10 Best Dog Food For Huskies (Buying Guide & Reviews)
The Siberian husky is an active and energetic sled dog with specific nutritional requirements. If this breed isn’t given the right food, it can suffer from problems of indigestion.
In this article, we have listed down the best dog food for huskies. Keep reading to learn more!
How To Choose The Best Dog Food For Your Husky
The Siberian husky is also known as a working dog. It thus requires a diet that shall help in keeping its bones and jaws strong and healthy.
For this purpose, as you choose your husky food products, you must ensure that the food consists of the necessary ingredients. It should be maintaining a balance between fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates.
While young and active huskies may need to intake 1800 calories per day, this reduces with age. For adult huskies, 1100 calories are needed. On the other hand, elderly huskies need only 1000.
While choosing the food products for your husky, you should also consider your dog’s activity levels. If your dog is very active and energetic, likes to engage in physical activities, and keeps moving around, a diet plan with a greater nutritional value will be needed.
Ingredients To Consider
A balanced and healthy diet for your Siberian husky should consist of vegetables, fruits, and meat. They need to consume a proper proportion of fat, protein, carbs, minerals, and vitamins. As a responsible pet parent, you should select a portion of food that has all of these.
Proteins
The presence of 30-35% of proteins is essential for your huskies’ health and immunity. While this protein content can be attained from numerous sources, the best source of protein is meat.
Meat in the form of pork, chicken, duck, and turkey can benefit your dog.
Vegetables
Vegetables aren’t only a great source of protein but also vitamins and minerals for your dog.
Omega-3 And Omega-6
Omega-3 and Omega-6 are two such fatty acids that your husky needs to retain heat, restore energy, and maintain its fur-coat to beat the cold.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are present in several oils. Many of these are added to various dog food products that you can choose from.
Calcium To Phosphorus Ratio
When your husky is still a puppy, their food should ideally have 1.2 portions of calcium to 1 portion of phosphorus. Failing to do so may lead to calcium deficiency. This may further develop into orthopedic issues such as bone spurs.
Lactose And Gluten-Free
Your husky, like other canines, cannot digest all human food. Thus, proper care should be taken to avoid foods rich in whey, wheat, milk, or milk powder.
Benefits Of Providing The Right Food To Your Husky
If you provide the right quality of food to your husky, like those mentioned above, you are likely to notice the following results:
- A greater amount of strength regularly
- Stronger jaws
- Stronger bones
- Immunity from diseases
- Activeness
- An enhanced ability to fight illnesses, if any
The Appetite Of An Average Husky
Despite being a large-sized dog breed, huskies consume significantly smaller portions. This can be linked with their sled-pulling ancestors, with only a little food available.
The unique thing about husky’s eating pattern is that they only eat as much as they need to be full. A husky’s diet will usually correspond with their activity levels, a lazy (rare) husky will eat less than an active one.
Siberian huskies are known for their picky eating habits. If your husky doesn’t like a particular food, chances are they won’t be trying it again for months to come. Moreover, if you feed them the same food every day, a husky will get bored with it and may refuse to eat. To avoid this, make sure to cycle between 2-3 food types to keep things interesting for your pup.
Common Diet Types
Generally, Siberian huskies can feed on three broad types of diets:
- Raw uncooked food
- Dog food available in the market (dry/wet)
- A mixture of these two
Commercial dog food comes with its benefits. It lasts longer, is inexpensive, and can be stored conveniently. But you need to choose your husky’s food cautiously. Pick the ones with real meat like chicken, beef, lamb, fish, and fruits (exclusive of raisins, prunes, and grapes) and vegetables.
Frequency Of Feeding
If your husky is young and active, it needs to be fed at least 3 times a day. As your husky begins to age, its appetite is likely to reduce. In such cases, it must be fed at least 2 times a day.
Feeding a husky 2-3 hours before it engages in any physical activities or exercises are recommended for its health.
Let’s delve deep into the food requirements of huskies, depending on the following factors:
Age
Typically, a senior husky and a husky puppy would require lesser food than young ones. At the same time, you need to make sure that they get their daily nutrition requirement in whatever quantity they consume.
