Raising dogs, especially providing care for the akita inu, is a specialty of people across the world. Experts postulate dogs were domesticated between 12,000 and 25,000 years ago—and that canines evolved from wolves. Since those days, people have selectively bred more than 400 different breeds, varying in size from 4-pound teacup poodles to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the title of tallest canine. But the most preferred canines are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mixed-breeds. The akita inu is also a favorite pick with dog owners. Many owners are misinformed, however, of some of the most important akita inu care tips.
Typical cost of care for the akita inu
The yearly budget for providing for your akita inu—including everything from food and treats, to doctor bills, toys and license—can vary between four hundred twenty and seven hundred eighty dollars. This is not even accounting for capital costs for spay/neuter operations, dog collar and a leash, a dog carrier and dog crate. Tip: Be positive you have procured all of the required supplies before getting your akita inu home for the 1st time.
General akita inu Care
How To Feed your akita inu
- akita inu puppies between 8 and 12 weeks old need four meals daily.
- Feed akita inu puppies 3 to 6 months old three meals in a day.
- Feed pups 6 months old to 1 year 2 times in a day.
- By the time your akita inu hits his 1st birthday, one meal each day is adequate.
- Many times akita inus might eat two lighter bowls. It is your job to learn your akita inu’s eating habits.
Excellent-quality dry dogfood ensures a well-rounded diet to grown akita inus and may be mixed with water, canned food, or broth. Your akita inu may also have a taste for cooked eggs, cottage cheese, and fruits and vegetables, but these additions should not total more than ten pct of her daily food allowance. akita inu pups should be given top-quality, brand-name puppy food. You should try to limit “people food”, however, because it can cause vitamin and mineral imbalances, tooth and bone problems, and may create some very finicky food choices and obesity. Give fresh, potable water always, and make sure to clean food and water dishes frequently.
akita inu Care Tips: Your akita inu needs physical activity daily
akita inus must get exercise so they can stay healthy, stimulate their brains, and keep healthy. Daily activity also seems to help akita inus avoid boredom, which has the potential to lead to destructive behavior. Supervised fun and games will satisfy many of your akita inu’s desires to chew, dig, chase, retrieve and herd. Individual exercise needs can depend on your akita inu’s age and her level of health—but just a couple of walks down the street every day and ten minutes outside probably won’t suffice. If your akita inu is a six to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will probably be a little higher.
akita inu Grooming
Regular brushing will help reduce shedding and keep your akita inu clean. Check for ticks and fleas daily during the summer or other warm weather. Sometimes akita inus don’t need to be bathed more than a few times a year. Prior to a bath, comb or cut out any and all mats from the akita inu’s coat. Rinse all soap from the coat, or dirt will stick to the soap residue.
Handling Your akita inu
Puppies are obviously easier to manage. To carry the akita inu pup, place 1 of your hands beneath your dog’s chest, either with your forearm or other hand supporting her back legs and rear. Don’t ever attempt to grab or lift your puppy by the front legs, nape or tail. If you must pick up a larger, adult akita inu, lift from the underside, holding her chest with 1 arm and rear end with the other arm.
How to House your akita inu
Your akita inu needs a warm peaceful spot in order to rest apart from all breezes and off the floor. You may wish to think about purchasing a doggie bed, or make one from a wooden box. Place a clean comforter or pillow in the bed for cushion. Wash your akita inu’s bedding frequently. If the akita inu will be spending a lot of time outdoors, make sure she has plenty of cool water and covering in hot weather, and a covered, dry, warm area in winter.
akita inu Licensing and Identification
Make sure to follow your city’s licensing rules. Be sure you attach the license to your akita inu’s collar. This, along with an ID tag, can help you recover your akita inu should he go missing.
akita inu Temperament Info
About Training Your akita inu
Well-behaved, companion akita inus can be a blessing to own. But when untrained, your akita inu can be troublesome. Teaching your akita inu the basics—”Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, and “Leave it”—will strengthen your relationship with both the dog and your house guests. If you have a puppy, begin teaching him the right behavior as soon as possible! Use food as an incentive and a reward. Puppies can be enrolled in obedience class when they are sufficiently vaccinated. Contact the local SPCA or humane society for information about obedience schools. It is best to walk your akita inu leashed in public, even while a puppy. Be positive your doggie will come back to you if you call him. An aggressive or disobedient akita inu cannot play with other people.
Your akita inu’s Health
akita inus should see the vet for a complete exam, shots and a heartworm blood screening each year, and ASAP if he is hurt or sick.
