Japanese Spitz Health – A Guide to Health Testing and Preventative Care

The Japanese Spitz is one of the healthiest and longest-lived small dog breeds. With proper care, these dogs live for an average of 10 to 16 years, and some reach the age of seventeen. This longevity is no accident. It comes from understanding the breed: knowing which conditions it may be susceptible to, which health checks are worth carrying out and how to recognise the signals a dog sends before a minor issue develops into a serious problem.

At Byakko Kitsune, health is the foundation of everything we do – from selecting breeding pairs and determining the scope of health testing to caring for a pregnant bitch and her puppies during their first weeks of life. That is why we have brought together everything genuinely worth knowing about the health of this breed. Here you will find information about the Japanese Spitz’s health predispositions, everyday preventative care, diet and grooming, followed by practical questions to ask a breeder before deciding to welcome a puppy into your home.

One important note before we begin. This guide is based on cynological literature, the breed standard and our own breeding experience. Its purpose is to provide useful knowledge and draw your attention to what matters, but it cannot replace a veterinary examination of an individual dog. If anything concerns you, always place your veterinarian’s diagnosis above the information found in any article.

Health Conditions Affecting the Japanese Spitz

The Japanese Spitz is a robust breed and, after many years of careful selection, a genuinely healthy one. Nevertheless, it is worth knowing which conditions can occur in the breed and which of them can be ruled out before a puppy is even born by testing its parents. We describe them here clearly and thoroughly, so that you can find the most important information in one place.

Patellar Luxation

This is the most common orthopaedic problem in the breed. It occurs when the kneecap moves out of its normal position, causing lameness and, over time, painful degenerative changes in the joint. Warning signs include recurrent lameness or a characteristic skipping movement on one hind leg while running; the dog may also avoid putting weight on the affected leg. Breeding dogs should have their patellae examined and the results confirmed by a certificate. Owners can also do a great deal to reduce the strain on the joints: a growing dog should not be subjected to excessive exercise, repeated jumping or long runs on hard surfaces. Maintaining a healthy weight throughout the dog’s life is equally important, as body weight has a major effect on joint loading.

Eyes: Excessive Tearing, Distichiasis and PRA

The Japanese Spitz’s eyes deserve particular attention, and not because of one condition alone.

The most common and usually mild problem is excessive tearing caused by narrow tear ducts. Although it is not dangerous in itself, it can produce rust-coloured tear stains. Without proper hygiene, constant moisture beneath the eyes may eventually cause painful sores and skin ulceration.

Distichiasis is the presence of an additional row of eyelashes growing from the eyelid margin and continually irritating the cornea. Persistent tearing and squinting are common warning signs.

The most serious of these conditions, although rare in the breed, is progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), a genetic disorder that leads to blindness. The first sign is usually difficulty seeing in low light, known as night blindness. The condition progresses over time and may eventually cause complete loss of sight. PRA is not painful, and dogs often adapt well to blindness when their surroundings remain stable and predictable. There is currently no cure for PRA, so prevention depends on responsible breeding: testing prospective parents and ensuring that affected dogs and carriers are not used for breeding.

One point is particularly important. Almost every responsible Japanese Spitz breeder carries out genetic testing for PRA, but a comprehensive ophthalmic examination – which can also detect distichiasis and problems affecting the tear ducts – is still not standard practice. Such an examination provides a much fuller picture of the dog’s eye health.

Malignant hyperthermia

This is a lesser-known test, but one that may save a dog’s life. Malignant hyperthermia is an inherited susceptibility in which certain anaesthetic agents can trigger a sudden, life-threatening reaction. An affected dog may suffer severe complications under anaesthesia and may not recover from it. There may be no warning signs in everyday life. The condition may become apparent only on the operating table, during a procedure requiring anaesthesia – even one as routine as dental cleaning. Genetic testing can determine whether a dog is affected, and that knowledge can help protect it throughout its life. The condition remains rare in the breed, but in our view this is one of the most important tests available.