Growing pups will usually need more fats and proteins as compared to older ones.
Activity Status
Quite obviously, an active pooch needs greater calories to power its energy outtake. As a result, they need to be fed more often. A lazy or couch potato husky requires only a tiny portion to carry on its basic functioning.
The best thing would be to maintain a balance between caloric intake and expenditure for your husky. If not, your husky may run a risk of becoming obese and develop related health problems.
Health Condition
Pregnant huskies require more food to be able to feed their offspring in their wombs. Lactating female huskies would require fats, proteins, and moisture, as key components in their diets. These are essential to produce milk for the child. If your poor husky is sick, you’d need to alter the diet and its quantity accordingly.
How To Get Your Picky Huskies To Eat
Indeed, the Siberian husky is naturally a picky eater. If you notice your husky having trouble eating food or being resistant while having its meals, there are specific tactics that you can choose to employ to get your husky to eat its food timely.
One such method is by making changes in the food you’re providing to it. You might want to opt for uniquely flavored food items with different kinds of meat flavorings. This may attract your dog towards the food and get their taste buds and olfactory senses alive.
Another technique that you can employ is bringing about a change in their environment. If your huskies eat at a table, try to change their location to the floor or by the window. This difference is likely to make them feel more curious and energetic. It might then eat its meal without any difficulty.
Lastly, you can bring about a change in its routine. Take your husky for regular exercises or training. Engaging in physical activities is most likely to make them feel hungry at the end of the day.
If nothing seems to work, there could be a serious issue in that case.
What To Do If Your Husky Refuses To Eat
There could be multiple reasons as to why your husky is being resistant to eating its meal. However, one of the primary reasons here could be related to it being sick.
When a husky is sick, it often skips a meal or two in a day. However, unless you notice any signs of sickness in your dog, there is no need to worry.
Some signs of sickness here could be whining, barking, indigestion, and fatigue.
Food Items That Must Be Kept Away
There are certain food items that huskies must be kept away from. The consumption of these food items can lead to indigestion and other forms of sickness.
Below mentioned is a list of foods your husky must avoid.
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Avocados
- Chocolate
- Dairy products in large amounts
- Coffee
- Onions
- Garlic
- Sweets
- Salted foods
- Raw meat
- Citrus
- Cherry
10 Best Dog Food For Huskies: A Buying Guide
Below mentioned are 10 different best dog foods for huskies. You can refer to these before making a pick!
1 VICTOR Purpose – Grain Free Ultra Pro, Dry Dog Food, 30-Lb Bag
This is a good option among the many food choices for huskies. It is because it has a grain-free formula that reduces the chances of allergic reactions in your dog.
Another essential feature of this product is the richness in nutrients. Filled with nutritional value, this product is most likely to boost your huskies’ immunity and strength.
It constitutes beef, chicken, fish, and pork that are all very important in protein provision to your huskies. In addition to this, the Victor Purpose Grain Free dog food consists of several vitamins and minerals that your husky needs to intake regularly.
Specifications
Brand name: Victor Super Premium Pet Food
Weight: 30 pounds
Suitability: Suitable for all life stages
Flavor: Chicken
Manufacturer: Mid America Pet Food LLC
Pros
- Rich in nutrients
- Tasty for huskies
- Affordable
- Recommended by vets
- It comes in various flavors
- Dry and not messy
- Suitable for young and adult huskies
- Boosts immunity and strength
Cons
- It has a bad odor
- It can lead to vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes
- This leads to smelly defecation in huskies
- Gets stuck in dog’s teeth
2 Royal Canin Large Joint Care Dry Dog Food, 30 lb. Bag
Royal Canin is a popularly known and trusted brand when it comes to dog foods. This particular product from the Royal Canin is best for elderly Siberian huskies that may experience joint pain issues.
This product contains chondroitin and glucosamine, which help in relieving the pain in joints. The whining and barking have reduced to a great extent.
Additionally, it contains a considerable amount of omega-3 and omega-6 along with minerals and vitamins that can prove to help maintain your huskies’ fur-coat and build its immunity and strength.
