10 Healthiest & Best Dog Food for Akitas: Our May 2023 Review

What is the best dog food for Akitas? Such a crucial question. Akitas are hardy working dogs that typically remain aloof with people they don’t know.

Once you adopt one, they quickly acclimate and become affectionate members of the family. They have stout, stocky bones and a rugged appearance.

They’re considered very good with children, but require heavy training to view non-threatening strangers without aggression.

The breed has a reputation for being dangerous and isn’t for the first time dog owner. However, with proper training and an experienced owner, this breed offers loyalty and intelligence.

OUR TOP 3 PICKS FOR DOG FOODS FOR AKITAS

Why Quality Food Matters for Your Akita

Akitas burn through a lot of calories because of their sturdy build. They were bred to be hunting, and fighting dogs and their stocky builds give them that look. Food should be nutrient dense to handle their caloric requirements without adding empty calories.

Weight can be an issue because they are prone to skeletal problems such as hip and elbow dysplasia. Excess weight puts a lot of pressure on those joints causing pain and difficulty moving. Foods that help Akitas maintain a proper weight are essential.

They’re also prone to thyroid issues, so quality ingredients without common fillers are excellent for keeping those symptoms at bay even if the condition is genetic.

They do have some instances of skin irritations and food allergies, so it’s even more essential that their food mimics the ancestral diet as much as possible.

Best Dog Food for Akitas

We’ve put together a list of our favorite dog foods for Akitas. They all provide dense nutritional content for all stages of life and many are large breed specific. Let’s take a look.

For a quick sneak peek, here is the list of the products reviewed:

1. Nom Nom Fresh Pet Food
2. American Journey Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe
3. Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Formula
4. Ollie Fresh Pet Food
5. Merrick Backcountry Large Breed Recipe
6. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe with Red Meat Large Breed
7. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Puppy Chicken Recipe
8. Solid Gold Love At First Bark Beef, Potatoes & Apples Puppy Recipe
9. Merrick Chicken + Sweet Potato Senior Recipe
10. Iams Healthy Aging Mature & Senior Large Breed with Real Chicken

 

1. Nom Nom Fresh Pet Food Delivery

Nom Nom gives pet owners the chance to feed their pets restaurant grade food without switching to a messy raw food diet. Tasty Turkey Fare is a healthy option, offering whole proteins through cooked turkey plus plenty of vitamins with whole fruits and veggies. The meals are made and arrive at your house ready to serve or freeze for later.

First Five Ingredients (Turkey Fare):

• Turkey
• Brown Rice
• Carrots
• Spinach
• Eggs

About The Company – Nom Nom was founded by a veterinarian looking for a better way to get proper nutrition in the hands of pet owners. The company is a good balance between store-bought kibble and the confusing raw food diets. Fully cooked meals using fresh, organic ingredients in a limited ingredient formula. It’s simple, arrives fully ready to serve, and keeps your Akita happy and healthy.

Pros:

• Organic ingredients
• Vet nutritionist formulated
• Limited ingredient formula
• Easier than raw food diets

Cons:

• Not suitable for long term storage
• Delivery options are limited in some areas

2. American Journey Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe

American Journey has produced dog food that goes to show that cheap does not have to mean poor quality. Using beef as its main source of animal protein, this formula contains 32% protein and 14% fat.

This is amazing for a budget dog food and will be more than enough to ensure your dog maintains a healthy immune system, bones, and muscles.

However, some of this protein is from the vegetable source pea protein. This is harder for dogs to digest than animal protein, but shouldn't be too much of an issue for a healthy dog.

The dog food does also use chicken and turkey meal to bolster its protein content, which could be of some concern to dogs with allergies. In those cases, you would be better off going with American Journey's limited ingredient range. Still, this formula is grain-free,

This formula does include “dried plain beet pulp” as a source of fiber. This is fine but the saponinins in it has been found to cause irritation in a minor amount of dogs' gastrointestinal tract.

