Breed
Akita
AKC Grouping
Working GroupTemperament
- courageous
- dignified
- profoundly loyal
Demeanor
alert and responsiveChoosing the Best Dog Food for an Overweight Akita
Like humans, excess caloric intake and limited exercise can lead to unwanted weight on your beloved Akita. Historically, the Akita stayed lean and trim from continuous hunting. Today Akita owners need to exercise caution on dog food selection and quantity as well as ensuring sufficient daily exercise for this large breed.
The History of Akitas and Obesity
The thick coat on the Akita was necessary for the colder climate in Japan. The Japanese royalty revered the Akita and were among the few allowed to own this fiercely loyal breed. Bred for hunting, the Akita is also fiercely protective and quite possessive of their owners and dog food! Statues of the Akita were often presented to the parents of newborns under the premise that the Akita represented a healthy life and good fortune. Very possessive, the Akita must be socialized with people other than their owners at an early age. Very territorial, the Akita does not mix well with other dogs --they can actually become quite aggressive. Like most breeds centuries ago, their diets consisted of spoils from their hunting success and whatever table or kitchen scraps they could snatch.
Get Your Akita the Right Food
Energy
energetic
Grooming
daily brushing
Training
wanting to learn
Shedding
seasonallyOverweight/Obese Akitas in Modern Times
Today, the Akita is an ideal family dog given their loyalty, playfulness and ability to be trained. Given its thick coat, the Akita should be brushed at least once a week to maintain a mat free and shiny coat. The Akita was introduced in the United States as early as 1937 when Helen Keller received one as a gift. Though friendly and loyal, avoid prolonged eye contact with the Akita as they see this as a form of aggression. The Akita gained even more notoriety as the star in Hachi: A Dog's Tale with Richard Gere. While still making debuts in dog shows, the Akita is primarily a loyal, backyard family breed today. No longer needing to be fierce hunters, Akitas generally enjoy the ease of having their dog food delivered straight from their owners. Given the Akita's lack of continuous hunting today, their dietary needs have changed. They no longer require the volume of food to sustain them as they did during prolonged hunting. Should your Akita become sedentary and gain unnecessary weight, it's particularly important to select the appropriate dog food. Given its large stature, the Akita is especially susceptible to hip and joint problems if they're overweight. Pay particular attention to quantity recommendations on your Akita's dog food. Excess weight can add stress and pressure to joints and increase the onset of arthritis. Should your Akita begin to gain excess weight, stay in close contact with your veterinarian to ensure any onset of arthritis is treated to avoid discomfort and joint inflammation. One of the many health risks associated with overweight Akitas is diabetes which can result in a host of side effects including kidney issues as well as onset blindness. Overweight Akitas, like humans, can fall prey to unhealthy cycles of too much sedentary time and unhealthy quantities of dog food.
The Best Dog Food for an Overweight Akita
Spot & Tango has worked with veterinary nutrition specialists to ensure their high-quality dog foods are suitable for overweight Akitas. Spot & Tango places a high priority on sourcing beef, lamb and turkey from local New York farmers for each of their dog food recipes. Following their commitment to quality ingredients, Spot & Tango prohibits all antibiotics, preservatives and hormones in each on their recipes. Food dense in nutrients and rich vitamins can serve to address symptoms that your overweight Akita may be experiencing. Committed to addressing the tendency for larger breeds such as the Akita to gain weight, Spot & Tango only uses select grains on their veterinary nutritionist-approved recipes. Overweight Akitas especially need to incorporate sufficient leafy greens and fruits in their diets to aid in digestion and energy levels.
Get Your Akita the Right FoodChoose Spot & Tango for Overweight Akita Dog Food
Providing the right dog food for your overweight Akita is crucial to its health and longevity. Spot & Tango has teamed up with the American Association of Feed and Control Officials (AAFCO), veterinarians, and pet nutritionists to develop the very best nutritionally balanced dog food for your overweight Akita. All of our recipes are small-batch cooked in our USDA-approved kitchen in New York to ensure the highest quality meals using only human-grade ingredients. All of our meals are individually packaged and shipped directly to your door in just a few short days for optimal freshness. When you take our online quiz, we will create a specialized meal plan for your Akita based on its activity level, physical characteristics, and, of course, weight. When your dog is overweight, it can limit the activities they can engage in and lead to serious medical concerns down the road. By choosing dog food for your overweight Akita from Spot & Tango, you are making an investment in your dog's longevity and quality of life.