Are Akitas unhealthy breeds?
Not according to most breeders. Not according to insurance companies.

Every Akita is NOT an unhealthy dog! Every ailment does NOT equal an unhealthy dog!

Yet we are many who have struggled together with our dogs to try to overcome illnesses and pains of significant magnitude. And been asked to remain silent. But the fact that unhealth is such an unwanted subject of discussion - even surprisingly often denied - seems a bit unfair to our dogs's experiences. The Akitas are as sturdy, resilient and courageous when it comes to not being in the best of health as they are otherwise.

They often go to great length to try to hide any sort of weakness - an essential knowledge for every Akita owner. Apart from a misinterpretation of the dog's personality way too often a reason for bad behaviour in a dog is an untreated pain or discomfort. An increase in shyness or irritation is a vital signal in so many ways and should not be accepted as "typical for the breed".

These articles are not meant to encourage hypocondria or paint a picture worse than it is. They are simply personal descriptions of digfnified Akitas and their loyal owners and their mutual experiences also when life is less good.

My idea
Akitas are extremely strong - perhaps stronger than is good for them.

Allergy, SA or VKH are not due to weak dogs but overactive autoimmune systems. My theory, and it is just a theory, is that the reason Akitas immune systems often overreact is a heritage from their history of which, as we all know, very few dogs survived. To overcome repeated famine, diseases, surviving on their own the Akitas needed to be strong, really strong. And they still are.

Stress seem to be a vital key to trigger unwanted reactions. With stress I mean physical and mental strain. Pain in a hip causes stress. Boredom, infections, hard training, insecurity, violent treatment causes stress. Not being enough physically active causes stress. Not being seen by your owner causes stress. Are you able to distinguish an Akita that is so stressed it has become apathetic from an Akita that is calm because he is proud and dignified?

I believe you will have to look very, very hard to try to find an Akita with no heritage of disease. I also believe it is the wrong point of view. If we manage to avoid getting these things triggered, possibly by increasing our dogs' tolerance for stress both mentality and bodily, we may find a very much improved health overall.

In addition to this it is my own personal experience that the Akitas have a capability to OVERCOME diseases; to survive and even sometimes master untreatable, chronic diseases. I find that very much worth speaking about.