Shiba Inu Questions?

[Glitzie]

I was wondering what is common illnesses for this type? My Mom is having a hard time with Rusty. Weight gain & hairloss. Are those common? When do they start to mature & slow down?

[britishbandit]

From what i've heard about Shibas, they aren't prone to many health problems.
No dog should be overweight if it is exercised enough and is fed the appropriate amount of food. Some people like to free feed, but with particular dogs and certain breeds you just can't. I know with PJ and Tysa, I have measure out what they get, or they'd eat till their tummies hit the ground.
What type of food are they feeding? Some low end foods can make a dog eat more trying to get those nutrients that the food is missing, and can cause allergies too, which in turn could cause hair loss.
Best place to start is to get the dog to a vet to eliminate any medical reasons why any of this could be happening, and go from there, although getting a good quality food is never a bad idea.
And how old is Rusty? Some dogs are spunky for years, but most tend to have settled down (at least a bit...LOL), by the time they hit 2. But i've seen some pretty hyper dogs that were around 5 and still like that...LOL.

[rmci]

Weight gain & hairloss- How much?

[Glitzie]

Sorry, I meant to say weight loss. He is 21lbs. He looks so scrawny.
VERY picky eater. He is on Artimis dog food right now. He is about 2 1/2 years old. Extremely energenic! Always on the go. She has taken him to the vet last 2 weeks ago & the vet said he may have a vitamin A defiscansy. He take one pill a day. He seems to be getting worse it seems. He also has constant gas! PU!

[IceyBlueSibes]

I would definetly take him to the vet for another check up. This doesn't sound right!

The gas could also be cause from the food. I'd get the vet check up and then change the food.

Poor guy! Hope you can figure out what it is!

[Sayuri]

Shibas, as a rule, are a very hearty breed - we watch out for things like hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, missing teeth, and the like, but they tend to have fewer problems than many more popluar breeds. Food allergies and pickiness do crop up in a few Shibas - you may look into trying a dog food that is wheatless, as there's a large enough number of Shibas that don't do well on it that it might be an issue. My male is on a fish and potato formula and doing fine - previously he was picking at his coat and losing some fur in irritated spots.

Your mother may just have a "rangy" Shiba - if he's standard-sized 21 pounds is not unreasonable, and I see plenty of lean but not unhealthy Shiba males in this area. Hair loss contributes to this look certainly - when they blow their coats, particularly in the hot summer months, they tend to look like the antithesis of their regal, handsome projected image.

If he is gassy and you get the feeling that he is just plain unwell, another vet check is still in order. Does he seem listless and uninterested in his favorite activities?