It keeps control of the calorie levels. As a result of this, your husky is most likely not to gain weight very quickly.
Lastly, this product has been created specifically for huskies lying in the weight range of 56 to 100 lbs.
Specifications
Brand name: Royal Canin
Weight: 30 Pounds
Suitability: Adult Huskies
Flavor: Vegetable
Type: Dry
Manufacturer: IC Vendor Service LLC
Pros
- Keeps teeth clean
- Affordable
- Resolves joint pain issues
- Premium quality product
- Loved by elderly huskies
- Low in calories
- Rich in nutrients
- It has a crunchy formula for jaws
Cons
- Can lead to indigestion
- Has gone through a change in formula
- Huskies can lose weight
3 Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, Original Turkey & Chicken, 26-Pound Bag
My personal experience after feeding grainy foods to my husky has not been enjoyable. It can lead to skin rashes and diarrhea sometimes that I am sure you’d like to avoid.
Moreover, the product doesn’t contain any artificial flavorings or preservatives as guaranteed by the brand itself on the packaging.
Specifications
Brand name: Wellness Natural Pet Food
Weight: 26 pounds
Flavor: Original
Type: Dry
Suitability: Adult
Manufacturer: Wellness
Pros
- Rich in proteins
- Maintains fur-coat
- Strengthens immunity
- Makes husky energetic
- Reduces anxiety in dogs
- Affordable
- Premium-quality
- Recommended by vets
Cons
- Leads to itching
- Hot spots can occur
- Stomach issues can arise
- Zip-locking technology damages the food
4 Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Natural Adult Dry Dog Food, Chicken 24-lb
The Siberian husky has a good sense of smell. This is likely to get active when this product is served to it. The Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein food has a strong chicken flavor and aroma that may excite your dog.
Additionally, it is rich in proteins and nutrients that should tone your huskies muscles and build more mass. Sweet potatoes present in this product add to the net carbohydrates essential for your huskies’ overall development.
The food also constitutes omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and antioxidants that help build immunity against illnesses and maintain your huskies gorgeous fur-coat.
Specifications
Brand name: Blue Buffalo
Type: Dry
Weight: 24 pounds
Suitability: Adult huskies
Flavor: Grain-free chicken
Manufacturer: The Blue Buffalo Company
Pros
- Loved by adult huskies
- Rich in nutrients
- Builds immunity
- Helps in reducing hot spots
- Results in silky fur-coats
- Maintains weight of the dog
- Available at reasonable rates
- Avoids allergic reactions
Cons
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Unusual appearance
- It contains toxins and lead
5 PEDIGREE Puppy Growth & Protection Dry Dog Food Chicken & Vegetable Flavor, 36 lb. Bag
If your husky is still very young, adding this product to its diet may be a good idea. It contains a whole range of proteins, minerals, and antioxidants. These are likely to strengthen your growing huskies muscles and canines.
Additionally, this product has a great taste and aroma that may attract your husky towards it time and again. Such nutritional values are usually not present in a young huskies’ diet. Thus, adding this product to its meal is likely to improve its health.
DHA present in this food item is suitable for your huskies’ brain development. The company guarantees to have not added any preservatives, sugars, corn starch, or artificial ingredients in the food.
Specifications
Brand name: Pedigree
Flavor: Chicken
Suitability: Young huskies
Type: Dry
Manufacturer: Mars Petcare
Weight: 36 pounds
Pros
- Loved by young huskies
- It helps develop muscles and teeth
- Builds immunity
- Great taste
- Good smell
- It doesn’t cause allergies
- Reasonable rates
Cons
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Moldy sometimes
- Stinky defecation in dogs
6 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
One of the primary features of this product is the unique taste added to it by adding bison, venison, and other forms of meat. This may attract your husky towards the food as it is different from the usual chicken and turkey flavors it gets in other products.
These meats add a whole range of nutritional value and proteins to the food, making it good for your huskies’ health. However, it also contains a huge amount of fat.
