Caring for an Akita dog during pregnancy is basically common sense. It must be watched carefully and made as comfortable and happy as possible. You need to make sure you have a dry litter, plenty of clean drinking water, and regular, good-quality food. During the first five weeks he will probably behave quite normally. She can have her days “off”. You may be hungrier. You may show a slight change in temperament and be more careful about the way you behave, but as long as you are obviously healthy and happy, that’s all that matters.
As soon as you suspect that you are pregnant, it is a good idea to contact your veterinarian so that he can enter the expected date of birth in his diary and monitor the progress of the bitch. Akitas do not carry a lot of water with their pups, however they will have to carry a considerable amount of weight as the weeks progress. In general, it is not advisable to give a lot of extra food during the first weeks. Experience has taught us that overloading a female dog with food will increase the weight of her puppies, and she will also gain weight. This causes two problems. First of all, you won’t be exercising as well, so you won’t keep your muscles toned. Second, the puppies will be fat, which means they will be larger and will 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 lean and vigorous puppies, who will struggle to reach the nipples to be filled with that mother’s all-important first milk. We have found that the best policy is to feed a balanced diet with increased food after about five weeks. Naturally, the expectant mother will be hungrier, but rest assured that whatever food you give her, she will pass it on to her babies before she eats it. She is natural in parental care. Additives in the form of calcium and perhaps iron are a good idea, again after the five week period. These days, most foods are carefully balanced and numerous additives shouldn’t be needed. In fact, the general opinion is that they can do more harm than good. But if the bitch suggests that she may have a deficiency, you should take her to the vet so that proper testing and analysis can be done.
Akita female dogs “hide” their puppies very well for up to at least five weeks, more often six. They may not show any signs that they are pregnant, and this can be extremely annoying for owners, who obviously want to know if they are expecting a litter so that they can make the necessary preparations. The best indication is probably a swelling of the bitch’s nipples. After three weeks, these can “pop” or enlarge slightly and become more pink in appearance. In our experience, this is the only “safe” sign. Ultrasound scanning can also give a definitive diagnosis, but this is expensive and sometimes it is necessary to remove hair from the side or bottom of the bitch.
Your bitch may show signs of rib or loin thickening sooner, but it is highly unlikely. Akita Inu female dogs generally do not carry their babies on their backs like most breeds. They hide them under the ribs and then “drop” them and carry them in the belly, like a cow carries her calf. Whether you see positive signs or not, it is wise to contact your vet and reserve the expected date of birth in your diary so that it is available if necessary.
Seven weeks pregnant, introduce the bitch to her birthing site. A properly sized box should 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 flat on her side. The box can certainly be larger, but not so large as to allow the cubs to wander away from their mother and get lost. Make sure the bitch is happy with the box and its position. After a few days you will welcome the peace, tranquility and solitude of this area and thus accept it as the natural place when giving birth. If she’s not happy, you should give in to her and make other arrangements. He probably has a good reason for not wanting things the way you do. So listen to it 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 their request. You can go back to the box after you’ve had your first puppy, but let her decide. It is worth all the turmoil to have a happy and satisfied female dog who gets through her pregnancy successfully and gives birth to her puppies safely, without causing you, or herself, any undue anxiety.