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The Very Best Food For Akita (A Complete Guide 2024)

Last updated on March 10th, 2024 at 04:13 pm

The Akita is one of the most loyal breeds you can find! And feeding them the proper diet is one of the most important things you can do if you want your Akita to live a long, healthy, happy life. But finding the best food for Akita can be confusing and stressful for owners! We know exactly how you feel. After reading this post, you won’t leave empty-handed. So let’s jump in and find the best dog food for Akitas!

Akita nutrition 101

There are tons of choices on the market, and they all claim to be the best. In order to choose the REAL best Akita food for your dog from infancy through the golden years, there are a few things you need to know. For the most part, nutrition for large dogs is similar to that of small and medium dogs. However, there are a few important exceptions. 

Akitas require a complete and balanced diet formulated specifically for the large breed to avoid certain health risks like orthopedic disease, obesity, and bloat. Unfortunately, all of these diseases are greatly influenced by their diet. 

A high-quality dog food combines easily digestible sources of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals to ensure your dog gets all the nutrition he needs every day. Talk to your vet if you want to feed your Akita a homemade or another diet. Your vet will give you nutrition advice and address any other questions you may have regarding dog nutrition.

Best food for Akita puppies

Dogs require a variety of nutrients in different quantities throughout their lives. The nutritional needs of an Akita puppy are far different from an adult dog. Due to their rapid growth, large breed puppies are very sensitive to nutrient and calorie intake. All factors like imbalance, deficiency, and excess will negatively affect your Akita’s health.

Growing too quickly is not healthy! Unfortunately, most developmental orthopedic diseases occur in large-breed dogs with rapid growth rates, which include a wide range of conditions such as:

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia 
  • Osteochondrosis/osteochondritis dissecans of the shoulder
  • Hypertrophic osteodystrophy
best food for akita

How you feed your Akita puppy also matters. Since excessive growth is often caused by overnutrition, you need to give your Akita puppy food designed for large breed dogs to meet their requirements.

Instead of free feeding your puppy, you should give him several smaller meals throughout the day. Talk to your vet to find the ideal weight range for your dog, and monitor their weight to ensure that they stay within a healthy range. It is a good idea to feed your Akita a puppy formula food. Many owners also like to feed their dogs “all life stages” food because of its convenience and nutritional guarantee.

You may want to get a bowl that can slow down your Akita’s eating to prevent them from eating too fast. The dividers in slow feeder dog bowls will help prevent your puppy from gulping down the food when you put it in the bowl. That is much better for their digestion.

Best Akita food for adult dogs   

Akitas don’t reach full maturity until they are about two years old, but you should start introducing them to adult food at around age one if you don’t feed them “all life stages” food. Adult large-breed dogs, like the Akita, are more prone to certain conditions like obesity, bloat, and orthopedic disease. And they are influenced by their nutrition.

For suggestions and advice on switching puppies to adult dog food, always consult your vet and ask for their recommendations on the best large-breed food that suits your Akita. 

Best Akita food for senior dogs

Akitas should start eating senior food around the age of eight when they reach their golden years. But you don’t need to do it if you feed them all-life stage food.

Due to their decreased activity levels, senior Akitas require less fat and energy. Many vets recommend feeding senior Akitas a low-calorie or light diet. A lighter diet will reduce the risk of developing kidney problems, which are common in older Akita dogs.

Best treats for Akitas   

best food for akita

We have a couple of different types of treats out there. First, we would use crunchier treats for specific situations like going in their crate, going outside to potty, or something like that. So, your Akita deserves to be rewarded for all the good things they do. For training treats, you may want something that is very low-calorie, so you don’t need to worry if you’re doing a bunch of training sessions.

A tip when choosing training treats for your pup is to pick one that is small in size as a raisin or something super moist that you can easily tear off. It’s a good idea to get a bunch of different flavors so you can figure out what’s your dog’s favorite to optimize your training sessions.

How much should an Akita weigh?

Male Akitas typically weigh between 100 and 130 pounds at full maturity, while females weigh between 70 and 100 pounds.

How much should an Akita eat a day?

As obesity climbs at alarming rates and has been linked to many serious health problems in dogs, knowing how much to feed your furry friend is crucial. But it can be tricky! There is no easy answer to the question: how much to feed Akita puppy or any canines? Calorie requirements vary from dog to dog. The amount of food your Akita needs depends on many factors such as age, activity level, season, breastfeeding, illness, etc.

The price of large breed dog food

The expense of feeding a large breed dog like the Akita is higher than that of a small breed since large dogs need more. It is tempting to purchase cheap food to save money. But remember that choosing high-quality food is an investment in the well-being of your best friend!

You will get exactly what you pay for. With cheap, poor-quality food, your Akita will be more susceptible to illness, which requires more treatment at the veterinary clinic. Of course, that will cost a lot of money. But more importantly, those foods will shorten your dog’s lifespan!

So what is the best dog food for Akitas?

best food for akita

Most pet food options on the market currently contain the ideal ratio of vitamins and nutrients for a dog to survive, but there is a big difference between surviving and thriving. What is the best food for Akita? The best food for Akita is fresh food that’s nutritionally complete and balanced for dogs, as well as optimal meal plans for different combinations of breed, age, activity level, ideal weight, and sensitivities.

It is ultimately up to you to decide the suitable food for your Akita. As an owner, you are the one who sees your dog most often. Also, your vet is a valuable resource for you since they know more about pet nutrition than the average owner.

Last but not least…

Many readers have loved learning how to train their dogs based on scientific methods from a free workshop conducted by Dr. Alexa Diaz (one of the top service dog trainers in the U.S.) and Eric Presnall (host of the hit Animal Planet TV show “Who Let the Dogs Out”) at the K9 Training Institute. In the free workshop, you’ll discover:

    1. How to train your dog using body language rather than verbal cues
    2. The 3 key techniques that service dog trainers use to train dogs and how you can use them too
    3. The most important step that “normal” dog owners have been missing (this is very important to get your dog’s attention, and it works 100% of the time)
    4. How to stop bad behaviors like excessive barking, pulling on the leash, jumping, etc.
    5. Why a lot of dog owners are unable to establish the amazing bond that service dog trainers have with their dogs

Etc.

Whether your dog is a puppy or an adult, this pre-recorded workshop will help you train them successfully. You may not want to miss the chance to learn these groundbreaking techniques. Here’s the free workshop.

About us: Pet Chao is a community for Asian dog breed enthusiasts. Our goal is to keep you and your four-legged friend healthy and happy by providing valuable resources and fostering a like-minded community.