Shiba Inu Health and Nutrition

Shiba Inu Overall Health

                        

dreamstime_xs_53436687Jumping2The Shiba Inu enjoys remarkable overall health. They are sturdy capable dogs that possess excellent strength and cardiovascular capabilities.

Because their genetics have not been tinkered with like other ‘designer dogs’ such as Bulldogs, their bodies function efficiently and they suffer from fewer conditions that are attributed to structural imbalance.

Shiba Inus do have some hereditary defects that can cause problems in the long term. Some of the more common issues Shiba Inus face are eye problems such as glaucoma and cataracts as well as patellar luxation and hip dyplasia.

The most common and annoying health issue that many Shiba Inus face is F.A.D. or flea allergy dermatitis.

Shiba Inus with F.A.D. are allergic to flea bites and will scratch relentlessly to relieve their discomfort. It is important for Shiba Inu owners to have an effective flea and tick control protocol in place at all times.

If your Shiba Inu exhibits signs of F.A.D. despite you having a flea control protocol in place, see your veterinarian to discuss other flea control options.

Shiba Inus suffering from F.A.D should bathe more often with a high quality soothing shampoo that contains natural ingredients to soothe itching.

There have been a few clinical trials that have found Shiba Inus to be more prone to anxiety issues over other breeds. The two most common anxiety issues Shiba Inus face are separation anxiety and noise anxiety.

Shiba Inu Nutrition

Shiba Inu’s should be fed a high quality diet. They will thrive on a varied diet of fresh, nutritious food. Although most veterinarian still recommend commercial “kibble”, there is a growing movement to move pets away from commercially processed foods to fresh.

I stopped feeding my Shiba Inus most commercial kibble and their health, coat, and vitality have improved drastically. Read this article to learn more.

Veterinarian’s do not learn much about dog nutrition during their studies. Yet, profit-driven dog food corporations fund much of these veterinarian’s studies and research – by all means, a serious conflict of interest.

Dry kibble is akin to human cereal – highly processed and enriched with low-cost vitamins and minerals.

Commercial dog food has only been around since the late 1960’s and was the result of needing a fast, convenient and cheap way to feed the nation’s pets.

What did dogs eat before that? You guessed it – fresh food.

shiba inu dog food choices

Fresh and Natural Vs. Highly Processed and Refined

If we as humans know that we should stay away from processed foods why should we feed it to our animals?

Comparatively, animals have shorter life spans than humans so feeding them highly processed foods filled with various preservatives and fillers just doesn’t make sense.

Most of the recommendations against feeding dogs fresh food are due to the assumption that we wouldn’t be able to create a balanced diet for our pets.

In actuality, with minimal research and education, feeding a dog is much easier than feeding a human. Dog’s are unlikely to be as fussy about food as humans are and actually enjoy and appreciate a varied diet.

In general, to mimic how dogs eat in the wild, a diet consisting of 60 – 70% quality protein, 20% vegetable, and 10% quality grain would be good base to start at.  It is important to research what human foods are dangerous to dogs before expanding on your dog’s menu plan.

The Trade Offs: Time and Money

Feeding fresh will naturally be more time consuming and expensive than opening a bag of kibble. However, we all want our Shiba Inus to live a long and healthy life – so the benefits are worth the extra effort.

Shiba Inus that are fed a proper diet will need fewer visits to the vet thereby offsetting the extra costs of fresh food. They will also suffer from less allergies and enjoy vibrant health through their senior years.

Some Shiba’s have allergic reactions to certain foods and the only way to discover the triggers is by the elimination diet using whole fresh foods.

Performing an elimination diet with commercial foods is difficult because commercial foods have a lot of additional ingredients, fillers and additives.

The True Cost of Owning a Shiba Inu – Can You Really Afford One?

The True Cost of Owning a Shiba Inu – Can You Really Afford One?

On occasion, our posts contain affiliate links. However, we only recommend products that we truly believe in. For more information, visit my privacy policy page. Let’s talk about numbers. The annual cost of owning a Shiba Inu can be estimated at about $1,525 to...

Protecting Your Shiba From Aversive Training Methods

Protecting Your Shiba From Aversive Training Methods

On occasion, our posts contain affiliate links. However, we only recommend products that we truly believe in. For more information, visit my privacy policy page.Rain Jordan, CBCC-KA, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP, Fearful Dogs Expert...

Honest Kitchen Dog Food Review

Honest Kitchen Dog Food Review

On occasion, our posts contain affiliate links. However, we only recommend products that we truly believe in. For more information, visit my privacy policy page. By now, it should be a no-brainer to understand that what feed our dogs is the single most important...

The Long-Hair A.K.A. Wooly Shiba Inu

The Long-Hair A.K.A. Wooly Shiba Inu

On occasion, our posts contain affiliate links. However, we only recommend products that we truly believe in. For more information, visit my privacy policy page. Ever noticed a dog that “looks” kind of like a Shiba, but seems much “floofier” than normal?...

Spotlight on Shibas! – Meet The Royalty FIVE

Spotlight on Shibas! – Meet The Royalty FIVE

On occasion, our posts contain affiliate links. However, we only recommend products that we truly believe in. For more information, visit my privacy policy page. Meet Cooper, Bindi, Tucker, Curly and Rocky - probably the 5 most spoiled black and tans all in one...

Teaching Your Shiba Inu to STAY – The Most Important Command

Teaching Your Shiba Inu to STAY – The Most Important Command

On occasion, our posts contain affiliate links. However, we only recommend products that we truly believe in. For more information, visit my privacy policy page.Training a dog to come when they're called is not only a neat trick, it can actually save their...

Sundays Seven – Super Special Shiba Inus To Follow!!

Sundays Seven – Super Special Shiba Inus To Follow!!

On occasion, our posts contain affiliate links. However, we only recommend products that we truly believe in. For more information, visit my privacy policy page.2020 has been tough—for Shibas and their humans alike.That’s why we're going big in 2021to bring you...

Shiba Inu Skin Allergies – Ultimate Resource and Guide

Shiba Inu Skin Allergies – Ultimate Resource and Guide

On occasion, our posts contain affiliate links. However, we only recommend products that we truly believe in. For more information, visit my privacy policy page.All content on this website should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, veterinary medical...

Are Shiba Inus Good Apartment Dogs?

Are Shiba Inus Good Apartment Dogs?

On occasion, our posts contain affiliate links. However, we only recommend products that we truly believe in. For more information, visit my privacy policy page. Shiba Inus make superb apartment dogs. (As a whole, remember, all dogs have individual personalities...

Oldies But Goodies – Caring For Your Geriatric Shiba Inu

Oldies But Goodies – Caring For Your Geriatric Shiba Inu

On occasion, our posts contain affiliate links. However, we only recommend products that we truly believe in. For more information, visit my privacy policy page.As dog parents, we all face the reality that our little babies will eventually become senior dogs.It's...

Calming Dog Beds – What Are They and Do They Work?

Calming Dog Beds – What Are They and Do They Work?

On occasion, our posts contain affiliate links. However, we only recommend products that we truly believe in. For more information, visit my privacy policy page.Calming dog beds are an absolute must for any dogs dealing with anxiety issues.But don't be too...

Must Haves For New Shiba Inu Puppy Owners

Must Haves For New Shiba Inu Puppy Owners

On occasion, our posts contain affiliate links. However, we only recommend products that we truly believe in. For more information, visit my privacy policy page.BACK IN STOCK...Karakusa BandanasBringing home a new Shiba Inu puppy is no doubt an exciting time for...