Best Dog Food for Huskies

Best Dog Food for Huskies

Hi everyone, my name is Koda and I am a 4-year-old Siberian Husky!

My favorite things to do are playing with my toy elephant, Gerald, walking with my humans (the beach is the best place for running), and socializing with other dogs when we’re out at the park. After all, we Huskies are pack animals!

We Huskies like food, but don’t require much of it for sustained energy. This is down to our history, as we were bred to be sled dogs, and thus have special diet requirements that you will need to follow carefully for our growth, health, and development.

Every dog is different, but I can tell you my favorite foods from one Husky to another Husky owner, to give you a better idea of what to feed your pooch.

Keep reading to find out the best dog foods for Huskies.

Best Dog Food for Huskies

1. My Favorite Dog Food: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food, Chicken and Brown Rice 30-lb

[amazon fields=”B0009YWKUA” value=”thumb” image_size=”large”]

This is my favorite dog food that I’ve been eating for around a year now. My human changed my food because another one was making me bloated for no apparent reason, I must have been sensitive to an ingredient in it.

This meat mainly tastes like real chicken as the first ingredient. As a food with high-quality protein content, this food is perfect for active Huskies and helps us to build and maintain healthy muscle, and gives us energy for longer.

This food never upsets my stomach because it’s packed full of natural ingredients, so my human never hesitates to give it to me.

Pros:

  • Natural ingredients – Contains no chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives that will upset your Husky’s stomach.
  • Antioxidants – A precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to support immune system health and life stage needs so your Husky grows to be fit and strong.
  • Healthy – A combination of fruits and vegetables provides your Husky with a balanced diet.

Cons:

  • This food is so tasty your Husky may become fussy when it comes to being offered other types of food.

[amazon box=”B0009YWKUA”]

2. An Old Favorite: Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Grain-Free Recipe with Roasted Bison and Venison Adult Dry Dog Food, Made with High Protein from Real Meat and Guaranteed Nutrients 28lb

[amazon fields=”B07L97GQW5″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large”]

This used to be my favorite food, but my human changed it because the store where she buys it ran out one time and she never switched it back.

The first ingredients you can taste are real meat flavors that your dog won’t be able to get enough of! Trust me, it will make them crave their every meal!

A high-protein diet is essential for a Husky, as we are highly active and have so much energy to burn. This food provides me with the right balance of nutrients to support an active lifestyle.

Pros:

  • Grain-free recipe – Featuring sweet potatoes and peas provides a highly digestible food for your highly active Husky.
  • Supplemented with fruits and vegetables – This hearty recipe delivers antioxidants to help give your friend a healthy lifestyle.
  • Natural ingredients – Made without grain, corn, wheat, filler and contains no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

Cons:

  • As this food is so tasty, it made me a bit fussier at mealtimes if my owner tried to give me something else to eat.

[amazon box=”B07L97GQW5″]

3. My Friend Recommends: PEDIGREE High Protein Adult Dry Dog Food Beef and Lamb Flavor Dog Kibble, 20.4 lb. Bonus Bag

[amazon fields=”B078W34CK6″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large”]

I was walking at the beach the other day when I bumped into my Husky friend, Alana. She recommended this food as her favorite dog food.

Alana said this food tastes great because it is made of high-quality beef and lamb that always leaves her satisfied and doesn’t contain any hidden nasties that make her feel sick.

I also have it on good authority that this food is easy to digest, making it a great option for Huskie’s sensitive stomachs.

Pros:

  • Balanced formula – High-protein, low-carb content makes for a healthy, balanced diet for your dog.
  • Natural ingredients – This food is made with no added sugar, no artificial flavors, and no high fructose corn syrup so you don’t have to worry about hidden nasties upsetting your Husky’s stomach.
  • Unique kibble shape – Helps your pooch to chew and digest their food properly.

Cons:

  • This food isn’t grain-free, so your Husky may react to it differently if they have food sensitivities.

[amazon box=”B078W34CK6″]

4. Healthy Option: ACANA Regionals Dry Dog Food, Wild Atlantic, Biologically Appropriate & Grain Free

[amazon fields=”B002BREKJW” value=”thumb” image_size=”large”]

When I eat this food, I can taste an assortment of fresh and raw animal ingredients, with whole vegetables, fruit, and botanicals to create a delicious grain-free option.

This high-protein food is ideal for us Huskies as we have a lot of energy to burn, helping us to maintain and develop muscle.