This fat may have specific adverse effects on your huskies body but is needed to build energy in these sporty dogs.
Specifications
Brand name: Taste of the Wild
Type: Dry
Flavor: Grain-free adult
Weight: 28 lb
Manufacturer: Diamond Pet Foods
Suitability: For all breed sizes
Pros
- Unique flavors
- Adds real venison and bison meat
- Loved by energetic huskies
- Affordable
- High levels of proteins
- Better absorption
- Reduces hyperactivity
- Recommended by vets
Cons
- It can be a little too gamey
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Heavy
7 Orijen Original Dry Dog Food, 4.5 lb
This food product is completely unadulterated and fit for your husky to feed on. It is rich in nutrient value due to chicken, turkey, herring, sardine, flounder, and mackerel. All of these elements are likely to boost muscle strength and mass in your husky.
The processed parts of this item have been air-dried, which means the nutrient values haven’t been affected. It does contain a certain amount of fat that can aggregate up to 18%. However, this is needed for building energy in your sporty sled dog.
For maintaining your huskies fur-coat and health, this product is thus a good option that you can opt for.
Additionally, it’s a wonderful product for keeping your huskies vision and thyroid in place.
Specifications
Brand name: Orijen
Type: Dry
Flavor: Chicken
Manufacturer: Orijen
Weight: 4.4 Pounds
Suitability: For all sizes and ages
Pros
- High protein content
- Good for vision and thyroid
- It contains fruits, veggies, and meat
- No preservatives
- No artificial colorings or flavors
- Suitable for all sizes and ages of huskies
- Maintains fur-coats
- It includes fats for restoring energy
Cons
- A little high content of protein
- Can cause indigestion
- A high amount of calories
- Heavy diet
8 Purina Pro Plan High Protein, High Energy Dry Dog Food, 30/20 Salmon & Rice Formula – 33 lb. Bag
The Purina Pro Plan High Protein food is a good product for your huskies. It maintains a balance between the protein and fat ratio to provide a balanced diet to one’s dog. Additionally, all elements that have been added to it are derived from natural sources.
It relieves joint pains, enhances vision, and also leads to the effective development and growth of your huskies’ brain.
It is most likely to suit your huskies’ digestive tract, too, due to the presence of natural fibers and glucosamine.
Specifications
Brand name: Purina Pro Plan
Type: Dry
Flavor: Salmon
Manufacturer: Purina Pro Plan
Suitability: For all ages and sizes
Weight: 33 pounds
Pros
- Easily digested
- Contains the right amount of protein
- Constitutes calcium
- Has the right amount of fat
- Made with natural elements
- Enhances vision
- Resolves joint pain issues
- Boosts muscle strength
Cons
- It contains byproducts that haven’t been mentioned
- Allergic reactions may occur
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
9 IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Adult High Protein Large Breed Dry Dog Food with Real Chicken, 38.5 lb. Bag
The IAMS high protein chicken is more suited for large breeds such as huskies. It has high-quality protein sourced from healthy chicken and eggs to power your husky’s muscles. Rich in nutrients, it has certain fatty acids and fat-burning ingredients to help maintain your pooch’s health.
IAMS has naturally sourced glucosamine and chondroitin to shield large dog breeds such as huskies from weak joints. These promote strong and healthy bones and joints to ensure their active routine. This dry food is filled with the goodness of omega-3 (flaxseed) and omega-6 fatty acids, which gives them healthy skin and a lustrous coat to top it all off.
Specifications
Brand name: Iams
Type: Dry
Flavor: Chicken
Suitability: Adult
Weight: 38.5 pounds
Pros
- Quality protein sourced from natural, farm-raised chicken and eggs
- It contains glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health
- Made using whole grains
- Balanced nutrition
- Good for digestion
- Boosts immunity
- Recommended by veterinarians
Cons
- It doesn’t suit the taste buds of all dogs
10 NUTRO ULTRA Adult Large Breed High Protein Natural Dry Dog Food with a Trio of Proteins from Chicken Lamb and Salmon, 30 lb. Bag
The Nutro Ultra dry dog food fulfills your husky’s daily nutritional requirements. It contains protein from 3 different sources; salmon, chicken, and lamb. It has chicken as its first ingredient. This food has a hefty helping of protein, about 23%.
