Field reports of sick boxers.

Anna N., SRMA History ‘Theo Boxer’, 20 October 2025

Theo was born on 17 November 2022. In January 2023, we welcomed Theo into our family as our dream dog after our old male dog passed away. Theo developed wonderfully, was easy-going and loved people and animals. From an early age, he accompanied me to work and to my riding stable, charming everyone with his playful and affectionate nature. Theo had always been very sensitive.
On 2 May 2025, Theo had a difficult day: a horse on our farm was put down. Although he wasn't there, he subsequently comforted me and the riding partner in our emotions. That same evening, Theo suddenly started howling while lying down. He cried out when he turned and didn't want to lie down anymore. His temperature remained at 38.9, but Theo slept leaning against me in a sitting position on the sofa. On the morning of 3 May 2023, on the recommendation of my trusted equine vet, I went to the ‘Kleintierzentrum Würzburg’ (Small Animal Centre in Würzburg). Dr Hall carried out some tests and, after receiving the lab results showing a significantly elevated CRP value (0.7 compared to a normal value of 0.0–0.1), suspected SRMA. She explained that this is a disease that occurs exorbitantly frequently in boxers compared to other breeds. I had never heard of it before. Fortunately, she referred me and my critically ill young dog to a nearby neurologist on the same day. My dog underwent a lumbar puncture in the operating theatre, and the result was clear: SRMA. Was my young dog now a nursing case? What would that mean for all of us in the future? After administering a high dose of cortisone (prednisolone, 50 mg), the CRP level was already back to normal on 11 May. From day 2 onwards, Theo was back to his old self. The cortisone worked and Theo played, was friendly and wanted to accompany me everywhere again. That was my challenge: to take it a little easier, to slow down a little. The only side effects we noticed were extreme thirst and frequent urination.
Thanks to the Facebook group SRMA beim Boxer, I was able to obtain comprehensive information and also became aware of the importance of slowly tapering off the medication. On 2 June 2025, after another cerebrospinal fluid check, the prednisolone could be reduced to 25 mg.
Then, on 16 June, there was a big scare: Theo had inhaled a grass seed and had to undergo surgery because he couldn't get it out despite constant vomiting. Would he tolerate the new operation well, or would it cause a relapse? There was no choice; fortunately, Theo tolerated the operation well.
We then checked his CRP level monthly and carefully reduced the dosage in 5 mg increments per month. In October, there was another setback: Theo's CRP was borderline high, so we increased the cortisone again, giving him 20 mg for two months and then reducing the dosage in increments of only 2.5 mg.
On 3 November, he injured his claw and the tip of his ear when he tried to remove his bandage. The cortisone slowed the healing of his ear, and he also had to take antibiotics. In the end, it was a non-medical product that helped.
On 20 November, another visit to the vet: Theo was wetting himself while sleeping! Fortunately, he was not incontinent, but had a bladder infection. He was given antibiotics again in addition to cortisone.
In 2024, I continued to have his CRP level checked monthly, and the dosage was adjusted very carefully. In the meantime, Theo had to take folic acid and iron tablets because his blood values were poor.
On 20 June 2024, I took Theo to the vet again: he didn't want to eat, was shaking, whining and suddenly very anxious in the morning. After his walk, everything was fine. I filmed him, as the vet was concerned that it might be an epileptic seizure. Theo was checked over: nothing. We then suspected heartburn, so we gave him oatmeal in the evening and tried all the home remedies we could find.
On 3 July, we took him back to the vet with the same symptoms and also saw a neurologist: no relapse, but what then? He was given many small portions, and we assumed he had stomach problems due to the long-term administration of cortisone. He kept crying out for no apparent reason. It was torture.
In October 2024, Theo was examined again. He was noticeably worse. He had to go out several times at night, didn't want to eat, whined, coughed, was in pain. An ultrasound and X-ray were done, but nothing was found. A thyroid disorder was suspected, but not confirmed. Medication provided little relief. So on 16 October 2024, he had a CT scan at the neurologist's, and a relapse was ruled out. However, they saw a pocket of pus in his mouth. The neurologist decided to open it from the outside.
Surgery was performed on 21 October 2024. Unfortunately, he found nothing and also forgot to extract a tooth. So my dog had to undergo two more anaesthetics and external drainage. I had the forgotten tooth extracted by my vet after two days because Theo continued to cry out. The attending vet suspected the forgotten tooth, which was removed on 25 October, along with several other exposed tooth roots. Fortunately, Theo tolerated all the anaesthetics at our vet's well. He tolerated those at the neurologist's very poorly. I was really worried about losing him.
From 24 November onwards, Theo had recurring ear infections. Was this a side effect of his immune system being suppressed by the cortisone?
On 17 December 2025, Theo cried out again: he had broken another tooth. Emergency surgery. Apparently, his teeth had been severely damaged by the cortisone. Seven more teeth were extracted.
On 21 January 2025, he was seen again with the same symptoms: Theo was screaming when eating and his cheek was swollen. The small animal centre had exhausted all its options and referred Theo to Hofheim. On 27 January, Theo underwent surgery in Hofheim. More teeth were extracted and the inflammation in his cheek from the summer of 2024 was finally resolved. Theo now has only 22 teeth.
The CT scan clearly shows that Theo has a severely brachycephalic skull, and it is possible that his soft palate will also require surgery at some point in his life. Theo was treated with phentanyl and is now finally pain-free.
In April 2025, almost two years after the start of treatment, we discontinued the last cortisone. So far, Theo's CRP level remains stable.
He currently needs twice the recommended amount of food to maintain his weight. It is unclear whether this is a result of his illness or a coincidence.
The figures: In 2023, Theo had three anaesthetics and cost €6,000 in veterinary fees. In 2024, Theo had four serious operations and anaesthetics and incurred around €10,000 in veterinary costs. In 2025, my ‘golden dog’ incurred ‘only’ €3,500 in veterinary costs and had only one operation/anaesthetic. In total, he cost just under €20,000 in veterinary bills and medication – not including food, equipment, insurance or training! And yet, Theo is the dog of my heart. There is no clearer, more empathetic dog, none that gives more in return. Between his bad phases of illness, Theo was a completely normal, friendly dog and was treated as such. He was allowed to play, work and test himself. I have never seen a dog with such a stable character. Despite his suffering, he is open and friendly towards the vet and all people. That is why, now that he has recovered, he has been trained as a therapy dog.
We know the breeder.

