The health of Akita is very important as male breed can reach 125 pounds while female dog can reach 100 pounds. If an Akita is taken care healthily by proper diet and exercises, it can live up to 10 to 12 years. In terms of diet, always feed your Akita puppy with high quality of dry food 2 to 3 times a day as for a growing Akita puppy, it needs large amount of food in the first year. However, adult Akitas only need to be fed once or twice every day.
A large dog such as Akitas should have plenty of exercises to maintain the body weight and keep themselves stay healthy. From young as in puppy age, you need to teach them by walking them on a leash and teach them to socialize with others such as dogs and other people. Besides walking, having large fenced yard where Akitas can safely romp around is good for their health, and they like it very much.
No matter how good you’re trying to maintain every breed of dogs, they always seem to inherit genetic disorders that can strike your dog. It happens to Akita dog too. For Akitas, it has several health problems that always found on them. Try to be aware of the potential diseases that might affect the dog, and be prepared for that. By doing this, you can have peace of mind in keeping your Akita safe.
Common Akita Health Issues
1. Autoimmune Hypothyroiditis
One of the common health issues with Akitas is autoimmune hypothyroiditis. It is a thyroid sickness that can cause problems such as obesity, lethargy, hyperactivity and emaciation. It may happen to your dog in a sudden with a quick change in its behavior. Thyroid play important role in Akita’s immune system, if thyroid fail, it may be very vulnerable to diseases and several illnesses may arise.
2. Shedding and Skin Problems
Keeping Akita immunized can prevent them affected with diseases. One of the ways is keep the coat brushed as this can help to control shedding and help them free from skin problems.
3. Allergy
Akita might be sensitive or allergic to several drugs such as anesthesia. Even veterinarian know this, it is a good practice to remember this when your dog is receiving treatment or undergone medical procedure from veterinarian. You should test the medication slowly with your Akita to make sure that no serious health issues happen to your dog.
At every age of Akita, there might have different diseases, such as vision and hip problems. You should consult the veterinarian if your Akita is having any sign of health problems. Even without any sign of sickness, it is recommended to bring them to vet for check up every few months to make sure that they are healthy and stay out of diseases. Try to understand your Akita’s normal behavior and eating patterns as this will help you to identify the health issues and treat it immediately if any illnesses occur.