Allergies
Sadly, boxers are extremely prone to allergies. These can present themselves as either food intolerances such as colitis or IBS, or in the skin with lesions, itching paws, sore ears and a general itchiness.
For serious allergies, a diagnosis can be made through blood tests or skin scrapes, or patch testing to determine the cause of the reaction. Here is an example of a skin patch test, the dog in this case was allergic to 19 different allergens including all dust mites, grasses and weed pollens.
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Allergies can start at any age, old or young and the dog is likely to suffer them for the rest of their life. Minor allergies can be dealt with using antihistamine or aloe vera, but we do recommend you seek your vet's opinion if your dog has any apparent symptoms of an allergy. Here we have some photos of a 16 month old boxer that was diagnosed with environmental allergies.
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Whilst food intolerances are often managed through specialist diets; skin conditions are often treated with long term medication, such as Atopica or with a desensitising programme of injections specifically related their particular allergens. Sometimes in extreme cases, steroid injections are given to ease the dog's discomfort, again these can be given on a regular basis over a period of time to keep the dog's symptoms under control. There are also topical steroid sprays that can give relief to extreme itchiness.
Some owners prefer to give their dogs antihistimines and apply topical creams such as aloe vera to relieve the symptons. It is important to find the right balance for you and your dog.