Boxers have a breed-specific heart disease — arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, informally called 'Boxer cardiomyopathy' — that can cause fainting or sudden death with no other warning, and UK veterinary data found Boxers have the highest breed-specific rate of mast cell tumors of any breed studied, so an unremarkable-looking skin lump should always go to a vet rather than get watched at home.
11.3years, median
1.2 years below the all-dog median of 12.5.
Measured, not estimated: the middle age at death across 584,734 UK dogs, 284,734 of them deceased. Based on 17,219 dogs of this breed. 95% confidence interval 11.3 to 11.5 years. Half lived longer than this, half did not. UK dogs, so treat it as the best available figure rather than a promise about yours.
In the same study, large breeds as a group had a median of 11.9 years and flat-faced breeds 11.2. This breed is large and flat-faced.
McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports 14:531 — open access · CC BY 4.073.97% of Boxers had at least one disorder recorded in 2016.
From the clinical records of 3,219 Boxers under veterinary care in the UK that year, read by the Royal Veterinary College’s VetCompass programme.
Most often recorded, 2016
| Disorder | Share of Boxers | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Ear infection (otitis externa) | 7.15% | 6.31–8.09 |
| Gum growth (epulis) | 5.84% | 5.08–6.70 |
| Corneal ulcer | 5% | 4.30–5.81 |
| Gum disease (periodontal disease) | 4.63% | 3.96–5.41 |
| Heart murmur | 4.29% | 3.64–5.04 |
| Skin mass | 4.29% | 3.64–5.04 |
| Obesity | 3.82% | 3.21–4.54 |
| Overgrown nails | 3.67% | 3.07–4.37 |
| Allergy (hypersensitivity) | 2.95% | 2.42–3.59 |
| Aggression | 2.8% | 2.28–3.42 |
Any cancer or tumor (neoplasia), grouped: 14.2% (95% CI 13.03 to 15.45).
Age at death in this sample
Median 10.46 years (middle half 9 to 11.98), 2016 data. Of the 346 deaths with a recorded cause: Cancer (neoplasia) 12.43%, Brain disorder 9.54%, Lump (mass) 8.38%, Collapse 6.65%, Heart disease 4.62%. 21.1% of deaths had no cause recorded. Different sample and year from the measured lifespan above, which is why the two numbers differ.
“14.2% of the Boxers in the current study were diagnosed with neoplasia, which is substantially higher than results using the same data source for other similar sized breeds.”— the authors, O'Neill et al. 2023, Canine Medicine and Genetics 10:6
Health tests to ask the breeder for
American Boxer Club sets the tests a Boxer needs for a CHIC number in the OFA's open database. A CHIC number means the tests were done and the results are public. It does not mean the dog passed them: ask for the results for both parents, or look them up yourself on ofa.org.
- Hip Dysplasia (OFA or PennHIP radiograph, 2 years)
- Elbow Dysplasia (OFA radiograph, 2 years)
- Autoimmune Thyroiditis / Hypothyroidism (thyroid panel, 2 years; annually for breeding dogs)
- Aortic Valve Disease (auscultation / Doppler)
- AS/SAS Cardio (auscultation and Doppler echocardiogram, minimum 24 months)
- Boxer Cardiomyopathy / ARVC (24-hour Holter monitor, from 12 months; annually for breeding dogs)
When to spay or neuter a Boxer: the UC Davis study of 35 breeds has a suggested guideline for the breed. For males it is 2 years or later. For females, 2 years or later. The spay and neuter page has the numbers behind it and what the guidelines say for a dog this size.
Eye ulcers: in a study of more than 100,000 dogs in England, about 1 Boxer in 20 had one in a single year, 12 times the risk of a crossbred dog. Boxers are also the breed that gets the slow-healing kind most often, the one drops alone do not fix. A squint or a half-closed eye is a same-day call to the vet. The eye ulcer page has the signs, and the eye drops that make an ulcer worse.
Itchy skin: Merck lists the Boxer among the breeds prone to atopic dermatitis, a lifelong allergy to things like pollen, mold and dust that usually starts between six months and three years of age. Why does my dog keep itching? has how vets tell it apart from fleas, mites and food allergy, and the treatments.
- Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) DNA test
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) DNA test
Test names as the club lists them; checked September 2026. OFA CHIC breed page. How to use this at the breeder: check a breeder.
Adopt a Boxer near you
Shelters and rescues list Boxers and Boxer mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
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Living with a Boxer
Boxers are playful, clownish, and stay puppyish well into adulthood, which is endearing but means real exercise and training are needed to channel that energy — an under-exercised Boxer will jump, mouth, and bounce off furniture and people. Because of the breed's cancer and heart-disease rates, regular vet checkups and prompt attention to any new lump or fainting episode matter more here than in an average breed.
Health you should know about
- Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC / 'Boxer cardiomyopathy') — a heart-rhythm disorder distinctive to the breed that can cause fainting, weakness, or sudden death; often requires lifelong cardiac monitoring and medication.
- Mast cell tumors — a UK VetCompass study found Boxers had the highest breed-specific prevalence of any breed in the dataset, at roughly 2%, about five times the general dog population's rate.
- Elevated overall cancer risk — Boxers as a breed show an above-average rate of several cancers, including brain tumors, lymphoma and osteosarcoma.
- Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat) — a sudden, life-threatening emergency risk in this deep-chested breed.
Read the full Dog Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a dog needs before you choose a breed.
Naming a Boxer? German dog and cat names, 88 of them, with what they mean.
Sources — 4 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 4 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.