Prevention of Boxer Dog Cancer. In many cases, it is genetics that will play the role in a dog getting cancer. As a loving owner, you can take steps to help prevent this frightening health issue. 1  Keep your Boxer away from 2nd hand smoke-this plays a very big role. Environmental (outside elements such as 2nd hand smoke). 2  Random mutation of the cells may occur with no known explanation. 3  Injuries that may happen as a puppy can then lead to bone cancer as an adult dog-Many bone cancer cases occur at the site where a dog injured or broke a bone as a puppy.