Austin Vet Clinic

The Akita

The Akita is a large, heavy, wolf-like dog breed that originally came from the north. As such, the Akita’s appearance reflects its upbringing, with its bear-like head, heavy bone weight, and thick fur coat. The Akita is well known for its gently curling tail, typical of many dogs of similar stature. Akitas can grow to as large as 100 pounds for females and 130 pounds for males.

Behavior

Because of the common ancestry with wolves, Akitas tend to communicate in many of the same ways as wolves do. They tend to grunt, growl, grumble, and “talk”, but this is rarely an aggressive trait. Much like wolves, they also communicate with their mouths by gnawing on things, including your hands! They tend to be very gentle when doing this, but this can be frightening for guests and small children, so if this may be a problem, you should provide the Akita with a number of chew toys and similar objects to attract its attention.

Health Problems

Akitas are generally healthy dogs, but being larger breeds, they are susceptible to bone and joint disorders, especially of the knees and hips. They also are especially susceptible to a condition known as gastric torsion, which you should discuss with your veterinarian. Additionally, many Akitas have been known to develop thyroid disorders, which can be diagnosed using simple blood tests for thyroid levels, and this can be treated using simple thyroid supplementation.

For more veterinary care, breed specific, and other general pet health care questions, contact your Austin Vet Clinic.