Katrin B., 21 October 2025

My Oana was born in March 2021 and came to me at the end of May 2021.
In mid-June, she had quite severe diarrhoea, so I took her to the vet. The diagnosis was giardia – not unusual in puppies and quickly passed.
At the end of June, we went for her vaccinations according to the vaccination schedule. The same happened at the end of July.
At the beginning of September, she was a bit listless and had discharge – so back to the vet – diagnosis: vaginal inflammation.
The same procedure then on 2 October 2021, but unfortunately there was no improvement, so on 3 October 2025, after she had become even more lethargic and apathetic and whimpered as soon as I touched her, I called the emergency vet, who told me that based on my description, it could be uterine inflammation and that her uterus would have to be removed. However, they couldn't perform the operation because it was a public holiday/Sunday and there was no surgical staff available.
She therefore referred me to a veterinary clinic (Dr. Tholen in Braunschweig).
I contacted them with the information that it could be uterine inflammation and was able to go there immediately.
An ultrasound was performed (without findings), blood and urine samples were taken and the mobility of her neck was examined – SRMA was immediately suspected here – he recommended a cerebrospinal fluid examination – I had the choice of leaving her there or taking her home and coming back the next day. I took her with me – first high dose of cortisone and painkillers administered.
First bill with surcharge approx. £270.
The next day, I took her for the cerebrospinal fluid test as agreed. This confirmed SRMA – so we went home with tablets and a medication plan – £340.
One week later for a follow-up examination: blood test/lab next tablet ration £130.
Two weeks later, new lab tests, £80.
Another two weeks later, new tablet ration, £45.
Another four weeks later, lab tests and tablets again, £120 (that was in mid-December and we had been able to reduce the dosage in small steps up to that point, or we could have come back at any time if her condition had deteriorated again).
Final examination at the beginning of February: £140, with the result that everything had developed well and the cortisone could now be completely phased out (I think it was 5 mg once a week at the end) and we were then finished at the end of February 2022 and have been without a relapse since then *touch wood*.
I was more than satisfied with the mild course of the illness and the great care provided by the clinic.
We had hardly any side effects except for increased thirst and corresponding urination and eating everything... in the end, she had some bald patches in her coat, but that grew back quickly.
But you're very vigilant, every day she's quieter... it's kind of exhausting mentally...
Costs for the veterinary clinic alone were €1,265 plus travel expenses (almost 100 km one way) and follow-up treatment for her intestines (she had the intestinal treatment from VetConzept because of the long-term cortisone administration).
Since then, I haven't had her vaccinated, as even the veterinary clinic couldn't tell me what exactly triggered it.
However, I read in the group that someone else from the same litter of the same bitch from the J. L. kennel (we know the breeder) was affected, so we can certainly assume it's hereditary.