The good news is that this doesn’t contain any poultry byproduct meal, soy, wheat, corn, or any preservatives, artificial colors, or preservatives. This makes Nutro a safe and healthy choice for huskies with food allergies or a weak digestive system.
It is rich in several high-quality ingredients, including a mix of 15 superfoods such as coconut, chia, kale, and blueberries.
Specifications
Brand name: Nutro
Type: Dry
Flavor: Vegetable
Suitability: Adult, large breeds
Weight: 15 and 30 pounds
Pros
- Trio protein – salmon, lamb, and chicken
- The first ingredient is chicken
- 15 rich superfoods
- Tastes delicious
- It doesn’t contain wheat, corn, soy, or poultry byproducts
- Maintains healthy digestion
Cons
- The protein content is too high.
- Loose motions
- Vomiting
- May trigger shedding
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Got more questions regarding your husky’s diets, the dos, and the don’ts? Worry not; in the section below, we’ve answered the most common questions related to your husky’s eating habits.
What Is The Best Suitable Diet For Huskies?
Huskies are busy working canines that need a diet rich in proteins and calories to provide them sufficient energy. Some pet parents are more inclined towards feeding their husky an all-natural, raw diet, similar to what husky ancestors ate. Whether you choose commercial or raw food, it is essential to ascertain its quality and freshness. The best option would be to go for a high-protein food sourced from real meat. However, identified meat meals work well, especially if your husky has a weak digestive system.
Your husky can benefit from high-fat food as well, which would fuel their energy needs. For the best results, ensure that even the fats and carbs are sourced from the quality and fresh veggies and fruits and flaxseed, fish, and canola oils.
Dry Vs. Wet Food: Which To Feed My Husky With?
Wet food usually satisfies the taste buds of your fussy husky. But, they may not contain sufficient protein.
To ensure that your husky meet their protein requirements, you’d need to feed them with dry foods. This is because canned food has lower than 10% protein, whereas dry foods can have up to 40% of protein. Wet food is good enough to ensure that your husky eats sufficient calories and retains an interest in their food.
You can give your husky the best of both by adding a little bit of wet food to your furball’s dry meal. Or else you can provide separate wet food for one meal a day. Just do not over-feed them with wet ones.
Can My Husky Eat Chicken?
Yes, huskies can indeed eat raw and cooked chicken. But you need to take some precautions to decrease the risk of salmonella or related issues.
Even though your husky may just love the sight of chicken, it is not okay to give it in huge quantities. Despite being easily digestible, the chicken may act as an allergen and impact your husky negatively. As a result, you must give them small portions in the beginning to monitor their body’s response to it.
What About Bones?
Huskies can eat chicken bones, given that they are raw. Chewing on raw bones will not only keep your pooch occupied but result in healthy gums, cleaner teeth and provide extra minerals and vitamins. Plus, gnawing on raw bones can also help clear your husky’s digestive tract.
However, cooked bones can be fatal to your husky and should be avoided in any case. These become brittle and are prone to splinter and fracture. The small splintered pieces are sharp enough to inflict serious damage to your pooch’s body and may end up leading you to the emergency vet ward. In some extreme cases, your dog may damage and puncture its internal organs, which can be disastrous if not treated timely.
How Much Food Should I Feed My Husky?
This depends on the type of food your husky is eating and their overall physical condition. On average, a 50-pound husky needs to consume 1300 calories a day. In case you are feeding your pooch 400 calories in a single meal, they’d need a total of 3 meals to meet the calorie mark.
You can alter the portion depending upon what kind of food your pup is consuming. Certain treats are high in calories and should be given only occasionally. You will need to add and subtract rough calorie measurements to arrive at a custom meal plan for your husky. As a general rule, the more active your pup is, the more food they’ll need.
Common Health Conditions
Despite being a generally healthy breed, huskies may develop some health issues.
