Akitas are a unique breed that is known as chill yet loyal companions who need active, understanding owners. As they are a medium energy leveled breed, they need a moderate amount of food, drinks, and activity to ensure their complete wellbeing.
As an owner, you have a hunch whether your dog is getting enough water and food in them. If either is happening too much or too little, it could be a cause of worry.
Why does my Akita drink so much?
Your Akita could be overdrinking for the simple reason of hot weather, having too much dry food, or physical exhaustion. Other reasons include kidney disease, diabetes, Cushing’s disease, or maybe a UTI. It could also be Polydipsia, which is almost always a symptom of another underlying disease.
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Many things contribute to how much water or liquid your dog is going to drink, starting from activity level to the diet they are used to and even the weather. As the master, it is up to you to realize what is the norm for them.
Do Akitas drink a lot of water?
Akitas are mid-level energy dogs who need short bursts of activity to be healthy and happy. This usually means the water they need to drink is of moderate amount as well. Akitas and other dogs tend to drink more water if their diet consists of mostly dry food.
So, if you think your Akita is drinking a lot of water, and it is not a normal thirst, it could be because of renal dysplasia which can easily be managed with the right diet and supervision.
How much water do Akitas drink?
It is rather easy to determine how much water your Akita should drink. If you feed them dry food, the math is a simple formula of multiplying the weight of the daily food by 2.5.
Noted, this water should always be served fresh and clean and offered in a safe water bowl.
In general, an average healthy dog drinks somewhere between 8 to 16 ounces of water per 10 pounds each day. So, a 50-pound canine will need 40 to 80 ounces of liquid to stay hydrated. If the dog is active, they might need more water.
Tip: if you want to find out if your dog is dehydrated, try checking the pliability of their skin- which means you check if the skin can slip back into place almost immediately when pinched. If it is indeed almost immediate, they are hale, hearty, and hydrated.
5 reasons for Akitas excessive drinking
There could be a few reasons why an Akita could be drinking more than normal. If it is a one-time occurrence, it is not a matter of worry. But if it is happening consistently, it could be time to contact the vet.
Here a few reasons why your Akita could be drinking too much,
Polydipsia
Polydipsia for dogs is the condition where there is an increased thirst for water and it more often than not, is a symptom signifying an underlying disease or medical condition.
They usually start to drink more and more water from places they shouldn’t, such as the toilet, and empty their bowels super quickly.
Dehydration
Dehydration is different from regular thirst. Dehydration includes being abnormally thirsty, lethargy, dry tongues and gums, and saliva are thick and rope-like. If you think your dog is dehydrated, get them to a vet as soon as possible.
Diseases
There are a few diseases that make dogs increasingly thirsty and worse, dehydrated. Diabetes is a leading reason why Cushing’s disease is another. Even Cancer, Diarrhea, fevers, infections, and some kidney and liver diseases can cause them to drink water excessively.
Medication
Sometimes, rather than the illness, but the meds taken can cause extra thirst in your pup. Always talk to your vet about the medicines being given to your dog and potential side effects they may have. Anti-inflammatory, heart failure, seizure medications are known to make dogs thirsty.
Diet
Since Akitas are known to have kibble-based or dry food-based meals, it could explain why they are drinking more water than they should, since it makes them noticeably thirsty. High sodium food can also make them want more water.
Akitas can want more water to drink based on a multitude of things so as an owner it is your responsibility to figure out why and whether it should be checked upon.
How much water should an Akita puppy drink?
It is vital to know how much water an Akita puppy should be drinking, for it should not be too much nor too little.
As a puppy, they need half a cup of water about every two hours or so. Once they are weaned, the general math is to get them half or a full ounce of water per body weight each day. So, if they weigh 20 pounds, they need anywhere between 10 to 20 ounces of water each day.
They might need more water if they have been particularly active that day.
What happens if a dog drinks too much water?
If a dog continues to drink too much water, it may contract some unfriendly conditions and diseases that could be risky if untreated.
They could contract water intoxication which is also known as water poisoning, hyperhydration as well as water toxemia. This can happen rather suddenly and be fatal if unnoticed.
If the body is introduced to an overwhelming amount of water, sodium level drops down which makes the body respond by increasing fluid intake inside the cells which is something the brain cannot handle. So, they become lethargic, bloated, and sometimes even vomit a lot.
It is harder for dogs to clear out the excess water in their system compared to their human counterparts, which gets even worse for smaller or toy dogs.
They can show signs of water intoxication by loss of coordination, restlessness, pale gums, dilated or glazed eyes, and sometimes drooling. If your dog is showing these signs, immediately contact the vet.
What should I do if my dog drinks too much water?
Most water-related diseases can be treated successfully but the difficulty lies in finding the correct diagnosis, so it is imperative to find the proper symptoms to treat them accurately.
You should not restrict their access to water since that could result in dehydration and even fluid imbalances that could make things dramatically worse.
If the signs look too dire, take them to the vet as soon as possible.
Most treatment includes administering electrolytes, but in moderation. Vets may prescribe drugs such as Mannitol to decrease the pressure in their brain and something to help fasten the removal of fluid-like Lasix.
Do Akitas have health problems?
All breeds of dogs have one or another health problem that they are genetically prone to. This does not mean they will always contract the illness or condition; it just means they are more predisposed to it than other breeds.
For Akitas, their common health problems include hip dysplasia, retinal atrophy (an eye disease that can cause blindness), immune disorders such as myasthenia gravis, pemphigus foliaceus, uveodermatologic syndrome, and sebaceous adenitis which is a disorder that causes hair loss.
Akitas are known to have cruciate ligament tears and other skin problems caused by allergy and the type. They are also more likely to have dental diseases due to tartar build-up and gum infections. Speaking of infections, they are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections as well.
The two leading causes for untimely loss of life for Akita are Cancer and Bloat, being a cause for over 40% of their demise, so these are also signs you should be on the lookout for. Also, be wary of hypothyroidism since it is a common autoimmune disease for Akitas.
Prevention and caution are what will help fight these issues off, and knowing about them is winning half the battle.
What diseases are Akitas prone to?
There are a few diseases Akitas are prone to, here are the names of the common ones. For eyes, they have a tendency to get progressive retinal atrophy, which as mentioned, causes them to gradually go completely blind.
Skin-wise, they are prone to few infections that could also be autoimmune disorders such as sebaceous adenitis and pemphigus. Hypothyroidism is also an illness that causes hair loss and skin lesions as initial symptoms. They are also prone to eczema due to their double coats.
While rare, Akitas are at the highest risk of contracting myasthenia gravis which causes muscles to become weak, regurgitation, and difficulty swallowing food.
If given proper care, they can recover spontaneously after a while from it, so it should not be a matter of worry, rather proper caution and care.
Akitas are a wonderful breed that makes the most unique companions. To ensure their full health and happiness, their food and water intake should be regulated and carefully provided.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can Akita live in hot weather?