Japanese Akita Health
"Though the Akita is a generally healthy and robust breed, it can be afflicted with certain hereditary diseases that are of concern to breeders and fanciers alike"
(Japan Kennel Club ‘Akita’ Published 1996)
There are a few reasonable common health conditions that can affect Akita's as well as many other breeds. These include:
Bloat - a condition which mainly effects deep chested breeds of dog where the stomach is distendded and then rotates into a dangerous position. This can happen to any Akita at any stage of life and is fatal if it is not identified quickly and the animal taken to the vet for emergency surgery. It is vital that owners of Akita's be well versed on the symptoms of bloat to ensure that their beloved pet can be given the care they need in an emergency.
Hip Dysplasia - is a condition where there is a deformity of the hip joint and the ball of the femur can not fit properly into the hip socket. Animals can be genetically pre-disposed to Hip Dysplasia which is why it is important for dogs in any breeding program to be hipscored and achieve average/above average results for the breed. It is also very important to note that puppies born with perfect hips can develop Hip Dysplasia and other joint problems if they are not raised with care during the first 12 to 18 Months of their life.
While their bones and joints are still developing it is important that an Akita puppy not be allowed to jump up and down from things such as car seats, couches and beds. it is also important not to run a growing Akita on concrete or other hard surfaces (walking is fine but running is jarring and hard on their growing joints). Likewise, Slippery surfaces such as tile and wood floors can have an effect on the development of young dogs. In houses with other pets, it is important to limit vigorous play to a level suitable for your growing puppy. All of the above needs to be taken into account when considering to add a large puppy to your home.
Auto Immune Disorders
Sadly, the Akita breed is prone to Auto Immune disorders. The immune system is a defense network of white blood cells, antibodies, and other substances used to fight off infections and reject foreign proteins. It is a police force patrolling the body, designed to recognize "self" cells from "non-self" cells by markers found on the surface of every cell in the body.
Autoimmune disease is a kind of immune system failure where the ability of the immune system to recognize the "self" marker is lost, and it begins to attack and reject the body's own tissue as foreign. One specific tissue type such as red blood cells may be affected, or a generalized illness such as systemic lupus may result.
There are many theories as to what causes the immune system to short circuit and start rejecting normal body tissue, but the ultimate answer is "We don't know." Jean Dodds, a veterinarian studying immunology, feels that multivalent modified-live vaccines overstimulate the immune system. Others blame environmental pollutants or food preservatives such as ethoxyquin, an antioxidant found in most dog foods. There is strong evidence for a genetic factor in the development of autoimmune disease in many species. And some cases occur spontaneously, causing damage to kidneys, lungs, or thyroid gland.
Unfortunately cases of Sebaceous Adentis have already popped up in Australia, so it is a good idea to be aware of them if you are considering adding an Akita to your family; for more information click here
For Akitas and other breeds prone to Auto Immune disorders we strongly encourage owners to include Immunovet in their Pet's daily diet as a preventative measure to support and strengthen their Immune system.
More Related articles:
Article from 2014 Akita Annual regarding Auto Immune in Akitas