Your husky’s majestic eyes can fall prey to some issues if not taken care of. These include common eye problems like cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy or retinal degeneration, and hereditary corneal dystrophy.
Your husky may not be able to absorb zinc well, leading to troublesome skin and coat issues. A typical example is the development of zinc-responsive dermatosis. This particular ailment leads to dry skin, hair loss, and general discomfort in your husky. Another similar condition is called follicular dysplasia. This only affects 3 to 4 months young husky puppies.
Some other common health issues to look out for include lactose intolerance, hip and elbow displacement, and hypothyroidism.
What Is The Ideal Diet For Siberian Huskies?
Your husky can generally eat both raw and commercial packaged food, given they are of assured quality. However, do not feed your pup both kinds of foods at once, in the same meal. This is because raw and processed foods take different times to digest. Health-wise, a raw diet containing a healthy portion of a beef dish, chicken, lamb, fruits, and vegetables is better. Whereas commercial food adds to your convenience, is cheap, and easy to store.
What Should I Do If My Husky Gets Bored Of Their Food?
Being stubborn animals, huskies may make a fuss about having the same meal every day. They prefer and enjoy variety in taste. If your husky refuses to eat some kind of food, try and substitute it with other options. You can also try to bribe them with cheese or their favorite treats to finish their meals. As a best practice, alternate between foods before your pup is fed up with it.
What Should I Feed My Siberian Husky Puppy?
Husky puppies have different food needs when compared to full-grown ones. It is crucial for them to consume high-protein, mineral-rich food for proper bone development and strength. Generally, you have three options here; canned food, kibble or semi-moist food, or kibble.
Whatever you feed your pup, ensure the quality and notice their response to new food types. You can chart a meal plan like this.
Can I Feed Grain-Free Food To My Husky Puppy?
Grains are infamous for causing allergies and intolerance in many canines. Their stomachs may find it difficult to digest grains. To avoid adverse reactions, look for a grain-free food alternative for your husky puppy.
If your pup is known to have a sensitive stomach, avoid the grain foods altogether. You can switch to foods made with different types of potatoes, among other things. For instance, you can feed them food made of sweet potatoes. These are fiber-rich and contain sufficient vitamins, calcium, iron, and even beta-carotene. Additionally, your pup will be able to digest the carbs from sweet potatoes in no time.
Can You Make An Abrupt Change In Your Puppy’s Diet?
Before switching to a new brand of food, be sure to do thorough research. Read reviews and ingredients well to ascertain whether it could suit your husky’s needs. It is better to stick to a reliable brand rather than frequently changing them.
To prevent upset stomach and vomiting, you must gradually change your husky’s foods, stretching over a week or two. Slowly give them small portions of the new food, rather than abruptly altering their diet.
At times your pup may get bored, or the vet may recommend a specific diet. In such cases, they gradually change their diet. When you switch, check your puppy’s stool to make sure if everything is alright. Puppies are generally more sensitive to food changes rather than strong adult huskies.
Even while feeding new food to your adult or senior husky, it is best to switch gradually. Start with 10% of the new food, with 90% of the old one. Continue this and slowly increase the new food intake till you reach 100%. You can also check with your vet before making any dramatic changes in your pup’s diet.
Wrapping Up
Huskies are energetic beings who need balanced nutrition to function optimally. Despite their big demeanor, huskies consume far less food than, say, a Labrador. They will eat only as much as they need, and the chances of overeating are rare. These sled dogs can consume both raw and processed packaged foods.
While raw food is all-natural and has a high health quotient, commercial food is convenient, flavorful, and cheaper. While feeding your husky, make sure not to mix commercial food with raw foods. Alternatively, allot different meal times for each.
We’ve covered A to Z of husky eating habits in this buying guide. Luckily, we’ve made your work easier with the above-mentioned detailed review, inclusive of pros and cons.
You can buy any of these from Amazon.com, depending on what you are looking for. To top it all, we have added a FAQs section towards the end to clear all your food-related queries concerning your husky. Now, you can let your pup enjoy a scrumptious yet healthy meal within no time!
