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You may be wondering about the Akita Inu lifespan, how long your dog can be with you in life, and how to enhance their longevity. In this article, we will walk through everything related to the Akita Inu lifespan and give you an insight into this topic.
Let’s dive right in!
Akita Inu lifespan
The average Akita Inu lifespan is between 10 and 13 years. In fact, large breed dogs like Akita live shorter than smaller breeds because of early aging and genetic disorders.
However, the Akita dog lifespan also depends on many factors like diet, exercise, temperament… Some Akitas live a good life longer than thirteen. But some, unfortunately, don’t even reach ten by unexpected accident or illness.
How old is the oldest Akita?
Recognized by the Guinness World Records, the longest living Akita has died at the age of 26 years at home in Japan, equivalent to more than 125 years of human age.
Fortunately, there are many ways to prolong their lifespan and make them live much longer with you. We will discuss this later in the section below.
What affects the Akita Inu lifespan?
Two key factors affect Akita Inu dog lifespan:
One is the genetic information they inherit from their parents.
The other side is the events that happen to Akitas throughout their life such as disease, injury, and accidents.
Let’s discuss it in more detail!
• Genes
Every purebred dog inherits several Akita features that they will share with all other pedigree Akitas.
These genes do not just control coat color, the shape of ears, and the length of the tail. They also have control over their susceptibility and temperament to disease.
• Size
In reality, large dogs tend to age faster and have a shorter lifespan than smaller dogs. Of course, there will be exceptions. But generally, the longevity of a dog is quite strongly related to body size.
Akita is considered a large breed, and its size is a limiting factor in the lifespan of your dog. Briefly, the average Akita Inu lifespan is probably never as long as a toy poodle.
• Family history
The family history of your dog can help determine its lifespan. Talk with the breeder about his parents and ask how long they live and their diseases. It can give you a pretty good idea about your Akita Inu lifespan.
• Accidents
Many dogs die each year from accidents, and many of those are avoidable. Dogs left outside unattended are more prone to accidents.
Building a fence around your house will help your Akita avoid multiple risks. In addition, training them to come to you quickly when you call will help in emergencies.
Whatever your dog’s breed is, training is a must if you want to eliminate bad behavior and create the obedient, well-behaved dog of your dreams. You can choose suitable online classes from these 20 reputable SpiritDog Training courses to learn how to “successfully” train your canine using science-based positive methods, or grab the free guide below.
• Diet
No surprise, diet is the crucial factor that can prolong the Akita Inu lifespan and make your dog’s life better. Make sure you feed them well with a sufficient amount of calories and nutrients to help them fit and healthy.
Related post: The Very Best Food For Akita (A Complete Guide)
• Exercise
Akitas are known as excellent hunting and guard dogs. That’s why if you want to prolong their life, give your dog adequate exercise.
Thirty minutes to an hour a day with brisk walks, romping in the yard is good for them.
Avoid exercising directly after eating because they are prone to bloating.
In addition, don’t let puppies play on hard surfaces so the grass is fine. They should avoid jumping or jogging on hard surfaces until at least two years old when their joints are fully formed.
Regular exercise will increase the immunity to your Akita’s illness and help them enhance blood circulation, ease stress, and decrease blood pressure. Furthermore, it keeps your dog energetic and happy.
Your dog can become overweight and unhealthy easily if they do not exercise regularly.
• Temperament
Temperament is also a factor to consider in the Akita Inu lifespan. It is influenced by genes, but also intensely influenced by the environment. So, fear and anxiety have negative effects on the Akita Inu lifespan.
Most common Akita health issues
Here are some health issues that can affect their lifespan:
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV)
Hypothyroidism
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Sebaceous Adenitis (SA)
Hip dysplasia
Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH)
How to make your Akita live longer?
Every Akita can live longer than the average Akita dog lifespan if the owner provides them love and special care.
Let’s jump in a few essential things you can do to help your companion live longer and happier with you.
• Balanced diet
As mentioned above, a balanced diet is critical to enhancing the Akita Inu lifespan.
Every Akita is different, and one diet does not fit every dog. You can consult with your veterinarian to design a suitable balanced diet for your Akita to stay healthy.
It has to meet the nutritional requirements of your dog. Also, keep in mind that your Akita’s diet requirements will change over time, relying on their weight, age, and health.
Akitas commonly grow faster between three months of age and seven months, making them prone to bone disorders. And high-quality foods and low-calorie diets will prevent this.
Recently, obesity is becoming more and more common in dogs. It is a direct consequence of overfeeding.
Although studies have shown that reducing calorie intake can increase the Akita dog lifespan. Unfortunately, people are still ignoring this message and the negative effects of obesity.
Please keep track of your dog’s weight, adjust the diet to maintain a healthy weight, and feed them according to how they look and feel.
In short, it is vital to choose a high-quality diet that perfectly suits the needs of your Akita.
• Family Activities
Every dog loves to engage with family members in various activities. Don’t let your Akita alone for a long time as they are prone to be aggressive and depressed.
Additionally, Akitas need to exercise every day, especially walking with you. Like humans, their mental health is closely connected to their physical health.
Furthermore, you should buy toys to keep your dog busy when you’re out, especially if you live in an apartment.
An Akita with good mental and physical health can definitely live longer with you.
• Vet check-ups
Caring for your dog should involve scheduling annual general health checks with the veterinarian. Keep your dog’s vaccines up to date, take them for deworming treatments, antiparasitic treatments to remove fleas and ticks.
My final thoughts
The average Akita Inu lifespan is between 10-13 years. Many factors can affect how long they live. It is important to recognize these factors and hopefully extend their lives as much as possible.
The oldest Akita Inu dog lived for 26 years, which proves for us that with the right care, immense love, and a little luck, our friends could live into their teens and be with us for many years to come.
And before you leave, check out our best new puppy resource for new dog parents below ⇓
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