All purebred dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just as all people have the potential to inherit a particular disease. Run, don’t walk, from any breeder who does not offer a health guarantee on puppies, who tells you that the breed is 100 percent healthy and has no known problems, or who tells you that her puppies are isolated from the main part of the household for health reasons. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur in her lines.
The Akita has some health problems that can be a concern, especially if you aren’t careful whom you buy from. They include hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and autoimmune hypothyroidism. At a minimum, ask the breeder to show evidence that both of a puppy’s parents have hip scores of Excellent, Good or Fair from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or a PennHIP score and certification from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation that the eyes are healthy.
The Akita Club of America, which is the American Kennel Club parent organization for the breed in the United States, participates in the Canine Health Information Center Program. For an Akita to achieve CHIC certification, he must have an OFA or PennHIP evaluation for hips, an eye clearance from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation, and an OFA thyroid evaluation. Additional certifications that are recommended but not required are OFA patella (knee) and elbow evaluations. Breeders must agree to have all test results, positive or negative, published in the CHIC database.
Do not purchase a puppy from a breeder who cannot provide you with written documentation that the parents were cleared of health problems that affect the breed. Having the dogs "vet checked" is not a substitute for genetic health testing.
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