In general, the Shiba Inu is considered to be a sturdy and healthy dog. As a result, shibas can easily survive in the outdoors, but also enjoy the indoors as you can imagine. They do not require special diets and in most cases you can get away with serving them any kind of commercial dog food. They enjoy activities such as playing catch and you can even take a shiba on a daily run since these animals can seemingly run forever non-stop. In saying this, the Shiba Inu is a relatively easy dog to take care of.

However, like any animal, or person for that matter, the Shiba Inu breed is not without hereditary defects. For example, they are known to suffer from patellar luxation, which essentially means they have loose knee caps. The condition is not considered severe, but surgery can be done to correct this and let your shiba inu lead a complete productive life. Another condition they can suffer from is hip dysplasia, although not as seriously as larger dogs would, it still seems to be a common issue among the shiba inu breed.

In addition to hereditary issues, as with any animal, you can sometimes find your healthy shiba inu under the weather, so to speak. There are numerous illnesses that can effect your shiba, but there are certain health problems that you should always be on the lookout for.

For example, if you find your shiba inu running around in circles consistently, this may be a sign that he is under high stress levels. It may also be a sign that your shiba needs to relieve himself. You may find that the circling is increased if your dog is confined to small places or a crate, but if the behavior persists, it is suggested to consult you veterinarian to see if the circling could be indicative of a health problem.

Another common thing for any dog, but especially the Shiba Inu, is allergies. More specifically, allergic reaction to fleas. However, with all the flea products on the market today, your dog should have no issue with this. But if you do see your shiba itching from the shoulder back, there is a good chance they are having a flea problem and you'll probably need to get some flea medication for them asap to relieve their itching.

Lastly, shiba inus sometimes develop a health condition known as hear murmurs. This sounds very serious and can be, if it goes untreated. However, with the appropriate treatment, this issue can easily go away and in most cases this poses true.

Health factors of your shiba inu is nothing to take lightly. Often the family pet is considered just that, part of the family, and when it comes to family, you always need to take care of the ones you love.