This dog food is nutrient-dense and high in protein, nourishing dogs completely with whole, wild-caught mackerel, and delicious fish flavors for a satisfying meal.

Pros:

  • Universal – Suitable for all life stages for your owner’s convenience.
  • Grain-free – Made with no gluten, potato, or tapioca that could upset your dog’s tummy.
  • High-quality – Animal ingredients deliver the nutrients dogs naturally need.

Cons:

  • The smell of this food can be quite fishy, which might not be great for sensitive noses!

[amazon box=”B002BREKJW”]

5. Wet Dog Food Option: Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Natural Adult Wet Dog Food, Salmon & Chicken Grill 12.5-oz cans (Pack of 12)

[amazon fields=”B00ZDJ7YW0″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large”]

Although wet dog food might smell worse to humans, we Huskies love it!

This dog food isn’t as good for our teeth as dry kibble is, but because we Huskies are so active and have thick coats, it’s great for giving us an extra boost of hydration throughout the day.

This juicy wet dog food is made of real salmon and chicken for a balanced, nutritious meal that your dog will go crazy for! Mix with dry kibble for a delicious combination we Huskies love.

This dog food tastes of natural ingredients, and there aren’t any of those nasty fillers that make my tummy hurt or make digestion difficult.

Pros:

  • Hydration – Contains a higher water content to satisfy your Husky’s thirst.
  • Natural – The finest natural ingredients enhanced with vitamins and minerals ensure good health for your pooch.
  • High-quality ingredients – Packed with real salmon and chicken to satiate and provide your dog with energy.

Cons:

  • Wet dog food isn’t as good for our dental health as dry kibble is.

[amazon box=”B00ZDJ7YW0″]

Best Dog Food for Huskies Buyer’s Guide

As much as we Huskies would like to eat whatever we want, we have specific requirements that you’ll need to ensure are met to keep as us as healthy and as happy as possible.

Owner beware, we Huskies need a huge amount of exercise.

Now that I’ve told you the best dog foods for Huskies, it’s time to let you know the specific factors that you’ll need to take into consideration when choosing a food for we Huskies.

Read the factors below to help you find the best food for your Husky, written by yours truly!

Protein

As a large, highly-active breed of dog, we Huskies require a higher-than-average protein content in our diet. That means if you are feeding us dry kibble, the protein content should be close to 30% to 40%.

This is subject to differ depending on the activity level of your pup, but for me and the majority of the Huskies that I know, it’s essential.

It is essential that we Huskies eat good quality food. We must get our protein from whole meat and meal, and you should make sure that this is the first ingredient listed on any food that you choose for us.

High-quality proteins will help we Huskies to grow and repair our muscles, bones, and tissues. It is also worth mentioning that Husky puppies need a dog food high in protein because they grow so fast.

Health Requirements and Issues

We Huskies are playful, loving and social family dogs. Some of us Huskies have more energy than others, but what is consistent is how much exercise we all need.

Our exercise needs to be regular, and it needs to be tiring. Remember, we are working dogs, bred to pull sleds for miles in the snow, so you need to walk us for a minimum of 2 hours a day.

Unfortunately, we Huskies are prone to hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t produce adequate levels of thyroid hormone. This hormone regulates your dog’s metabolism, so dogs with hypothyroidism may gain weight despite eating less than your average big-sized dog.

Hip Dysplasia is a genetic condition that is prone to Huskies which causes the hip joint to weaken and deteriorate due to the hip socket not forming correctly and becoming dislocated.

Huskies also have incredibly sensitive stomachs, so consistency is key when it comes to their diet.

Feeding Schedule

Generally speaking, a husky should be fed three times when we’re puppies and over time you can decrease this number to two meals per day.

However, you might be surprised to learn that we Huskies aren’t like other dogs in that we have a habit of keeping an eye on the food intake are not generally greedy when it comes to food. A husky will not eat if he is not hungry even if he has access to food.

Since we Huskies were bred to work in harsh conditions where food generally isn’t easily available, we have a high metabolism and know how to use nutrients over a longer duration of time.

Generally speaking, Huskies and Malamutes require a comparably small amount of food for their size. This is because we have a very high metabolism, so a small amount of nutritious food will adequately supply our nutritional needs.

