The Health of Your Akita

Disclaimers:
The inclusion of a service, organization or program on this page is NOT an endorsement or recommendation. We are not able to guarantee the quality of services. We strongly suggest that you check them out yourself before using a specific service.

If your dog is having ANY medical or behavior problems that might be related to health, you should take your dog to your Veterinarian. Behavior problems that might be caused by health issues are things like newly developed aggression, some anxiety issues, a dog wandering as if in a trance & so many more.

Bloat - Akitas are in the top 10 breeds prone to bloat
What Bloat looks like (Will be disturbing to some): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1WrT2719yo&app=desktop (Added 1/21/15)
Quick Reference Guide for bloat https://akitaclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/bloat.jpg (Added 2/4/2021)
Risk Factors For Bloat (Added 5/28/15)

Thyroid Issues
Dr Dodds is an incredible resource for thyroid information & dogs: http://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/ (Added 1/22/15)
Thyroid testing - comprehensive https://hemopet.org/hemolife/thyroid-testing/ (Added 1/22/15)
Aggression & Thryoid -  http://www.akitarescue.com/aggression%20and%20thyroid.htm  (Added 1/28/15)

Sebaceous Adenitis
Taka's Story - An SA Diary http://www.akita-friends.com/special/SA/story.htm (Added 1/28/15)
What is Sebaceous Adonitis & how is it diagnosed https://www.ofa.org/DISEASES/OTHER-DISEASES/SEBACEOUS-ADENITIS  (Added 1/28/15)

UV or VKH: Uveodermatologic Syndrome (VKH-like syndrome)
What is UV (canines) or VKH (humans)? A complex of symptoms affecting the immune system, skin/pigment, eyes & other organs https://www.jawt.co.uk/vogt-koyanagi-harada-syndrome/ (Added 2/4/2021)
Case Study in a 2 year old Akita https://eyedvm.com/animal-eye-care/case-study/uveodermatologic-syndrome-in-dog/ (Added 2/4/2021)

PRA - Progressive Retinal Atrophy - Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an inherited disease of the retina (the “film in the camera”) in dogs, in which the rod cells in the retina are programmed to die. Usually the first clinical signs that the owner often notices are night-blindness (poor vision in dim light) and that the pupils are dilated; owners often notice a “glow” and increased “eye shine” from the eyes.
http://animaleyecare.net/diseases/pra/    (Added 1/28/15)

Pemphigus - Pemphigus is a disease that results when the body's immune defenses attack its own skin.
http://www.akita-association.org/pemphigus.htm (Added 2/4/2021)
What pemhigus looks like DuckDuckGo search images of pemphigus in dogs (Added 2/4/21)

Cruciate Ligament Tears - The most common orthopedic problem in Akitas is cranial cruciate ligament rupture.
https://akitahealth.wordpress.com/ccl-rupture/ (Added 2/4/2021)
https://healthyandhappydog.com/cranial-cruciate-ligament-tear/  (Added 2/4/2021)

Thinking outside the box for physical limitations
Eating problems due to megaesophagus (one mans solution) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRl9fb4h_eg
This is not a condition many people will ever see, but we've added the link to encourage you to think outside the box for solutions to physical issues - Of course you should ALWAYS consult your vet (Added 1/21/15)

Keeping a dogs nails clipped to a proper length is very important. If they get too long, they can be uncomfortable & cause pain for your Akita when walking. Clipping a dogs nails can be a HUGE deal, especially if the dog has ever had someone clip them too short before. If you are unsure at all about how far to trim or how to do it properly, talk to your vet or a VERY experienced groomer. A lot of Akitas have dark nails & that can make it difficult to determine where to not cut. If you got your Akita from a reputable breeder they can also give you advice & show you how to do it.