First Five Ingredients:

• Deboned Beef
• Chicken Meal
• Turkey Meal
• Peas
• Chickpeas

About The Company – American Journey is the house brand of known online pet products and food retailer, Chewy.com. Manufactured in the United States, American Journey products offer nutritious recipe choices ranging from grain-free to rice-mixed. All formulations are made without soy, wheat, poultry meal by-products, or any filler for a truly healthy feast.

Pros:

• Cheap
• High in protein
• Packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants

Cons:

• Uses pea protein
• Smaller bag sizes

3. Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Formula

Taste of the Wild has produced a brilliant dog food formula a that we are not sure can be beaten at this price point. Using lamb & lamb meal as its two animal protein sources, this dog food takes its inspiration from the ancestral diet of prehistoric canines.

It contains 25% protein and 15% fat. These numbers are brilliant and far above average. A high amount of protein and fat will do wonders for supporting the growth and maintenance of your dog's muscles and bones. High-fat content is also necessary for your dog to maintain a healthy immune system.

It is worth pointing out, however, that some of the protein in this formula is vegetable-based, with pea protein and potato protein featuring on the ingredients list. Vegetable proteins are harder for your dog's stomach to break down, but it shouldn't be too much of a concern if your dog does not have any digestive problems.

First Five Ingredients:

• Lamb
• Lamb Meal
• Sweet Potatoes
• Egg Product
• Lentils

About The Company – A family-owned brand, Taste of the Wild is dedicated to bringing pets the complete nutrition that nature intended for them. Based on a dog’s natural diet and their DNA, the company’s pet food products lets your pet savor the same flavors their ancestors once did — that of protein-rich prey. All ingredients are natural, raised humanely, and sourced sustainably.

Pros:

• Packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids
• Notable difference in pet's coat and skin health
• Picky eaters eat this

Cons:

• Contains pea protein and eggs (may be a source of allergy)
• Poor bag design

4. Ollie Fresh Pet Food (Lamb)

Ollie is a pet food company that was founded in 2016 by Gabby Slome, Alex Douzet, and Randy Jimenez. This New York-based pet food company set out to turn the pet food industry on its head by offering fresh, custom meals for dogs similar to meal-prep services like Maple and Sprig for humans.

If your dog's ready for some sheep thrills, we suggest this meal centered around lamb and butternut squash. Perfect for pups with allergies, this feast also contains nutrient-dense cranberries and kale.

First Five Ingredients:

• Lamb
• Lamb liver
• Butternut squash
• Kale
• Chickpeas

About The Company – Ollie’s fresh food is made and hand-packed in the USA. They are partners with a veterinary nutritionist to formulate their nutritionally-balanced recipes in accordance with AAFCO standards. All of their food is cooked in small batches in their USDA-regulated kitchen.

They carefully source their ingredients from reputable farms in the U.S and Australia. Each partner must go through an extensive certification process to become a supplier. All of their food is made only with whole, fresh & organic ingredients.

Pros:

• Each recipe is vet-formulated
• Made from fresh, natural ingredients
• Met AAFCO nutritional standards
• Improved oral/dental health
• You can customize your subscription

Cons:

• Price a bit expensive
• Fresh pet food has a shorter shelf life compared to kibbles and canned goods

5. Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Large Breed Recipe

This product is a large breed specific formula designed to help keep weight at appropriate levels and support bone and joint health. It uses freeze-dried bits of meat for texture and flavor plus premium kibble to promote overall health and nutrition.

It uses deboned chicken as the first ingredient to provide whole, stable proteins. Chicken and turkey meal provides further protein and caloric support. It does contain potatoes but not in the first three ingredients.

Whole veggies and fruits give proper nutrients and vitamins for a healthier immune system, and Merrick uses no artificial colors or preservatives. It’s soy, corn, and wheat free as well.

Glucosamine and chondroitin provide additional joint support while omega fatty acids from salmon help keep the skin healthy and the coat soft. There is no gluten, so very sensitive dogs should be fine.

First Five Ingredients:

• Deboned Chicken
• Chicken Meal
• Turkey Meal
• Peas
• Potatoes

About The Company – Merrick is committed to providing dependable, quality nutrition much like what your Akita’s ancestors may have eaten. Recipes are created in Merrick’s organic kitchen, and the company sources only quality ingredients for each recipe. The company is based in Texas and manufactures all products in the United States.

