How To Care For Your Sick Shiba Inu

Illness and pain is one of the unfortunate realities of our earthly existence. 

And for our beloved Shiba Inus, we are the ones they look to for comfort, care, and reprieve.

Knowing how to care for your ailing furry friend can go a loooong way in their comfort and recovery.

This article is dedicated to the loving Shiba Inu parents willing to get educated and go the extra mile for our Shibas!

Follow Your Veterinarian's Instructions [IMPORTANT]

To ensure that your Shiba Inu recovers as soon as possible, it’s critical that you follow your veterinarian’s instructions closely.

Many vet offices provide a written summary of the visit as well as care instructions for the owner to follow at home.

If your vet doesn’t provide that, be sure to take notes and ask as many questions as you need to.

The following are some examples of questions you may want to ask your vet:

• If your dog is having gastrointestinal issues, you should ask if holding back on feeding for a while is recommended.
• Ask how much fluids your Shiba should be having and if an iv would be beneficiary at home.
• Ask your vet what types of food would be okay to feed and how much and how often.
• Ask your vet what you should do if your Shiba refuses food. (certain medications can aid in appetite) 
• Ask which medicines need to be taken with food etc.
• Ask if there are any dietary restrictions that you need to be mindful of.
• If your Shiba Inu has a wound, etc, ask about the options available to prevent biting at the wound. (cones, etc)
• Ask the vet if your Shiba would benefit from any anxiety medications if your Shiba is showing signs of it at home.

Keep Your Shiba Inu Safe and Comfortable

When caring for your sick Shiba, it’s important that your Shiba Inu is in an environment that is clean, comfortable and free from excessive noise. 

Ideally, you’d probably benefit from keeping your Shiba in an enclosed area so you can monitor them as well as provide potty pads to keep their area clean in case they are vomiting, having diarrhea, and or other issues that could cause soiling. 

Try to provide a bed that is both comfortable and easy to walk on. Many older Shiba Inus may have trouble getting up from dog beds that are too plush and soft. 

If that’s the case you can always use a soft pad as well as a towel to use as a temporary “rehab” bed.

This way, your Shiba can get up easier and not feel “trapped” and / or disoriented in a sinking type bed. This is especially important if your Shiba has vomiting and or diarrhea issues.

It’s best to try and stay with your Shiba as much as possible when they are awake so that you can provide reassurance and comfort when necessary.

However do try to keep a positive and hopeful attitude as your Shiba can easily pick up your sad emotions that can negatively affect them. 

Even though I’m worried, I try to keep a confident and positive attitude as much as possible.

I actually caved in and bought my Shiba a Snuggle Puppy to soothe her while she rests. The heartbeat is a really nice touch that seems to comfort her. I don’t use the heating pouch as we’re in Hawaii and she already has thick fur.

How To Nourish Your Sick Shiba Inu

Even the most food-motivated Shibas lose a lot of their appetite when they are not feeling well so it’s important to provide something that is enticing and easy to chew and digest.

I like to choose foods that are moist, soft, and low-fat.

Be sure to check with your veterinarian on what type of diet is suitable for your Shiba’s condition. 

Certain conditions such as kidney disease require a modified diet.

Many veterinarians will recommend a bland diet consisting of chicken and rice. I often make a rice congee that consists of white rice, finely-grated carrots, and chicken breast.

If you have the time you can bump this recipe up by boiling a whole fresh chicken so that you can use the chicken broth for the congee. Just be sure to be mindful about sodium levels. In most cases, salt either be omitted or used sparingly. 

I’ve had great success using the congee recipe for my oldest Shiba Kitsune who turned 14 last year. Congees are great because of the added moisture that can aid and rehabilitate dehydrated dogs. 

There may be times when your Shiba refuses to eat - period -  which will likely make you worried. Be sure to follow your vet’s advice for this scenario. It’s usually okay for your dog to not have food for short periods of time.

For times when I feel that I need to give my Shiba some nutrition despite their lack of appetite, I like to make and offer mini-bites of nutrition.

This is basically something I can whip up that has fresh, healthy ingredients appealing to the Shiba. I’ll then usually process the food in a processor so I can form tiny little bites that are more likely to tempt my Shiba to try some.

For example Kitsune loves beef and avocados. So I’ll process some lightly seared lean sirloin steak, avocado into my congee mixture.

I’ll then shape into small little bite-sized morsels. I usually have high success rates with this recipe

Caveat: It's still important to be mindful about what types of food to offer your Shiba Inu.

For example, my Kitsune is 14-years-old and has a risk for pancreatic disease as well as has been recently diagnosed with level 2-3 kidney disease. This means that I need to be mindful about the amount of protein I'm offering her.

Mobility and Transportation

There are many options to assist you in transporting your Shiba Inu when their mobility is affected by their illness and / or old age. 

When handling your ill Shiba Inu, pay special attention to handle them in a way that minimizes stress and pain.

Some elderly Shibas have arthritis or other joint issues that can be very painful when handled improperly. Try to keep a calm composure while keeping your movements slow and non-dizzying.

When it is important that your Shiba still be able to walk for exercise reasons or simply because they love doing it, you can use a specialized harness to assist.

For longer distances you can use dog strollers / carts - just be sure that your Shiba is comfortable as well as safe /and secured.

When traveling in a vehicle, it’s important that you properly secure your Shiba with either a crash-tested harness, carrier, or non-metal crate.

Depending on the situation, you may need to use a crate (non-metal) due to your Shiba having accidents, etc.

Yet a more ideal scenario would be to have someone else hold your Shiba or have a comfortable booster seat that your Shiba can rest in comfortably and securely.

Final Thoughts

You've made it all the way to the conclusion of this article.

Thank you.

Thank you for taking the time to read up on tips on how to better care for your ailing Shiba Inu in their time of need.

Going through any type of illness is difficult for all living things - and doing your best to provide comfort for your Shiba is a truly wonderful and Blessed thing...

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