That being said, a feeding schedule is still important for us Huskies as the timing of when we eat will affect our exercise. It is important to know that you should never feed Huskies right before exercising; wait at least two hours so we won’t exercise with a full stomach.

You also shouldn’t feed your husky 30 minutes after exercising either, as this time period will allow our bodies to cool down.

Feeding us too close to our exercise routines subjects us to gastric torsion, which is when a dog’s stomach twists and bloats dangerously with gas. Speaking from experience, it’s no fun and can be dangerous – so avoid it when feeding us Huskies.

Consistency is key when it comes to a feeding schedule for your Husky. This is because they are quite often known for having sensitive stomachs, so when it comes to altering your dog’s diet, it is important that you do this gradually and slowly.

This will give your dog the chance to adapt to their new food and give you the opportunity to notice if anything seems out of the ordinary, such as a food or skin allergy as a result of the food that you’ve bought.

Wet or Dry Food

Although I personally prefer dry kibble because it feels good for my teeth to crunch on it, my veterinarian recommends that my human should feed me a combination of 80% dry kibble and 20% wet food.

This is subject to change between dogs, but this was recommended to my human to give me an extra boost of hydration throughout my day. As we Huskies don’t tend to eat a lot and go for a long time without food, it is important that we get enough hydration into our diet.

The main benefit of wet dog food is that it provides more hydration, as it is made up of around 80% water. However, although this type of food is excellent at providing your active pooch with an extra boost of hydration.

On the other hand, as dry kibble only provides 20% hydration, this extra water that wet food provides is a good way of making sure that we Huskies are getting enough hydration.

We Huskies have a dense double-coat and can withstand very cold temperatures. However, this thick coat also makes us incredibly vulnerable to overheating in hot weather.

This ratio of wet to dry food, then, is especially important in Summer, as Huskies are prone to overheating if we’re out in the sun for too long.

Consult Your Veterinarian

As I have mentioned, Huskies can have incredibly sensitive stomachs. As a result, it is your responsibility as their human owner to always check with your pup’s vet before you make any drastic changes to our diet.

The veterinarian is a professional, and as much as I hate to admit it (because I hate going, and my human always looks guilty as I do when I pee on the rug when she drops me off there), they know what they’re talking about.

Your vet will be able to help you come up with a feeding schedule that works for you and your pup, and will also help you identify any foods that we Huskies are particularly sensitive to.

Your vet will be able to tell you which food your Husky should be eating for any health conditions that they might develop.

If in doubt about your Husky’s feeding habits, make sure that you check in with your veterinarian. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

Frequently Asked Questions

What foods are bad for Huskies?

I hate to admit it because I love treats, but my human tells me there are multiple foods that we Huskies aren’t allowed to eat.

Some are even toxic, so you need to be careful when leaving these foods around your curious pooch, trust me!

  • Chocolate.
  • Caffeine.
  • Onions and garlic.
  • Macadamia and tree nuts.
  • Cooked bones.
  • Raw fish.
  • Grapes and raisins.
  • Sugar.
  • Avocado.
  • Yeast dough.
  • Alcohol.
  • Fruit Pits.

If your Husky eats any of these foods by mistake if we are left unattended, you should contact your veterinarian straight away to ensure that they don’t need further medical assistance.

I knew a dog who once ate a whole chocolate stash and was ill for days!

Do Huskies have sensitive stomachs?

Yes – Unfortunately, we Siberian Huskies have a notoriously soft stomach. Often the “mutt” Husky can handle stomach issues better, but Siberian Huskies are prone to digestive issues that you will need to be aware of when choosing our food.

As I mentioned above, there are many ingredients that you should try to avoid in order to keep our digestive health in order.

Alongside this, though, you should also be consistent in what you feed us. Any deviation from our normal diet might set us off, so consistency is key when it comes to feeding your Husky.

If you intend on changing our diet, make sure that change it gradually in order to allow us to get used to the new food.

If you’re impatient with us, we could end up having a reaction and as a result of that, you could end up with a large vet’s bill to rectify your mistake.

Why do dogs eat wood

Why Do Dogs Eat Wood?

Hello, I’m Patch the puppy, and, like many young pups, I love to chew. I like to chew toys and I love to chew furniture … Read more

Why Do Dogs Eyes Glow

Why Do Dogs Eyes Glow?

Hi there, wondering about your dogs glowing eyes? I’m Rhi the Shiba Inu. I will tell you all about why dogs eyes glow. You’ve probably … Read more