Malocclusion

The literature identifies malocclusion as one of the breed’s more serious hereditary problems, although careful selection has made it increasingly uncommon. Faults such as an undershot or overshot bite usually become apparent only when the permanent teeth emerge, at around four to five months of age. The breed standard requires a complete scissor bite.

Skin and allergies

Japanese Spitz dogs naturally tend to have dry skin and may be susceptible to food or contact allergies. Signs can include intense itching, reddened skin, persistent scratching or chewing at the coat. Grains and chicken are common suspected food allergens. Sometimes, however, the cause is not an allergy but an error in grooming, as we explain in the section on coat care.

Teeth and Periodontal Health

As in other small breeds, tartar can build up quickly. Warning signs include bad breath, also known as halitosis, yellow deposits on the teeth and reddened gums. Untreated periodontal disease affects more than the mouth and, particularly in older dogs, may place an additional burden on the kidneys and heart. Regular dental care at home makes an enormous difference, and we return to it in the grooming section.

Rarer conditions

Several problems occur less frequently in the breed, but it is worth knowing about them:

• Hip dysplasia (HD) occurs much less frequently than in large breeds, but it can still affect the Japanese Spitz. It is assessed using radiographs, yet relatively few breeders in the breed examine the hips of prospective parents. This is unfortunate, as the examination can provide prospective owners with valuable information.
• Isolated cases of heart disease, particularly myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), have been reported in recent years, mainly in Scandinavia. In older dogs, it is worth asking the veterinarian to listen to the heart during routine check-ups.
• Tracheal collapse may develop in senior dogs. This is one reason why a harness may be more suitable than a collar for an older dog.
• Cryptorchidism in males, meaning that one or both testicles have not descended into the scrotum, is a disqualifying fault for breeding purposes and should be monitored from puppyhood.

Everyday Preventative Care: Check-ups, Vaccinations and Parasite Control

Understanding the conditions that may affect the breed is one thing; consistent preventative care is another. Fortunately, the routine needed to help a Japanese Spitz remain healthy is straightforward.

Annual veterinary check-up

The foundation is an annual veterinary check-up, even when the dog appears completely healthy. This is often when changes that are not yet noticeable to the owner can first be detected. In the Japanese Spitz, the check-up should focus particularly on the patellae, eyes, teeth and body weight. Older dogs should also have regular blood tests, including haematology and biochemistry to assess kidney and liver function, as well as examination of the heart. In short, it is an annual review of the areas described above.

Additional checks depend on the dog’s age. In puppies, the bite should be assessed and males should be examined to confirm that both testicles have descended into the scrotum. For senior dogs, checklists of age-related changes can help owners notice subtle symptoms more easily.

Vaccinations

The breeder administers the puppy’s first vaccinations and carries out the initial worming before it leaves for its new home. The puppy then completes its primary vaccination course, usually at around 16 weeks of age. This provides protection against diseases including distemper, parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis, leptospirosis and parainfluenza. Vaccination against rabies is administered in accordance with the applicable regulations. Until the primary vaccination course has been completed, the puppy should not come into contact with unfamiliar dogs or visit places frequented by large numbers of animals. Adult dogs receive booster vaccinations, normally discussed as part of their annual health review, while in senior dogs the emphasis increasingly shifts towards an overall assessment of health.

The precise schedule and choice of vaccines should always be determined by a veterinarian, as vaccination protocols vary according to the country, the local epidemiological situation and the vaccine being used.

Year-round Parasite Protection

Protection against external parasites, such as fleas and ticks, and internal parasites should be a regular part of care rather than a seasonal addition. This is particularly important in the Japanese Spitz because an allergy to flea saliva can cause serious skin problems. Bitches should also be wormed preventatively before a planned mating to reduce the risk of parasites being passed to their puppies.

