when related animals (including humans) mate. It is not recommended that they breed, as you know, but what's done is done at this point. There is not going to be any way for you to know what their genetics are so all you can do is treat them as normally as possible and hope for the best. Sometimes they are just fine. If you see no outward abnormalities that doesn't mean there aren't some internal ones. Again, there is nothing you can do about it at this stage except be aware that some problems may arise and those problems don't always show up early. It may be years down the road before anything is noticed. Try not worry too much and just treat them like normal. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

I would not expect any health issues from this in-breeding. The crazy stuff in the movies would only be expected after many generations of in-breeding. However, if both parents have health issues, then the puppy may also develop those health issues much like a puppy born to unrelated parents with the same health issues.

Hello. When you indicate tests showed nothing, were these tests for this dog or the one that passed? I would first consider this to be a possible heart problem because of his breed ( Boxer ) & his age. A possibly interruption in the heart rate could momentarily shut off oxygen to the brain essentially causing Max to pass out for a few moments. If blood work was conducted, & everything was normal, that is great. If listening to his chest indicated no murmurs or arrhythmias , & a chest x-ray showed a normal sized heart, then the next step is either a cardiac ultrasound, or the use of a Holter monitor, also known as an event monitor. Max will wear this monitor for at least one 24 hour period, & possibly more, to see if his heart behaves in any abnormal way to explain his falling over. Once a possible problem is identified, any necessary intervention can be started to prevent future episodes. Please discuss this further with your veterinarian. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thanks for the question. Interbreeding of a mother to an offspring does carry a high risk of genetic problems. It is possible that the pups will have problems, or that they will be born normal. Since she appears to be far along in her pregnancy, I wouldn't advise terminating the pregnancy at this point. I hope all goes well, and I recommend spaying/neutering, or keeping offspring separated once they are over 5 months of age to prevent future pregnancies.

Hello, and thank you for your question. Zeusmis is such a cute pup! My first thought is that his father was a Border Collie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Collie If you'd like to know for sure, there are many companies that do DNA testing for dogs, and can tell you more exactly what his pedigree is made up of. I hope this helps!

Hello, congratulations on your new puppy. Ideally, any commercial puppy food should be sufficient to maintain Jax's growth. Pet foods with better reputation include brands such as Royal Canin, Hills, and Eukanuba but this does not necessarily have to be the case for your puppy. If Jax is eating, drinking, and gaining weight adequately, then you should continue to feed pedigree puppy food until he is about a year old, then transition him to adult food. Hope this helps and best of luck.