Caring for an Akita dog during pregnancy is basically common sense. She must be watched carefully and made to feel as comfortable and happy as possible. You need to make sure she has dry bedding, plenty of clean drinking water, and good quality regular food. During the first five weeks she will probably behave quite normally. She can have “off” days from her. She may be hungrier. She may show a slight change in temperament and be more careful with her behavior, but as long as she’s obviously healthy and happy, that’s all that matters.
As soon as you suspect she’s pregnant, it’s a good idea to contact your vet so she can note the due date in her diary and monitor the bitch’s progress. Akitas do not carry a lot of water with their pups, however there will be a considerable amount of weight to carry as the weeks progress. In general, it is not advisable to give a lot of extra food in the first few weeks. Experience has taught us that overloading a bitch with food will increase the weight of her puppies, and she will also gain weight. This causes two problems. First of all, she won’t work out as well and therefore won’t keep her muscles toned. Second, the puppies will be fat, which means they will be larger and experience a more difficult passage through the birth canal. And when they are born, they will be fat and lazy.
It is much better to have an active mother and vigorous, lean puppies, who will fight their way to the teats to fill up on that all-important first mother’s milk. We have found that the best policy is to feed a balanced diet with increased food after about five weeks. Naturally, the mom-to-be will be Hungarian, but rest assured that any food you give her will be passed on to her unborn babies before taking it herself. She is a natural at parenting. Additives in the form of calcium and perhaps iron are a good idea, again after the five week deadline. These days, most foods are carefully balanced and numerous additives are not needed. In fact, the general opinion is that they can do more harm than good. But if the dog suggests that she may have a deficiency, she should take her to the vet for proper tests and analysis.
Akita bitches “hide” their puppies very well up to at least five weeks, more often six. They may not show any signs that they are pregnant, and this can be extremely upsetting to owners, who obviously want to know if they are expecting a litter so they can make the necessary preparations. Probably the best indication is swelling of the bitch’s nipples. Starting at three weeks, these may “pop”, or become slightly enlarged and pinker in appearance. In our experience, this is the only “sure” sign. Ultrasound scanning can also give a definitive diagnosis, but this is expensive and sometimes hair must be removed from the side or underside of the bitch.
Your dog may show signs of rib thickening or sooner, but this is highly unlikely. Akita Inu female dogs generally do not carry their babies across their distance like most breeds. They hide them under the ribs and then “drop” them and carry them in the belly, as a cow carries her calf. Whether you notice positive signs or not, it’s wise to contact your vet and note the expected due date in your journal so it’s available if needed.
Seven weeks into the pregnancy, introduce the bitch to her whelping site. A suitable size box must be prepared and the absolute minimum measurements for this would be approximately 4 feet 6 inches by 3 feet. This will allow the bitch to lie fully stretched out on her side. The box can certainly be larger, but not so large as to allow the pups to stray away from their mother and get lost. Make sure the bitch is happy with the crate and her position. After a few days, she will welcome the peace, quiet, and solitude of this area, accepting it as the natural place to give birth. If she’s not happy, you need to give in to her and make other arrangements. She probably has a good reason for not wanting things like you. So listen to her and adjust. She can accept the box and then on the day of delivery she changes her mind and wants to go somewhere else. Again, you must give in to her request. She can go back to the crate after she’s had her first pup, but let her decide. It’s worth all the turmoil to have a happy, satisfied female dog successfully overcome her pregnancy and deliver her puppies safely, without causing you or herself any undue anxiety.
