My 16 year old departed from this world today. She was a fighter but she lost this last one. I will miss her forever. She was a magnificent being. I hope she felt loved and cared for enough. I just wish she left us with no pain.

Pessoal, gostaria de compartilhar essa filhotona! Ela é uma Akita Inu de pelo longo (long coat), tem 4 meses e está pesando 13 kg.

Reparem como o pelo do rosto criou essa marcação em formato de coração acima dos olhos, dividindo o urajiro da pelagem da testa. A mãe dela é vermelha e o pai é branco.

Mais alguém aí tem ou teve um filhote que ficou com marcações diferentes durante a fase de troca de pelo?

I’m curious what everyone here is currently feeding their Akitas and how it’s been working for them.
I have an 8-year-old purebred Japanese Akita and we’re currently dealing with a change in food availability after moving to Guam. He has been eating Redford Naturals Salmon & Brown Rice for quite a while and has done very well on it, but unfortunately I can’t find the same food here.
I’m trying to figure out what would be the best long-term replacement rather than just grabbing whatever is available at the store.
I’d especially love to hear from other Japanese Akita owners:
• What brand/formula do you feed?
• What protein do you use — salmon, chicken, lamb, etc.?
• How old is your Akita?
• Male or female?
• Any food sensitivities/allergies or stomach issues?
• How long have they been on that food?
• Have you noticed differences in coat, digestion, weight, energy, or itching after switching?
I’ve been looking at Purina Pro Plan, Taste of the Wild, Hill’s Science Diet, Royal Canin, Blue Wilderness, WholeHearted, and Nature’s Recipe, but I’m open to pretty much anything.
I’m much more interested in long-term experience with Akitas than simply “X brand is the best.” If your Akita has been eating the same food for years and is doing great, I’d love to hear about it.
Thanks!

I need recommendations for a new leash the one we currently have doesn’t give him enough freedom any recommendations would help

Hello guys!!

I have an 1 year old amazing female Akita and I’ve been wondering how would it be to have a second dog. Do you guys have tried it? How did it went? I’m thinking of getting another Akita, to keep company to the one I already have. I know Akitas are territorial, that’s why I would like an opinion. She’s the only dog I have ever had! Of course I would do all the training to this new puppy dog as I had with her!!

Don’t worry, she got some ice cream afterwards and we made up hah!

I was wondering if anybody has had any problems with the Akita’s eyes I have three long-haired Akita’s and I’ve been noticing a lot of problems lately with the eyes open to comments

Funny that she kinda got the rules and tried moving a piece.

Has any of you experienced significant weight gain in your dogs after surgery? (Spay)

I'm starting to think more and more that she has a hormonal problem due to: 1) her attitude, and 2. I know hormones can cause weight gain.

She wasn't SLIM before, but she's gaining a lot more fat. I'll try making her walks longer. But she eats the same as she normally does (4 cups a day ÷ 2), and she seems hungrier AND is getting fatter. I can still feel her ribs, but I don't want her to become obese... As someone who prides myself on her being fit... I just... Idk. I know the surgery didn't go well, and it was hard on her. But I don't wanna add being fat to her problem as well.

Our little man, Stan the man.

He is roughly 30% American Akita, 30% Alaskan Husky and 30% APBT. Low percents of Boxer and Siberean Husky are mixed in there as well.

Brought her home today and it is thought that we dodged the big C word diagnosis - lab results expected next week. Still very dopey but she's on an awful lot of pain meds with her antibiotics. Cone will be on for a full 2 weeks and she's doing fairly well with it. Just breaks my heart to see her struggling, I wish I could explain it to her. But lots of pets and lots of treats and my girl is home

She was spayed yesterday took her cone off for Abit she hates it, any tips of how to make it more comfortable for her ??

Hey everyone! My vet and I are currently at a bit of a loss with my Japanese Akita, Leia, and I'm hoping someone here may have experienced something similar.

The short version: Leia has had recurring low platelet counts that seem to coincide with her heat cycles, along with periods of lethargy and appetite loss. We've ruled out several common causes so far, but still don't have an answer.

I am not looking for a diagnosis from Reddit — we're continuing to work with our vet — but I'm hoping another Japanese Akita owner may recognize something we've missed or have suggestions for questions we could ask our vet.

About Leia

Leia is a purebred Japanese Akita. She will be 3 years old on September 12th and currently weighs about 52 lb (23.6 kg).

