Akitas have a median lifespan of about 10 years, which is similar to other breeds of their size.
In a 2004 UK Kennel Club survey, the most common causes of death were:

Cancer (32%)
Cardiac (14%)
Gastrointestinal, including bloat/torsion (14%)

In a 2000-2001 USA/Canada Health Survey, the most common causes of death were:

Cancer (21%)
GDV (=bloat/torsion, [...]

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Bloat is a medical condition in which the stomach becomes overstretched by excessive gas content. It is also commonly referred to as torsion, gastric torsion, and gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) when the stomach is also twisted.
When you suspect your dog suffers from bloat you IMMEDIATELY need to go to the vet. It doesn’t matter what hour [...]

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Sebaceous Adenitis (SA) is a hereditary autoimmune skin disease whose mode of inheritance is believed to be simple autosomal recessive, requiring a single Defective gene from both sire and dam. SA is not sex linked. A genetic disease of this type cannot be cured, but can be treated and most definitely can be bred away [...]

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