The Oral Health of Your akita inu
While many of us might object to our akita inu’s bad breath, it’s important to be aware of what it might be a symptom of. Halitosis is a sign that your akita inu requires an oral screening. Plaque brought on by unhealthy bacteria creates a terrible odor that can only be freshened with treatment by a professional. Once your akita inu has had a professional oral cleaning, the teeth and gums can be kept up by feeding a special diet focused on dental health, eliminating table food, and regular brushing. Your veterinarian can provide you with additional advice for eradicating periodontal problems and halitosis. You can clean your akita inu’s teeth with a doggie paste or a homemade paste made of baking soda and water once or twice a week. Clean them with a piece of nylon pantyhose stretched across the finger, a gauze pad, or a soft, child’s toothbrush. Periodontal disease,which is an infection between the gum and tooth, sometimes affects akita inus. This painful affliction can lead to loss of your akita inu’s teeth as well as spread disease throughout her body. The veterinarian will sometimes clean the akita inu’s teeth as part of the typical health analysis.
Bad Breath in akita inus
While halitosis due to oral disease might not be serious if detected early enough, sometimes odors may also be indicative of more serious, persistent issues. Liver or intestinal diseases can also cause halitosis, and a fruity, sweet smell can often be a sign of diabetes. When your akita inu’s breath smells like ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possible reason. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your akita inu has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
Dealing with Ticks and Fleas in akita inus
Daily inspections of your akita inu for ticks and fleas throughout the summer are crucial. Remove fleas with a flea comb. There are many new procedures of tick and flea mitigation. Talk with your vet about her or his recommendations.
Heartworms in akita inus
This parasite lives in the heart and is passed from a contaminated dog to your akita inu by way of mosquitoes. Heartworm infestations can be potentially deadly. It is wise to make sure your akita inu submits to a blood test for heartworms every spring—this is necessary to detect infestations from the past year. You should also give your akita inu a monthly pill in mosquito season in order to protect her from heartworms. Your akita inu should be on heartworm medication throughout a winter trip to a warmer climate. In some warmer areas, vets advise preventive parasite medication be taken all year.
Medications and Poisons
Never, ever give your akita inu medicine that hasn’t been prescribed by her veterinarian. One little ibuprofen tablet is known to cause stomach ulcers in akita inus. Keep rat poison and other rodenticides away from your akita inu. Be sure to immediately call your dog’s doctor when you have cause to suspect your akita inu has ingested poison. You may also immediately call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for 24 hour help.
akita inus: Spaying and Neutering
It is recommended that female akita inus be spayed—which is the removal of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—extraction of the testicles—by six months old. You usually will greatly diminish your female akita inu’s breast cancer risk by spaying prior to adulthood. Spaying also eradicates the risk of an infected uterus, a traumatic condition in older females that can only be treated with intensive medical care and surgery. Prostate diseases, testicular cancer, some hernias and certain aggressive behavior are preventable by neutering males.
Shots for your akita inu
- Your akita inu pup should be innoculated with a combination shot (called a “five-in-one”) at 2, 3 and 4 months of age, and then once annually. This innoculation immunizes your akita inu puppy from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. Your akita inu puppy’s vaccination regimen cannot be completed prior to 4 months of age.
- If you have the rare akita inu who has not been innoculated and is older than 4 or five months, he will need a series of 2 vaccinations given two to three weeks apart, followed by an annual innoculation.
- Your akita inu pup’s vaccinations should coincide with her socialization program. You can take your akita inu pup to socialization courses by eight or nine weeks old, as recommended by most vets. At this age, they should have already received at least their first immunizations.
Regulations vary so much between different areas, that it’s best to contact your community vet to get rabies vaccination info. For instance, NYC statutes declare that pets older than three months be vaccinated for rabies. The original rabies immunization must be followed up by a subsequent immunization a year later, and then every three years after that. There are several immunizations, many of which are appropriate for your akita inu. There are others that are not, however. Ask your akita inu’s vet for his opinion. Also, if your akita inu gets sick because he is not properly vaccinated, do not administer the vaccination until the dog has made a full recovery.
Hookworms in akita inus
akita inus are often exposed to worms—in all areas, both rural and urban. Eggs that carry hookworms are transmitted through a akita inu’s feces. Most puppies, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry roundworms or hookworms. Getting an accurate, early detection is the secret to treatment. This will make sure that the medication is highly effective against the parasite your akita inu has. A dewormer that eradicates hookworms, for example, will not kill tapeworms. Your akita inu’s doctor can best identify the culprit—and decide the effective medicine.
Additional akita inu Care Tips
akita inu Supply Checklist
- Top-quality dog food and snacks designed for akita inus and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- As many safe toys as you can provide, especially chewable
- Comb & brush for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with ID tag and license
- Quality leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Training crate
- Dog bed or box with warm sheet or towel
- Doggie or child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
Never, ever feed your akita inu the following:
- Alcohol, beer, wine or liquor
- Chocoloate or any food with caffeine
- Raisins & grapes
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, garlic and chives
- Bones of chicken, turkey, or any other animal (choking hazard)
- Salt and salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit and stems
- Dough
The “Bottom” Line
Keep your akita inu on a leash whenever you are outdoors, unless you are in a fenced-in, secured spot. And please, when your akita inu defecates on your neighbor’s lawn, remove it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about akita inus
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