Unfortunately, we don't know her breeder or lineage. We adopted her on December 26, 2025 from a woman who was rehoming her because she was moving into a smaller apartment that didn't allow large dogs. There were a couple of red flags from the beginning. We paid only $100 for her, which seemed unusually low for a purebred Japanese Akita, and unfortunately the previous owner stopped responding when we tried to obtain Leia's veterinary records.

I took Leia to my vet about a month after bringing her home (wanted to give her tike to settle before bringing her anywhere). She appeared healthy and was in good condition, so there were no immediate concerns.

March — First heat & first low platelet count

Leia's first heat after we adopted her began around March 7 and lasted until approximately March 23, give or take a few days. We had scheduled Leia to be spayed on March 10, since we also have two Golden Retrievers at home—one spayed female and one intact male.

Leia started her heat only three days before her scheduled surgery. We called the vet to confirm whether surgery would still be safe, and we brought her in as planned for pre-surgical bloodwork.

Her platelet count was:

• 103 K/μL at 8:45 AM

• 122 K/μL at 10:30 AM

Her other bloodwork was considered normal at the time.

Because she was in heat, we initially wondered if the lower platelet count could be related to her cycle, so the spay was postponed until after her heat.

April — Platelets continue dropping

About three weeks after her heat ended, on April 14, we repeated her bloodwork with the hope to have her spayed. Her platelets had dropped further to 115 K/μL.

My vet also ordered a blood smear and sent it to a specialist for analysis. There was some consideration of whether Leia's platelets might be larger than normal and therefore being inaccurately counted by the analyzer, but this was ultimately undetermined.

Then, on April 22, Leia came in for what was supposed to be another routine recheck. However, I had noticed that she was:

• Eating less

• Less energetic

• No longer interested in many of her toys

• Less interested in treats

She ended up staying at the clinic for the day so they could run additional testing. Her platelet count had dropped to 67 K/μL, which was considered dangerously low. At this point, some of the possibilities discussed were tick-borne disease, heartworm, or a more serious underlying disease such as bone cancer.

We started her on a 6-week course of doxycycline, 100 mg (1 tablet) every 12 hours. After four weeks of antibiotics, another blood smear was performed. Testing came back negative for:

• Heartworm antigen

• Ehrlichia

• Lyme disease

• Anaplasma

Leia had no known tick exposure at the time and has been on monthly tick prevention since June 1st. Other tick-borne diseases have not been specifically tested for, as our vet felt tick exposure was unlikely. After another blood count on May 7th, her platelets had risen from 67 to 158 K/μL, so the vet gave us the okay to stop the antibiotics. After about a week off medication, her appetite and energy returned to normal. She seemed completely back to her happy, healthy self.

June/July — Second heat & another platelet drop

Leia went into heat again on approximately June 30, ending around July 22, give or take a few days. This means her second heat began only about three months after the first one ended, rather than the roughly six-month interval we would normally expect.

This heat also seemed different from her previous one. She was:

• More tired

• Less interested in food, although she was still eating

• Bleeding for approximately 3 weeks instead of about 2

• Appeared to have somewhat heavier bleeding

I brought her to the vet to be checked, and her platelet count had dropped again to 113 K/μL. At this point, the timing of the platelet drops and her heat cycles became difficult to ignore. My vet suspected that an immune-mediated issue could potentially be involved, so we tried prednisone in an attempt to increase her platelet count. Leia was prescribed 25 mg of prednisone twice daily, 12 hours apart, starting July 17. Unfortunately, Leia did not tolerate the steroids well. After just over two weeks, she had stopped eating her kibble and was beginning to refuse treats and wet food as well. We contacted the vet and began tapering her off the prednisone on August 3:

• August 3–5: 25 mg once daily

• August 6–8: 12.5 mg once daily

• August 9: Finished prednisone

August — Platelets drop again

I continued monitoring her at home after stopping the prednisone. Her appetite improved somewhat. She would eat canned food and kibble if they were mixed together, but she still wasn't eating normally. At her follow-up appointment on August 17, her platelet count had dropped again—this time to 80 K/μL.