Warning signals – what not to miss

Your knowledge of your dog and your everyday observations are among the most valuable aids to early diagnosis. A healthy Japanese Spitz has a snow-white coat that stands away from the body, bright dark eyes and a light, energetic gait. Arrange a veterinary appointment if you notice:

• movement: recurrent lameness, difficulty climbing stairs or skipping on one hind leg;
• eyes: a sudden increase in tearing or tear staining, squinting or difficulty seeing after dark;
• skin and coat: persistent scratching or chewing at the coat, redness, chafing or excessive hair loss outside the normal shedding season;
• mouth and ears: bad breath, yellow deposits on the teeth or bleeding gums, as well as head tilting or scratching at an ear, which may indicate an infection or a foreign body such as a grass awn;
• behaviour: sudden lethargy, fearfulness or increased barking, as well as rapid weight gain, which can place considerable strain on the joints and heart;

The principle is simple: you know your dog better than anyone else. If something does not seem normal, that alone is reason enough to arrange a veterinary appointment.

Diet and health

Diet affects not only the appearance of the coat, but also the joints, heart and the skin’s natural defences. The Japanese Spitz is not generally a fussy eater, but the quality of its food matters.

The breed has a tendency to gain weight. Excess weight places additional strain on joints susceptible to patellar luxation and may eventually affect the heart. Regardless of how you feed your dog, it is therefore essential to monitor its body shape, weight and overall condition regularly.

The feeding routine should be adapted to the individual dog. Our Japanese Spitz dogs are not greedy and regulate their own intake when given constant access to dry food. For that reason, dry food is available throughout the day in our home, while wet food is served in measured portions. This approach works only while the dog maintains a healthy weight. If it begins to gain weight, serving two measured meals a day allows for closer control of its intake.

Quality matters just as much as quantity. The Japanese Spitz needs a diet containing high-quality protein to keep its dense white coat in good condition. Inexpensive foods with poorly balanced levels of vitamins and minerals can quickly affect the dog’s health and the condition of its coat. For sensitive dogs showing signs of an allergy, hypoallergenic foods, grain-free or single-protein formulas may be worth considering, including those containing fish, lamb or venison.

Another serious concern applies to nursing bitches. Eclampsia, a sudden fall in blood calcium levels, can occur particularly when a bitch is nursing a large litter. It can cause muscle spasms and requires immediate veterinary attention.

Grooming – A Matter of Health, Not Just Appearance

This subject is particularly close to our hearts because, at Byakko Kitsune, we see grooming and health as inseparable. The coat is not merely decorative: it performs important protective functions, and the way it is cared for directly affects the health of the skin.

The dense, soft undercoat has a strong tendency to mat. If it is not brushed, it forms compact tangles that prevent air from reaching the skin and can quickly lead to itching, inflammation and other dermatological problems. A dog may chew at these mats until the skin bleeds. Moisture creates an additional risk. The Japanese Spitz coat takes a long time to dry, and leaving the undercoat damp after a bath or a walk in the rain can cause rapid matting and painful skin irritation. Whenever the coat becomes wet, it must be dried thoroughly, right down to the skin.

The coat is protected by natural oils that act almost like Teflon, helping to repel dirt and water. Bathing too frequently strips away this protective layer, dries the skin and weakens the hair. With this breed, less really is more.

Two areas are easily overlooked. The first is the paws. If the hair between the pads is not trimmed, it can form hard mats that cause pain, pressure sores and eventually lameness – something that may easily be mistaken for an orthopaedic problem. The second is the teeth. An annual veterinary check-up alone is not enough to control tartar, so the teeth should be brushed with a suitable dog toothbrush at least once a week and preferably every few days. Appropriate firm chews can provide additional support. Both routines are best introduced during puppyhood so that the dog accepts them as a normal part of everyday life. The eye area also needs regular attention, as wiping away rust-coloured tear stains helps prevent skin infections beneath the eyes.

Most importantly, never clip a Japanese Spitz. Removing the insulating undercoat destroys the coat’s natural protection against sunlight and cold, dramatically increasing the risk of overheating, heatstroke and sunburn. It is one of the most serious grooming mistakes that can be made with this breed.

