How Long Do Akitas Live? Tips to Extend Their Life

Quick Take

• The decision to neuter your Akita, along with the timing of that decision, affects how long they live in a way most owners don't expect. See how neutering affects lifespan →
• One popular "healthy" diet trend is being investigated by the FDA for a link to fatal heart disease in dogs. Check the diet warning →
• Bloat can kill an Akita within hours, and a few common feeding habits most owners practice may be quietly raising the risk. Learn about bloat risks →
• Akitas age nothing like smaller dogs, and that difference changes what good care actually looks like at each life stage. Explore Akita life stages →

If you own an Akita, you may be curious about how long Akitas typically live. In this article, we’ll talk about how long Akitas live, their life cycle from puppies to senior dogs, common health issues to be aware of, and tips for extending your pup’s lifespan.

Akita Lifespan

On average, Akitas live 10-14 years, which is a good lifespan for such a large dog. Large dogs tend to age more quickly and have shorter lifespans than small dogs. At 70-130 pounds, Akitas are considered large to extra large dogs.

Sex and neutering status also impact lifespan. Among intact dogs, male dogs were found to live slightly longer than females, but neutered females clearly live longer than neutered males.

Akita Life Stages

Take an in-depth look at each life stage and learn what to expect as your Akita grows and matures.

Puppies

Akitas, like all puppies, are not fully developed at birth and need their mother’s care. They are essentially blind and deaf until they reach around 14-21 days old, but puppies rapidly develop both physically and mentally over the first six months of their lives.

Most Akita puppies are adopted into their forever homes between 8-12 weeks of age. Akita puppies can be rambunctious, destructive, and sometimes annoying! Like human babies, they need a lot of attention and hands-on activity. It’s important to have patience and never resort to punishing your dog or using aversion training techniques. Akita pups need a lot of training, from manners to socialization. Socializing your Akita, or introducing them to a variety of new things, while they’re young sets them up to be a well-adjusted, confident adult dog.

During a dog’s first year, it develops to a physiological age similar to that of a 15-year-old human. Adolescence begins around six months of age and ends around 18 months. However, large breeds like Akitas mature more slowly than smaller breeds, although they age more quickly as adults.

Adults

Akitas reach their adult height between 10 months and one year old and their full weight by two years old. Once your Akita reaches adulthood, spaying or neutering is strongly recommended. Talk to your veterinarian about the best time to schedule the surgery, as there is some evidence that neutering your large breed dog before they are sexually mature can cause joint problems.

Adult Akitas will slowly lose their puppy energy and typically behave better. They have greater impulse control as adults, and you’ll also see the impacts of their training. However, adult Akitas are still energetic dogs that require daily walks and play.

Seniors

Akitas are considered senior dogs at around 7-9 years old. As they enter their senior years, you might notice them slowing down and wanting to spend more time lounging around the house. Every dog is different, so it’s important to follow your Akita’s lead. Pay attention to them during exercise — are they moving more slowly than usual, panting or drooling excessively, or otherwise looking tired?

Dogs love their routines, and it’s important to keep them as similar as possible. However, if your Akita needs to slow down, try shortening your daily walk or even splitting it into two shorter, slower ones. It’s also important to keep an eye on your senior pup for signs of illness, as they’re more likely to experience issues as they age. If you notice any symptoms or changes in behavior, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.

Common Health Issues in Akitas

There are common health issues in every dog breed. As large dogs, Akitas can develop musculoskeletal problems, including hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, and arthritis. Akitas are also prone to eye and thyroid disorders. Reputable breeders test for known issues, following recommendations from their national breed club.

Finally, it is important to know the signs of Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), also known as bloat, before adopting a large, deep-chested breed like an Akita. Bloat is a life-threatening condition, so spotting the signs early will allow you to seek emergency care immediately.

Symptoms of bloat include:

• Swollen abdomen
• Retching
• Restlessness
• Excessive drooling
• Abdominal pain
• Shock
• Increased heart rate
• Weak pulse

You can also lessen the chances of your Akita developing bloat by doing the following:

• Avoiding raised feeding bowls
• Using slow-feeder bowls that sit directly on the ground
• Feeding multiple small meals a day rather than one large meal
• Feeding canned food instead of dry
• Not moistening dry food, especially if it contains citric acid as a preservative
• Keeping their environment low stress, especially during mealtimes
• Feeding the right amount of food daily to keep your Akita at a healthy weight
• Avoiding exercise too soon before or after meals or before and after your Akita drinks large amounts of water

How to Increase Your Akita’s Lifespan

There are several ways to increase your Akita’s lifespan. Although we can’t control how long our dogs live, the following will give them the best chance at a long life.

Buy from a Reputable Breeder

Sometimes we don’t get to choose our dog’s genetic history. As someone who always rescues my dogs, I would never discourage that option. However, rescue dogs may have unknown genetic histories and could be the result of poor breeding.

If you are buying an Akita puppy from a breeder, it’s important to choose a breeder who does their due diligence to avoid passing down genetic health problems to puppies. They should run all recommended genetic health tests and publish them for the public to see. Breeders shouldn’t breed Akitas with histories of bloat, as the puppies will then have an increased risk.

Take Them to the Veterinarian Regularly

Your Akita has a lower chance of developing common diseases if they are vaccinated as a puppy and receive boosters throughout their lifetime as recommended by your vet. Young Akitas should receive a veterinary check-up at least once a year, and seniors every six months.

If you notice anything amiss, such as symptoms of illness or changes in behavior, call your veterinarian to schedule an appointment. In an emergency, such as when your dog shows symptoms of bloat, don’t wait — take them to your nearest emergency vet clinic right away.

Feed Them a Veterinarian-Recommended Diet

Feeding the right diet can go a long way toward extending your Akita’s lifespan. Purchase a high-quality pet food and feed your Akita according to your vet’s recommendation. Trendy dog foods like grain-free or raw diets are not recommended by veterinarians or the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Grain-free dog foods are being studied by the FDA for a potential link to a heart condition called DCM, as are some boutique brands and foods with unusual meat ingredients such as duck and kangaroo. Raw meat can make your pets and your human family sick.

Provide Regular Exercise

Akitas need at least one walk or run daily, with plenty of playtime at home. Too little exercise can cause weight gain, health issues, and behavioral problems. As mentioned above, avoid exercise directly before or after a large meal or a large amount of water, though, to reduce your pup’s risk of bloat.

Although senior Akitas may struggle with cancer, bloat, or musculoskeletal disorders, genetics, veterinary care, and proper daily care are the most important factors determining their lifespan.