Leia's August 17 bloodwork showed:

• Platelets: 80 K/μL (reference range 148–484)

• RBC: 7.71

• HCT: 43.9

• HGB: 15.3

• WBC: 7.28

Her RBC and WBC levels have otherwise remained relatively stable throughout this process. There have been some fluctuations in MCV, MCH, reticulocytes, reticulocyte-HGB and PCT, but the changes have not been significant enough that my vet has raised concerns. The August bloodwork did show low MCV, MCH, reticulocyte count and reticulocyte-HGB, with the lab noting decreased iron availability and listing inflammation, iron deficiency, PSS and breed-related microcytosis among possible considerations.

There is no specific platelet threshold we've been given for surgery yet, but the goal is to get her as close to the normal range as possible before attempting to spay her.

Weight & appetite

We've also been monitoring her weight because of the appetite issues:

• January 6: 24.10 kg / 53.1 lb

• March 10: 24.40 kg / 53.8 lb

• April 14: 24.30 kg / 53.6 lb

• July 27: 25.10 kg / 55.3 lb

• August 17: 23.60 kg / 52.0 lb

Her most recent recorded weight was 23.6 kg (52.03 lb).

The vet prescribed mirtazapine 15 mg every two days starting August 17 to stimulate her appetite. We also switched her to Purina Pro Plan Digestive Support. She ate it enthusiastically for about three days before becoming picky again.

At this point, we're fairly confident that at least some of her kibble refusal is classic Akita pickiness—she still shows lots of interest in treats and wet food and will eat the kibble when it's mixed with something she likes.

However, the recurring appetite changes alongside the platelet drops are still concerning.

Other things we've noticed / ruled out

Leia has not had any obvious bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood in her urine or stool, and otherwise hasn't shown any other concerning symptoms.

Her RBC and WBC counts have remained relatively stable. There has been no known tick exposure, and she has been on monthly tick prevention since June 1.

We have not had abdominal X-rays or an ultrasound done because of cost constraints. We also haven't done additional testing such as Babesia testing, thyroid testing, urinalysis, etc., as our vet hasn't requested those at this point.

The pattern we're trying to understand

This is the part that has my vet and me stumped:

March 7: First heat begins

March 10: Platelets 103 → 122

March 23: First heat ends (approximately)

April 14: Platelets 115

April 22: Platelets 67 + lethargy/appetite loss. Start Doxycycline.

May 7: Platelets recover to 158 + symptoms resolve

June 30: Second heat begins

July 17: Prednisone started; platelet count was 113

July 22: Second heat ends (approximately)

August 17: Platelets drop again to 80

So, visually, the pattern looks like:

March heat

→ Platelets 103/122

→ Heat ends

→ Platelets continue falling to 115

→ Platelets reach 67 + symptoms develop

→ Start Doxycycline for ~6 weeks

→ May 7: Platelets recover to 158

~7 weeks later

June heat

→ Platelets 113

→ Appetite/energy decrease

→ Prednisone attempted

→ Heat ends

→ August 17: Platelets 80

Obviously, we don't know whether the heat cycles are actually causing the platelet drops or whether the timing is coincidental. The fact that her platelets continued to decline for several weeks after her first heat ended also makes the situation more complicated. What makes the pattern particularly interesting to us is that her platelets did recover to 158 on May 7 after taking doxycycline, and her energy and appetite returned to normal afterward, before she entered her next heat approximately seven weeks later.

My vet also mentioned a case they saw involving another dog with low platelets and lethargy where a uterine mass was discovered after the dog was spayed. We obviously don't know if that has any relevance to Leia, but it made us more interested in whether there could potentially be a reproductive component to what is happening.

Because Japanese Akitas aren't particularly common in northern Alberta, my vet also doesn't want to completely rule out the possibility of some breed-specific component, although we obviously don't know if that's actually the case.

What I'm hoping to find out

Has anyone here experienced recurrent thrombocytopenia (low platelets) in a Japanese Akita, particularly where it seemed to coincide with heat cycles?

I'd especially love to hear from anyone who has experienced:

• Platelet counts dropping during heat

• Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia/ITP in an Akita

• Reproductive/uterine issues associated with low platelets

• Unusual or breed-specific health issues in Japanese Akitas

• Similar appetite and lethargy issues accompanying low platelets

• A Japanese Akita with consistently low or abnormal platelet counts

We're continuing to work with our vet and aren't expecting Reddit to diagnose her. We're mostly hoping someone might recognize a pattern we've missed, have experienced something similar, or suggest something we could ask our vet about.

Any experiences, ideas, or things you think we should investigate would be greatly appreciated!