Pros:

• Freeze dried bits of raw meat
• Whole protein as first ingredient
• Joint and immune support.

Cons:

• Freeze dried bits fall to the bottom of the bag
• The texture may be off putting for some Akitas

6. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe with Red Meat Large Breed

This recipe uses deboned beef, lamb, and venison for a complete and varied protein source. It includes essential omega fatty acids to promote coat health and has complex carbohydrates to help maintain energy levels and a healthy weight. Blue’s trademark LifeSource bits provide an excellent source of antioxidants and vitamins.

It’s totally grain free, so sensitive Akitas should still be able to digest it well. It uses fruits and veggies primarily to provide nutrient and antioxidant support for a healthier immune system among other things plus probiotics for further digestive and immune support.

First Five Ingredients:

1. Deboned Beef
2. Chicken Meal
3. Tapioca Starch
4. Peas
5. Pea Starch

About The Company – Blue Buffalo got started with the search for quality food for a dog named Blue. The family began their journey with her and now provide quality foods for dogs with food sensitivities. They have a wide range of size-specific and dietary specific foods to help dogs with better digestion and to stave off the effects of poor immune responses to food. They create all their formulas in their own test kitchen and manufacture in the United States.

Pros:

• Three protein sources
• Gluten, soy, corn, and wheat free
• Probiotics for digestive and immune health

Cons:

• Only one size bag available
• Dogs may not like the taste or texture of LifeSource Bits

7. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Large Breed Puppy Chicken Recipe

Best Akita Puppy Food: Blue Buffalo’s formula is specially created to help large breed puppies maintain optimum growth and weight. Puppies receive dense nutrition without extra calories and no fillers that could set off weight gain detrimental to their growth trajectory.

It’s gluten and grain free and made without corn or soy fillers. Omega fatty acids help protect the skin and encourage a healthy coat. Whole proteins as the first ingredients provide building blocks for strong muscles and a proper growth curve. This formula uses sweet potato to provide complex carbohydrates with plenty of energy.

First Five Ingredients:

• Deboned Chicken
• Chicken Meal
• Peas
• Pea Protein
• Tapioca Starch

About The Company – Blue Buffalo’s mission is to provide a raw food alternative to keep dogs healthy and thriving. The company uses premium ingredients for its kibble plus trademark LifeSource bits for extra boosts of nutrients. The company was started in honor of their Airedale terrier, Blue, and continues to support puppies of all breed sizes.

Pros:

• Large breed specific formula
• Gluten-free
• Great source of calcium and phosphorous
• Promote healthy skin and shiny coats

Cons:

• Some puppies don’t like the texture of LifeSource Bits
• Uses peas and pea protein

8. Solid Gold Love At First Bark Beef, Potatoes & Apples Puppy Recipe

Solid Gold’s puppy food isn’t large breed specific, but it is intended to wean a puppy’s delicate digestive system from milk. It contains all essential nutrients from quality ingredients and no fillers. It’s soy, gluten, wheat, corn, and artificial preservatives free.

It uses superfoods to support a robust immune system and really controlled but healthy bones. Whole protein beef is the first ingredient along with beef liver plus egg whites and then veggies.

It includes DHA for brain health and function and omega fatty acids for better skin and a healthy coat. Portion sizes are easy to control, and it’s soft enough for your puppy’s beginning teeth.

First Five Ingredients:

1. Water Sufficient For Processing
2. Beef
3. Beef Liver
4. Potatoes
5. Dried Egg Whites

About The Company – Solid Gold has over forty years of expertise providing superfood pet foods to customers to keep pets healthy and thriving. The company was started by a woman in the 1970s out of love for her dog at the time. They offer grain free, allergen-free formulas with whole proteins and plenty of high-grade ingredients.

