Akita Lifespan How Long Do Akita Live
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Akita Lifespan: How Long Do Akitas Live?

Last Updated on January 17, 2023 by Evan

Akita, a large-size breed with unique heritage, has two distinct varieties: American Akita and Japanese Akita. Its life expectancy averages 10-13 years – similar to other large breeds like German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers. But its size means it often ages quickly, suffering earlier from genetic disorders than smaller breeds.

So how can we help our furry friends live long and healthy lives? With the right care and knowledge of common genetic ailments, we’ll make sure your Akita enjoys many happy years by its side.

From inherited diseases such as hip dysplasia to cancer, let’s take a look at the most common ailments that can significantly shorten an Akita’s lifespan – and just how to prevent them.

We’ll also learn about specific dietary needs for this breed as well as any special healthcare precautions owners should take. So grab your pup’s leash and join us on our quest to keep that 8-year-old pup feeling like a puppy!

What is the Average Lifespan of an Akita?

Akitas can live long and strong! An average lifespan of 10 to 13 years (according to American Kennel Club) is a pretty solid amount of time for such an amazing dog breed. But there’s no way to know how long your Akita will live – it depends on lots of things like what they eat, how much exercise they get, and their bloodline.

Most Akitas will hit the 10-13 year mark but we want to make sure your pup lives even longer! That’s why it’s so important take great care of your pet with lots of love, attention, and companionship.

That’s not all though – there are other ways you can help extend the life of your Akita too. Find out more in the sections below!

What Affects the Lifespan of Akitas?

Whenever you’re thinking of getting a four-legged furry buddy, it’s important to consider which breed can stick around with you longest.

For example, Akitas can live long and happy lives if taken care of properly. Pre-existing health or genetic factors can play a huge role in how long an Akita will stay with its owners, but with the right conditions and nutrition, Akitas can be your friends for life!

The post care is also really important for the breed: regular checkups from the vet, exercise and lots of love are musts for keeping your pooch in top shape! All these details combined make sure that an Akita’s life expectancy is as healthy and fulfilling as possible.

The following are the factors that influence life expectancy:

  • Genetic Pool
  • Family history
  • Size
  • Exercise
  • Diet

Genetic Pool

Small breeds and designer breeds are great choices if you’re looking for a pup with a long lifespan. Their strong genetic pool ages much more slowly than larger and jumbo-size pooches, keeping them frisky and youthful longer.

But maybe your heart is set on a larger breed, like a German Shepherd. If you still want one of these fabulous furballs despite their shorter life expectancy, that’s ok too!

Just remember, when deciding on the right breed for you, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of their lifespan so that you can be sure to get the perfect pal who’ll stick around for many happy years to come.

Family History

Genes are an essential part of any breed when it comes to lifespan. So, if you’re considering an Akita, ask the breeder about their parents’ lifespans and health conditions. It will give you a hint about how long to expect your own pup to live for.

Doing research before buying a pet is one of the best ways to ensure your furry friend is in good hands from day one.

Make sure to get all the key information about their history, diet and overall care routine so that there are no surprises down the road.

Including asking about potential genetic diseases or issues that could arise as they age.

Be sure to understand what kind of support system and veterinary visits they’ll need too so you can provide them with a healthy and happy life.

Size

Akitas are large and powerful pooches that can dominate in the working world. However, this larger size of theirs means they typically have a shorter lifespan than their smaller canine counterparts. On average, Akitas will live between 10 and 13 years – much sooner than little pups who often make it to 15 or 16 years old!

Mastiffs, one of the giganto pup breeds, also tend to have a much shorter lifespan – roughly 7 to 8 years. So it’s actually pretty impressive when an Akita makes it past the 10 year mark!

Don’t fret too much: if you take proper care of your Akita and provide them with enough nourishment and exercise, there’s a good chance they may even exceed the average lifespan of their breed. Other large breed dogs like German Shepherds are similar in size to Akitas and have about the same life expectancy so consider them as reference points as well!

Exercise

If you have an Akita at home, regular exercise is a must! Not only does it help keep them fit and healthy, but it also reduces the risk of obesity and strengthens their immune system.

Plus, exercising with your pup is fun too! Take them for walks around the neighbourhood, throw a ball around in your garden or backyard or play some good old hide-and-seek.

Just remember not to overexert them immediately after meals, as they are prone to bloating. This breed of dog needs lots of love and regular care in order to reach its full potential.

So make sure you take the time to exercise your Akita – because an active happy pup is sure to put a smile on your face every day!

Diet

Diet is the key to a long and healthy life – it’s not rocket science. Belgian researchers recently found that what you feed your pup has an enormous impact on its life expectancy.

So if you want your Akita to live as long as possible, prioritise its diet. Make sure it gets the perfect balance of everything it needs: plenty of nutrients, and enough calories to stay happy and healthy.

Don’t forget that without attention to diet, even the longest-lived Akitas won’t stay with you quite so long. It’s worth taking the time to get it right!

What can I do to Extend the Life of my Akita?

We should talk about how to extend the lifespan of your Akita. With the right care and exercise, any dog can live longer than expected.

Below are effective methods for increasing the lifespan of your Akita:

  • Special Care
  • Family Activities
  • Balanced Diet

Special Care

Raising a puppy requires special care. Akitas in particular quickly grow from 3 to 7 months, increasing the risk for bone-related disorders. Careful diet and nutrition with low calories, high-quality food and playtime on soft surfaces is key. Keep them away from pavements! Soft grass fields are perfect for pup playtime!