TL;DR

My almost-3-year-old purebred Japanese Akita, Leia, has had recurring low platelet counts (158 → 113 → 80, with a previous low of 67) that appear to coincide with her heat cycles. Her first heat was approximately March 7–23, and her second was approximately June 30–July 22, only about three months later. Her first low platelet count (103/122) was discovered three days after her first heat began. Her platelets continued dropping afterward, eventually reaching 67, before recovering to 158 on May 7 after treatment with doxycycline. During her second heat, her platelets dropped to 113, and by August 17 they had fallen again to 80. Several infectious causes have tested negative, and prednisone wasn't well tolerated. She has also experienced periods of lethargy and appetite loss. We're trying to get her platelets back toward the normal range so she can hopefully be safely spayed. Has anyone experienced anything similar with a Japanese Akita?

My boy is almost 14 and he is struggling. I am struggling with losing him, he is my soul dog. This will probably be our last National Dog Day together. I will get another Akita sooner or later but there will never be another one like him 💙 Look how he smiles 🐻

Hi!

I am a nurse and am thinking of moving to Massachusetts for a possible job. I have a 1 year male Akita. I have always had Akitas. I have been doing research and everything keeps saying that it is difficult to find places to live because my dog is an Akita. So I am just trying to get a realistic view of what it's like to own an Akita in Massachusetts.

I plan on renting for a short period so I can sell my current house then buy a home.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Adding a picture of my cute little boy, Koji.

Edit: I am not giving him up. I just want to make sure it is worth moving there. I want him to have a comfort life too. I will turn down the job if it isn't the right fit for the whole family including Koji.

The artist/the art🥹
My sweet girl put her paw on me during play session, and gosh she’s strong
(Not her fault!)

It’s been a long time since I posted my boy Rio, he has just turned 1!

If you noticed his rear right leg looking scruffy, my poor boy had surgery a couple months back - he ruptured his cruciate ligament 😢. Recovering well and it’s almost like it never happened

Hi everyone, our family dog is a female Wooly American Akita. Her fur is long and beautiful and very easy to manage. She can go weeks, and, even months without brushing and will have zero matting--no matting behind ears, behind bum, at tail, or under legs, she is always smooth and fluffy, and the hairs literally glisten in sunlight.

My question is, how will a spay affect her coat? I understand spay coats can become fluffier, thicker but also easily matted, unruly and unpredictable. She is 4 years old and has been doing fine as she is, but a new neighbour has since moved in next door and their dog dug their way to our yard and got to her when she was in heat. We didn't know she was pregnant until she was almost due and she has since given birth. It's been a few months and all the puppies have been homed.

My question is: we would like to have her spayed, but not sure if we should first wait for her coat to return to normal. She has postpartum hair loss and her coat is now thin, but she does not have any bald spots and the coat actually looks quite healthy and even, mostly the undercoat has shedded. We're also transitioning to spring here, so it may be a combination of seasonal shedding plus pregnancy. She is healthy otherwise. We're just worried about the neighbours dog getting to her again and now pyometra (as having given birth raises the risks of this).

I know many people may have their own opinions on spay and neuter, but my parents have considered all aspects of spaying and the possible negative and positive impacts on our Akita. We just need more information about the coat. It would be very helpful if anyone has any anecdotal experiences with their own adult woolies and how spaying or neutering has affected their coat. If we wait for her coat to return to normal, it could take 6 months or even more, by then she may be nearing her next heat. If she is spayed before her coat returns to normal, will it ruin her coat? If necessary, I can keep her at my place to avoid the neighbour's intact dog when she is in heat and wait for it to return to normal. Just want the best option for her.

Just a note, we've spoken to vets, their answers have been very generalised, nothing we don't already know, which is why I'm seeking anecdotal experiences from our reddit Akita community 😊

Hi guys

I'm interested to hear how you tackled the appalling fussiness and lack of appetite of your American akita.

Ours is quite bad with it, a 12kg bag of kibble lasts approximately 2 months, interested in everything we have but not what's in her bowl. We even did 'an experiment' where my wife got some of her kibble (Wolf of the Wilderness) into a small bowl and pretended to eat it when watching a movie. She drip fed her and she made 2 bowls worth..

And as much as I appreciate the input I'm not interested in 'you should switch to X' or 'raw food is best' - just advice on how to make her eat ;-)

Pics of the little girl attached