Pros:

• Easy to serve
• Easy to digest
• Made with high-protein beef and beef liver
• Contains all the vitamins and minerals
• With non-synthetic DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids

Cons:

• Not large breed specific
• Contains potatoes

Seniors sometimes lose activity levels due to age or pain, and it’s essential to maintain their weight. It can also be helpful at this time to assess if moving to a limited ingredient food would be best for your Akita’s digestive system and overall weight management.

9. Merrick Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Senior

Merrick’s formula isn’t large breed specific, but it has a host of benefits that should keep your Akita healthy throughout its life.

It uses deboned chicken as the first ingredient for a lean, whole protein source plus whole veggies and fruits for vitamins and minerals.

It’s grain and gluten free plus free of fillers such as soy and corn. It’s a nutrient-dense formula meant to maintain weight while providing plenty of nutritional value.

Glucosamine and chondroitin support healthy hips and joints while omega fatty acids help with the skin and coat. L-carnitine promotes healthy digestion and metabolism for further weight control, and all ingredients are locally sourced near Merrick’s Texas base.

First Five Ingredients:

1. Deboned Chicken
2. Chicken Meal
3. Sweet Potatoes
4. Peas
5. Potatoes

About Merrick – Merrick is a Texas-based company that takes your dog’s nutrition to heart. They use only premium ingredients for kibble plus no fillers or known food allergens for better digestion and nutrient-dense products. Everything is created in their test kitchen before going out to the public.

Pros:

• Joint and digestion support
• Weight control
• Locally sourced ingredients

Cons:

• Not large breed specific
• Uses a lot of potato varieties

10. Iams Healthy Aging Mature & Senior Large Breed with Real Chicken

This kibble is specially formulated dog food designed to meet the unique nutritional needs of mature and senior large breed dogs. Made with real chicken as the main ingredient, this high-quality dog food provides essential protein for maintaining muscle mass in aging dogs.

It also contains a balanced blend of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to support joint health, cognitive function, and immune system health.

This dog food is enriched with antioxidants to help fight free radicals and support overall wellbeing in mature and senior dogs. With its delicious taste and wholesome ingredients, this is a nutritious and flavorful option for keeping your large breed dog healthy and happy as they age.

First Five Ingredients:

• Chicken
• Chicken By-Product Meal
• Ground Barley
• Ground Whole Grain Corn
• Ground Whole Grain Sorghum

About The Company – Iams is a well-established pet food company with a reputation for providing high-quality nutrition for pets for over 70 years. They are committed to using real, wholesome ingredients, conducting extensive research, and maintaining rigorous quality control standards to create nutritionally balanced and flavorful pet food options that cater to the unique needs of pets at different life stages.

Pros:

• Large breed specific
• Specifically formulated for older dogs
• With glucosamine and chondroitin to boost joint health
• Contains antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to support immune system
• Kibble size and texture are designed to help reduce tartar buildup and promote dental health

Cons:

• Contains grains (may trigger allergies)
• Has some artificial flavors and colors

3 Common Health Issues

Akitas are a pretty healthy breed overall aside from a strange immunity to many vaccines and anesthetics. However, even hardy breeds can have a few issues to watch out for. Here are three things you should keep in mind.

• Hip And Elbow Dysplasia – Stocky work breeds are prone to dysplasia, a condition where the joint doesn’t form correctly and so doesn’t line up exactly right. Without proper care, this can cause pain and mobility issues down the road. It’s primarily an issue with dogs that develop a weight problem because their skeletons aren’t stable enough to support the weight. While you can’t cure the condition, foods that offer supplements for joint health are a good start. Things like glucosamine and chondroitin can help keep the joints supple and in good working condition. Nutrient dense foods can also help your Akita maintain energy without adding a lot of extra calories. These formulas are vital for maintaining a healthy weight.
• Hypothyroidism – This disease is another inherited one, but having food that doesn’t exacerbate symptoms can complement the treatment plan set by your veterinarian. Many common filler ingredients are thought to have an effect on the thyroid, especially gluten and soy fillers, so high-quality foods may help in the long run with maintaining proper endocrine levels. Your veterinarian will work with you to find the best treatment plan, so be sure to ask what to look for in a food besides dense nutrition and proper, canine thyroid friendly ingredients. You may also need a diet that helps to maintain appropriate weight levels despite your Akita’s condition.
• Immune Disorders – Although not common, some Akitas inherit immune disorders that can affect internal health or external areas such as the skin. When this happens, your dog may not be able to fight off disease or may develop rough, inflamed patches on the skin where the body is attacking itself.A diet with dense nutrition and immune support can help aid the immune system and reduce the amount of discomfort your dog feels. Avoid foods with common allergenic fillers that can cause strong immune reactions and opt for foods with whole protein sources and essential fatty acids. Probiotics are good additives as well as antioxidants that support healthy immune functions.