It’s so important to get it right those early days. A proper balanced diet is essential for healthy growth and regular exercise can help build strong bones in puppies.

That’s why special attention should be given to their nutritional needs, minimizing stressful activities, avoiding intensive exercise on hard surfaces, and making sure they get enough rest each day. With more tender loving care, you can ensure your Akita grows up feeling safe and secure while also achieving their fullest potential!

Family Activities

Akitas are powerful guardians that need to keep their minds and muscles engaged! Activities like jogging, brisk walking, and romping in the yard for 30 min – 1 hour a day are perfect for Akitas. Get everyone in your family involved too – it’s more fun for everyone and helps Akitas live happy and fulfilled lives.

If you don’t keep Akitas mentally and physically stimulated, they can quickly grow aggressive or depressed, so don’t leave them alone for too long. Instead, enjoy time together with these amazing pups by finding creative ways to stay active!

Balanced Diet

Feeding your Akita a balanced diet is key to their lifelong success! For an Akita, 3 to 5 cups of high-quality dry food per day is all they need. Monitor their weight and adjust the diet accordingly so they don’t fall short on nutrition.

Don’t assume one diet fits all; each dog’s needs are unique. Get your Akita the personalised nourishment it deserves with help from a vet knowledgeable in pet nutrition.

This way, you can make sure your pup’s supplement intake makes up for any nutrition gaps and keeps them energized, strong and healthy for life!

What are the Common Health Issues Affecting Akitas?

To be a responsible dog owner, one must be aware of the health issues that may affect their pet. This is especially true for purebreds and designer breeds, which may have inherited conditions from the parents.

The following are some of the health issues commonly seen in Akitas:

  • Gastric dilatation-volvulus
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
  • Sebaceous adenitis (SA)
  • Hip dysplasia

Gastric Dilation-Volvulus

Gastric dilation-volvulus is a life threatening condition specific to the Akita. It’s caused when the stomach twists and fills up with gases and fluids, otherwise known as bloating. It usually happens due to eating one large meal a day, drinking excessive water, or exercising shortly after eating.

The signs of this medical emergency are very telling: low blood pressure, a distended abdomen, foaming mouth and non-productive retching. If these symptoms appear in your Akita, don’t wait – seek veterinary help immediately!

Beyond the physical side effects, Gastric Dilation-Volvulus can have an emotional toll too. An afflicted pup may become depressed, restless, weak or lethargic – all indicators that something’s very wrong.

Be proactive! Monitor your Akita closely for any changes to their behavior or mood in case of GDV developments. And remember: prevention is always better than cure!

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism affects our Akita in more ways than one. Its most obvious symptom is the lack of thyroid hormones, which leads to constipation, epilepsy, hair loss, lethargy and obesity.

But this illness can go even deeper. It slows metabolism down making meals harder to digest and can lead to some tricky skin issues.

So what can we do? Well the answer is simple – Get your Akita the help they need. With proper medication and diet, you can get them back on their feet feeling happy and healthy.

Don’t let hypothyroidism stand in your pup’s way! Give them an extra paw to make sure they receive the proper care they need.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

Progressive Retinal Atrophy, or PRA, is a serious and permanent eye disorder for dogs. It’s also known as Progressive Rod and Cone Degeneration, or PRCD. This condition affects the retina of the eyes, causing rod cells programmed to die off and leading to night blindness as a Symptom.

It’s heartbreaking to watch your Akita struggling with sight issues and not being able to cure it. The worst part is that the disease gets worse and worse over time, eventually leading to complete loss of vision for your furry friend.

But even though there isn’t any cure yet for this disorder, all is not lost! While it can be difficult to adjust at first, most Akitas can learn how to adapt and cope by simply relying on more than just their eyesight as they become gradually blind.

Sebaceous Adenitis (SA)

Sebaceous adenitis (SA) is a skin-travaging disorder. It causes inflammation of the sebaceous glands beneath the skin – with these glands destroyed, they can no longer produce Sebum, leaving your pet’s skin dry and scaly.

Along with a lack of natural lubricant, symptoms can also include hair loss on the neck, back and head. It can even cause thickened skin and secondary bacterial infections which often have an unpleasant odor.

Finding treatment for SA isn’t simple either. It involves a biopsy from your veterinarian plus various other treatments to help mess with the misery and manage it from there!

Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia can plague nearly every dog breed, and Akitas are no exception. This painful, genetic disorder causes joints to be misaligned in the hind legs, leading to difficulty with movement and other symptoms like lameness and stiffness.

Unfortunately, medium and larger breeds are more vulnerable than smaller ones – but this doesn’t have to be a life sentence.

With early diagnosis, owners of Akita dogs have options: corticosteroids or anti-inflammatories given in nutritional supplements can help treat cases of hip dysplasia – but the earlier you catch it, the better!

It’s important to pay close attention throughout your Akita’s lifespan, as hip dysplasia can manifest as young as five months old.

So keep an eye on things to ensure their future health and happiness is secured!

My Final Thoughts

Akitas are muscular, powerful and dominating as watchdogs. Without proper activities and care, they can become very aggressive. When properly cared for, Akita pups can live happily in your home up to 13 amazing years.

The longest living Akita known is 26-years-old and it proves that with the right care, the dog’s life expectancy increases significantly.

Generally, bigger breeds tend to age faster compared to smaller ones such as Chihuahuas, so you need to make sure your Akita is properly taken of at all times. Exercise, regular diet and ample love will help them achieve a fulfilled long life.

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