Longevity
Life expectancy
With a life expectancy generally between 13 and 16 years, the Alaskan Klee Kai is one of the small dogs that can live a long time when it benefits from an appropriate diet, good veterinary follow-up and regular activity. This longevity nevertheless requires good prevention of hereditary conditions reported in the breed.
Constitution
Is this a robust breed?
The Alaskan Klee Kai is considered overall solid and hardy. Its double coat provides good protection and its light build limits certain mechanical constraints. Its robustness does not, however, exempt it from a serious selection of breeding dogs, as certain orthopedic, ocular, cardiac or endocrine conditions exist in the breed.
Things to watch for
What to look out for
Particular vigilance is required especially regarding hereditary conditions reported in the breed, as well as any lameness, visual impairment, heart murmur or abnormal bleeding. Choosing a breeder who is transparent about health tests is particularly important for this still rare dog.
Cataract: A progressive clouding of the lens can impair vision and requires veterinary monitoring.
Factor VII deficiency: This clotting disorder can promote abnormal bleeding after trauma or surgery.
Patellar luxation: This orthopedic condition causes knee instability, sometimes responsible for intermittent lameness.
Heart murmur: The presence of a heart murmur must be evaluated to look for an underlying abnormality and adjust follow-up.
Autoimmune thyroiditis: This endocrine disorder can disrupt metabolism and warrants screening when there is clinical or family doubt.
Climate
Tolerance to cold and heat
Thanks to its double coat, the Alaskan Klee Kai tolerates the cold fairly well and also protects itself quite well from climatic variations. It, on the other hand, tolerates high heat less well if the effort is intense or prolonged. In summer, outings must be arranged during the coolest hours and access to shade and water must be constant.
Weight
Prone to weight gain
This active dog is not very prone to obesity when it expends enough energy, but an imbalance between intake and activity is always possible. It is recommended to regularly monitor its body shape, to weigh the ration and to avoid treats that are too rich or too frequent.
Everyday care
Good habits to keep your pet healthy
- Plan for at least an annual veterinary check-up, then more frequent as age advances.
- Monitor any lameness, skipping, or discomfort in the hindquarters.
- Have the eyes, heart and thyroid checked if any clinical doubt appears.
- Ask for the breeders' health tests before any acquisition.
Vaccination
Alaskan Klee Kai vaccinations: schedule
Which vaccines does a Alaskan Klee Kai need? Like all dogs, Alaskan Klee Kais should receive their core vaccines from 8 weeks of age: CHPPi (core vaccine) and Leptospirosis. Puppies receive their initial Alaskan Klee Kai vaccinations in several shots spaced 4 weeks apart, followed by a first booster at 1 year. Depending on their lifestyle (hunting, hiking, boarding, travel, region), your veterinarian may add vaccines against Rabies, Kennel cough, Piroplasmosis, Lyme disease and Leishmaniasis.
| Vaccine | Primary vaccination | First booster | Then | For whom? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CHPPi (core vaccine)Core Distemper, Rubarth hepatitis, parvovirosis and parainfluenza | 8 weeks · 12 weeks · 3 months | 1 year | every year | All animals |
LeptospirosisCore Leptospirosis (bacterium transmitted by rodent urine and stagnant water) | 8 weeks · 12 weeks | 1 year | every year | All animals |
RabiesDepending on lifestyle Rabies | 12 weeks | 1 year | every year | Mandatory for travel abroad, categorized dogs, most boarding kennels and shows |
Kennel coughDepending on lifestyle Bordetella bronchiseptica and parainfluenza | 8 weeks | 1 year | every year | Dogs attending boarding kennels, daycares, dog clubs and shows |
PiroplasmosisDepending on lifestyle Tick-borne babesiosis | 5 months · 6 months | 1 year | every year | Hunting dogs, dogs living in rural or wooded areas, dogs highly exposed to ticks |
Lyme diseaseDepending on lifestyle Tick-borne borreliosis | 12 weeks · 3 months | 1 year | every year | Hiking dogs, hunting dogs, forest areas of the East and the Center |
LeishmaniasisDepending on lifestyle Leishmaniasis transmitted by sandflies | 6 months | 1 year and 6 months | every year | Dogs living or staying in the South of France, Corsica and the Mediterranean basin |
Adult Alaskan Klee Kai booster shots are given annually for leptospirosis and rabies. For distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus, a booster every three years is often enough after the first booster. Your veterinarian will tailor the schedule to your dog's actual risk.
Which boosters does your Alaskan Klee Kai need?
Enter your companion's age to see which vaccines are due now and when the next boosters are needed.
Choosing well
Adopting a healthy Alaskan Klee Kai
Useful screenings in the breed include in particular the eyes, the patella, thyroid function, cardiac evaluation and the DNA test for factor VII deficiency when relevant. Before any acquisition, it is preferable to ask for recent supporting documents on the breeding dogs.
This information is for guidance only and doesn't replace advice from a veterinarian. If you have any concerns about your pet's health, consult a professional.
