How many years have Akita Inu been living and what does it depend on?

The sensational film "Hachiko: the most faithful friend", released in 2008, not only told the whole world an amazing story of dog loyalty, but also made the Akita Inu breed popular not only at home, in Japan, but also in other countries. The story of the dog’s loyalty did not leave anyone indifferent, and many wanted to become the owner of the same unique dog. More than ten years have passed, and the popularity of Akita Inu is only growing. However, it is important to know that these dogs do not have a long life span. The task of each owner is to extend the years of his pet as much as possible.

The average life span of these dogs is 10-12 years old. It is considered that females live longer than males, but only for a couple of months. Before World War II, the life span was 14-15 years, but the genetic background was disrupted by the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and since then, Akita Inu have almost never lived longer than 12 years.

Dogs of this breed can boast excellent health. Basically, the diseases that representatives of Akita Inu are prone to do not carry mortal danger, however, constant malaise without treatment violates the emotional background of the animal, physical discomfort does not allow you to take long walks, and this all becomes prerequisites for the occurrence of early death.

Among congenital and acquired diseases in such puppies, the following ailments are found:

• entropy;
• hip dysplasia;
• bloating;
• glaucoma, cataract;
• pseudoparalytic myasthenia gravis;
• von Willebrand disease;
• retinal atrophy.

Even the sudden death of the dog can lead to treatment. Perhaps a particular animal is allergic or hypersensitive to certain drugs, which means that drug treatment will cause the opposite effect. Among deadly diseases, tuberculosis, rabies, false rabies are distinguished - in this case, the dog is euthanized, since there are no drugs for these diseases.

Often leads to death by the irresponsibility of the owner. The owner, walking the dog without a leash, the animal can get under the car, get lost, become a victim of a stray dog ​​pack.

To extend the life of the pet, it is necessary to provide him with suitable conditions.

Good animal health is the key to its longevity. Without proper nutrition, it is impossible to maintain the dog’s health at the right level. Food that is customary to feed other breeds of dogs often becomes inappropriate for akita inu. Genetically, this dog came from island ancestors, eating fish, seafood, rice, algae. Therefore, other foods, such as foods that are high in animal protein, can cause an allergic reaction in a pet, and therefore it is important to maintain this diet.

Including fish in the menu, you should buy only a one-component product. They need to be fed at least twice a week. The amount of fish portion should be equal to a double portion of meat. Algae beneficial to the health of Akita Inu can be offered to your pet in tablets. It is recommended to add cottage cheese, kefir, unsalted cheese, yogurt to the diet. From raw meat you can offer rabbit meat or horse meat, other types are allowed only in the absence of allergies. Allergies can also be caused by cereals, for example, wheat or oatmeal, but the body of these dogs responds well to buckwheat, rice or millet, therefore it is recommended to include these cereals in the diet.

To supplement the menu with vitamins and other useful elements, You can feed the dog vegetables and fruits. Carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, eggplant and other products that do not cause fermentation processes are suitable. It is permissible to give fruit to puppies only after reaching the age of four months. Spicy and fatty foods should not be offered to dogs. Spices, spices, sausages - all this will negatively affect the health of the animal. Do not treat your pet with sweets, although dogs of this breed love pastry treats. High sugar foods lead to diabetes.

Observe the daily allowance indicated on the package. Before choosing a feed, it is best to consult a veterinarian. He will study the health status of the dog and select the most suitable diet for its weight.

These dogs are characterized by long-term molting. Abundant hair loss can occur from January to February and from May to June. At this time, comb out the pet daily. In the remaining months, it is enough to comb the hair once a week. If the molting does not end, then we can assume that the dog is sick or does not eat well. Also, the reason for the permanent loss of wool may be too dry air in the apartment.

Once a week the dog needs to brush his teeth, for this you can use a special tool. Examine regularly eyes and ears. If discharge and an unpleasant odor are noticed, then the pet should be shown to the veterinarian. Once a month, trim the dog's claws. In animals living at home, they do not grind well, which is why artificial procedure is required.

Each owner wants his four-legged friend to live with him as long as possible. Even an old animal, with proper care, can please the owner for several more years. In order for the elderly Akita Inu to reach his natural end, observe the following rules.

• Visit the veterinary clinic a couple of times a year, even if the dog does not have symptoms. If there are signs of the disease (the animal is passive, refuses to eat, seeks to get into a dark corner), do not wait for the appointed date, take the pet to a specialist outside the plan.
• Comb your dog more often. You can use special hair care products.
• Continue walking the dog as usual. Active walks significantly extend the life of an elderly animal. But make sure that your pet is not overworked while jogging.
• Do not allow an increase in body weight, reduce the volume of the daily portion. Pay particular attention to the teeth.
• Try not to stress the dog, avoid changing the environment, do not forget to still caress and scratch the dog. In old age, psychological comfort for the animal is very important.

Learn more about Akita Inu from the next video.