Spitz health at every stage of life

Preventative care is not the same throughout a dog's life – priorities change, though the foundation, which is the annual check-up, remains constant.

During puppyhood, from birth to 12 months of age, the priorities are healthy development and protection against infectious diseases. Ears that are folded during the first weeks of life should gradually become erect. At around four to five months, while the permanent teeth are emerging, possible bite faults become visible. This is also a good time to check whether retained deciduous teeth are obstructing the permanent teeth. During growth, protect the joints by avoiding excessive physical strain. Socialisation must not be neglected. The period between eight and twelve weeks of age is particularly important for a dog’s psychological development, and missing this window may contribute to fearfulness in adulthood.

For an adult dog, the focus is on calm, regular monitoring of the areas described above – the patellae, eyes, teeth and weight – together with maintaining good grooming habits.

In senior dogs, usually over eight to ten years of age, preventative care becomes more comprehensive. The heart, trachea and internal organs require greater attention, making regular blood tests and examination of the heart particularly important. Long-term patellar problems may lead to degenerative joint changes requiring supplementation or pain relief. In short, the emphasis changes with age: from supporting development during puppyhood, through maintaining health in adulthood, to comprehensive geriatric care in later life.

Health Testing and Choosing a Breeder

Many of the health problems affecting the Japanese Spitz can be reduced at source through responsible breeding. This section is therefore important both for people looking for a puppy and for anyone who wants to understand what lies behind a healthy dog.

FCI Breed Standard No. 262 sets out several requirements for breeding dogs. Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs with breed-typical conformation should be used for breeding. Males must have two normally developed testicles fully descended into the scrotum. A dog must not display any disqualifying faults, including aggression or excessive fearfulness. The standard itself does not provide a list of specific health tests. However, patellar examinations are standard practice in FCI-affiliated breeding, while responsible breeders also carry out eye and hip examinations and assess the bite. The literature provides additional guidance regarding bitches: they should be between 18 months and seven years of age, and their health and recovery between litters should take precedence over the number of puppies produced.

When choosing a puppy, consider the following points to be essential requirements rather than optional advantages:

1. Registration with the Polish Kennel Club (ZKwP) and the FCI. Only kennels registered with the Polish Kennel Club guarantee breed purity and adherence to its ethical standards.
2. Health transparency. A good breeder will show you the parents’ health test results and copies of their pedigrees. Ask about examinations of the patellae, eyes and heart, hip dysplasia results, genetic testing for PRA and genetic testing for malignant hyperthermia. These are the tests that distinguish a breeder who does everything possible from one who stops at the minimum.
3. Living conditions. Dogs should not be kept in isolation. In a responsible kennel, they live as full members of the family and become familiar with everyday life alongside people from their earliest days. Look at whether the puppies experience normal household sounds, other animals and, where possible, children. Natural socialisation during the first weeks of life has an enormous influence on their confidence and their ability to adapt to a new home.
4. The bitch’s welfare. An ethical breeder does not exploit their bitches. Between planned litters, each bitch should be given enough time to recover fully, taking account of her age, physical condition and the course of her previous pregnancy. Ask how many litters she has had, how much time passed between them and what factors the breeder considers before planning another mating. The bitch’s welfare should always take precedence over the number of puppies born.
5. Matching the puppy to its family. In a responsible kennel, the choice of puppy is not left to chance. A good breeder first gets to know the prospective family – their lifestyle, experience, expectations and plans – and then matches them with the puppy whose temperament suits them best. An active puppy can therefore join an active family, while a calmer puppy can go to a home better suited to its character. This greatly increases the likelihood of a harmonious life together.