For some dogs, limited ingredient formulas may be best. These usually contain seven or fewer ingredients and are designed to aid a dog’s delicate digestive system in obtaining proper nutrition from food and avoid immune responses in the digestive tract.

What to Look For in a Quality Dog Food for Akitas

They’re considered a giant breed, so it’s vital that they maintain weight and that puppies grow slowly. Foods should be nutrient dense without a lot of empty calories so that puppies grow at a proper rate. Otherwise, you could damage their bone structure and cause issues down the road.

They’ll need roughly 2200 calories per day for an average 100-pound adult. Dogs that are smaller, less active, or with specific health issues may need fewer calories. They do well with moderate fat and protein content, and you should avoid over-supplementation, which can cause dietary imbalances.

Look for foods with high-quality proteins from whole sources as the first ingredients. They also need complex carbohydrates from sources that won’t cause a spike in blood sugar, such as sweet potato. Fruits and veggies can offer a lot of antioxidants and vitamins to support immune functions.

Essential fatty acids help keep skin issue at bay. A double coat requires a lot of maintenance, but healthy skin can help reduce shedding and keep the coat supple and healthy.

 

Ingredients to Avoid in Your Akita’s Dog Food

Akitas are particularly sensitive to soy, so it’s critical that the food you choose be soy-free, as this may contribute to some of the immune and thyroid disorders Akitas are prone to. Other fillers can cause issues as well because empty calories and food allergies are common causes of skin irritations and digestive problems.

Too many fillers, such as corn and gluten, lead to empty calories. Your Akita may eat more to recoup nutrients lost through basic biological processes causing excessive weight gain and huge issues with bones and joints. Poultry by-product meals are also frequent culprits of immune flare-ups especially in dogs sensitive to poultry proteins.

Some dogs may be at increased risk of a condition called canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Dogs fed consistently high levels of potatoes and legumes seemed to be at a higher risk for developing the disease. Although the link isn’t clearly established, you may want to use your best judgment concerning those ingredients.

Many budget dog foods and store brands are guilty of loading their foods with fillers and byproducts. Beneful is one of the worst offenders with fillers in nearly all the top ingredient spots plus artificial colors and preservatives.

Kibbles n Bits is another well-known brand that uses low-quality ingredients making kibble hard to digest and not very nutrient dense. Ol Roy may be very affordable, but it also is mostly filler with few whole proteins or whole nutrients.

Akita Feeding Chart

Full grown Akitas average 2230 calories per day while puppies (which are frequently around 60 pounds) may need an average of 750. Some breeders and expert Akita owners feed food only once a day with regular fasting to mimic an Akita’s wolf-like tendencies and to give the digestive system a break. If you’re thinking about this route, get the approval of your vet before you start.

Here are the recommended portion sizes for the average Akita:

• Puppies: serving sizes will depend a lot on the food and the individual puppy. Puppies change so much so quickly that it’s especially important you consider your vet’s recommendations for growth control and portion sizes.
• Healthy adults: as many as four cups per day fed twice a day to help avoid bloat.
• Seniors: Senior dogs should receive the same amount of food as they received when they were younger with a caveat. Veterinarians should monitor weight closely and adjust feeding to account for lower activity levels and any age-related conditions.

Final Thoughts

Your Akita’s large stature needs special care throughout its life. Choose food that will support proper growth, weight, and bone health to avoid potential issues down the road. Then, you can enjoy your loyal, cat-like giant for many years.