When a breeder shows you the dogs’ documents, it helps to understand what the results mean. A clear PRA result (N/N) means that the dog does not carry the mutation responsible for the condition. Responsible breeders may also mate a clear dog (N/N) with a carrier (N/PRA). Such a mating will not produce affected puppies: the offspring will be either clear of the mutation or healthy carriers. For the patellae, look for a certificate confirming a normal result of 0/0. The best hip dysplasia result is A/A. Although hereditary bite faults may be difficult to identify in a young puppy, the risk can be assessed to some extent by looking at the parents’ lines. In addition to the health test results, you should receive the puppy’s ZKwP registration certificate, which can be used to obtain its pedigree; a health booklet recording vaccinations and worming treatments; a sale agreement; and information about the puppy’s existing diet and grooming routine as part of its starter pack. In practice, the higher price of a puppy from a reputable kennel is an investment in its health, appropriate socialisation and stable temperament. It can often help the family avoid future problems and expensive treatment.

How We Care for Our Puppies’ Health at Byakko Kitsune

In a responsible breeding programme, everything described above begins long before a puppy joins its new family. A healthy puppy is the result of decisions made before it is even born.

We begin by selecting the breeding pair and carrying out health testing. We breed only from healthy dogs, and our breeding dogs undergo a broader range of tests than the required minimum. These include a comprehensive ophthalmic examination, a cardiac examination, assessment of the patellae and hips, genetic testing for PRA and genetic testing for malignant hyperthermia – the condition that can cause a life-threatening reaction under anaesthesia. Few breeders of the Japanese Spitz currently carry out this complete range of examinations, but for us it is simply part of responsible breeding.

A bitch is mated only when she is fully mature, both physically and mentally. Her health and welfare matter more to us than the number of litters she produces. We therefore plan another mating only after she has fully recovered from her previous litter and is ready in terms of both health and physical condition.

After birth, every puppy remains under close observation. We carry out the first worming treatments and vaccinations while the puppies are still with us, at the appropriate age. We monitor their development, including the bite, the descent of the testicles in males and the way the ears develop, and respond whenever something requires attention. Socialisation is equally important to us. We believe that the best form of socialisation is simply everyday life. From their first weeks, our puppies grow up alongside us and experience children of different ages, our cat, adult dogs and all the sounds and situations that come with family life. As a result, they leave us not only healthy, but also more confident and better prepared to settle into their new homes.

Before your puppy joins you, we prepare all the necessary documents and its starter pack: the ZKwP registration certificate, a health booklet containing records of vaccinations and worming treatments, the agreement and information about diet and grooming. We want you to begin life with your dog equipped with everything you need.

Health questions to ask a breeder

If you are still looking for a puppy, this short list will help you recognise a responsible breeder. A good breeder will not be put off by these questions – they will be glad that their puppy is going to a knowledgeable home.

• Have the parents had their patellae checked (result 0/0)?
• Apart from the PRA test, have the parents undergone a full eye examination?
• Have the parents been assessed for hip dysplasia (HD) and tested for malignant hyperthermia?
• Are the parents’ bloodlines free from hereditary bite faults?
• Can I meet the bitch and see the conditions the puppies are growing up in?
• How old is the bitch, and how much time has passed between her litters?
• What vaccinations and deworming treatments will the puppy have had before coming to me?
• What documents will I receive, and will the breeder remain available to support me after I collect the puppy?

That final question is often the most important. A responsible breeder’s role does not end on the day the puppy leaves. We remain available to support our families throughout their Japanese Spitz’s life, because caring for its health is not a single decision but a journey we take together. We also invite you to read the other articles in our Japanese Spitz guide.

Summary

The Japanese Spitz is a healthy and long-lived breed, but good health cannot be taken for granted. It is the result of everyday habits and informed decisions. The most important are straightforward: an annual veterinary check-up focusing particularly on the patellae, eyes and teeth; maintaining a healthy weight; caring properly for the dense coat and never clipping it; and, from the outset, choosing a puppy from a breeder who carries out comprehensive health testing of the parents and is fully transparent with prospective owners.

If you have any questions about Japanese Spitz health or are considering a puppy from our kennel, get in touch with us. We will be happy to share our experience.