4 Best Dog Foods For Husky in 2021

Best Dog Food For Husky Review

If you own a husky, you should know how friendly and mischievous they can be; they are very playful and, other times, incredibly naughty, and some even escape their owners. They are a unique dog breed, so knowing the food they eat might seem a bit tricky.

You might think they need a lot of food because they are usually used in the wild to drag sleds in cold temperatures, but they are good at saving energy while having less food because they were built to survive in the wild where food is scarce. However, this doesn’t mean you should starve your husky at home. Like all dogs, huskies need the right balance of nutrients in their food in order to grow in the best possible condition.

Huskies are quite popular, mostly because of their full and fluffy coat and vibrant, colorful eyes. However, huskies have specific dietary requirements, and as an owner, you need to know these things. When it concerns nutrients, huskies need organic and human-grade high-quality dog food. You can’t simply feed them leftovers and hope it contains all the energy and protein they need to grow healthy and strong.

Finding the right food for your husky largely depends on if you’ll be feeding a puppy or an adult husky and if you want a dog food that’s grain-free or one that’s made with grain, or if it should be raw dry kibble, or wet dog food. You may also be confused about the number of calories they need and the best type of diet for your husky. We have provided you with a list of the best dog food for huskies to try out and choose from and a buying guide that provides you with all the information you need to know about feeding a husky.

NUTRITION AND DIET OF HUSKIES

Huskies have a normal weight range of 35 to 60 pounds; the females are generally smaller than their male counterparts. From the weight alone, you can tell that huskies are a large dog breed, and they need a lot of protein to grow.

A husky that weighs about 50 pounds requires a total of 1,358 calories. This is an everyday need of a husky; if you have a more active husky, he’ll need more calories. Other important factors for how many calories your dog needs include age, metabolism, and weight.

If you have a nurtured husky, he would need fewer calories. Ensure you take this into thought when choosing a particular dog food for your husky.

NUTRIENTS NEEDED BY HUSKIES

Due to the unique lineage of huskies, they have a difference in their diet compared to other dog breeds. Their ancestors survived in sub-zero temperatures while feeding once a day, which impacted their diet. They need certain amounts of nutrients at certain times. Huskies tend to need a lot of protein and fat to fuel their active lifestyle, and they also need high-quality sources of fruits, vegetables, and meat. Below are some factors you need to note when purchasing dog food for your husky.

Meat Protein

The majority of dog food only contains one meat protein and your husky needs dog food that contains at least two to three meat proteins. One meat protein might be okay for regular dogs, but it won’t be sufficient for a husky. A full-grown husky needs at least 5% fat and 18% protein in their dog food; for puppies, it increases to 8% fat and 22% protein content. You need to opt for dog food with real meat as its first and major ingredient. You can opt for whole meat such as fish, lamb, beef, and chicken.

It could also check for meat meals from the ingredients and ensure that they are labeled. Do not purchase dog food with unknown meat meals.

Healthy Fats

Protein is needed for the proper development of your dog. However, if you want to keep them active and ensure that they have enough energy to stay active throughout the day, they need healthy fats. You could scan through the ingredients and check for flaxseed, chicken fat, or canola oil. They are healthy sources of fats, and they also provide extra health benefits.

Omega 3s

Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid that helps to maintain the coat and skin of your dog. Huskies have a lovely coat, so it is important that you take proper care of it. To see better results, your dog’s diet will have to include Omega 3 fatty acids. Check for dog foods that can provide Omega 3, but not every dog food contains them, so you must be careful while checking.

Carbohydrates

Even though husky diets are majorly focused on protein, they also need carbohydrates to help them regulate their blood sugar levels. However, your dog’s food should be low in carbohydrates and opt for a low-glycemic form of carbohydrate such as sweet potatoes.

There are many dog food that contains sweet potatoes, but don’t get scared as dogs love them and are an excellent carbohydrate source.

DHA

DHA is also a form of an Omega 3 fatty acid, and it is needed for the development of the eye and brain in husky puppies. It is incredibly important, most especially during the huskies’ first few months.

During the first few months, their eyes and brain start to develop, so the puppies require enough DHA for the stability of their mental health.

Zinc

Some huskies tend to develop a hereditary condition known as dermatitis, which is when the skin becomes swollen and red due to the absence of zinc in their blood. If your husky suffers from this condition, they might need a zinc supplement to help control the condition.

Probiotics

Like we mentioned earlier, huskies need a lot of nutrients to go about their daily activity, but the nutrients are only helpful if they are fully absorbed into the huskies system. Because they eat in small quantities, it is important that they are provided with probiotics with every meal so that the food they eat can be broken down and digested properly by their stomach.

Calcium and Phosphorus

Huskies may not be as large as other dog breeds, but they still need strong bones to ensure that they maintain optimum mobility. This is vital in husky puppies because this is when their skeletal system is developing. When they become adults, they would only need small amounts of minerals to maintain their healthy bones.

High-Calorie Foods

As a husky owner, the one thing you should know is that huskies tend to skip meals; even if you fill their plate with food, they would still avoid eating it sometimes. Because of this reason, you have to feed them with dog food rich in nutrients and calories.

Because they tend to skip meals, you need to ensure that every meal they are provided with has enough nutrients and calories to sustain them.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is known as a powerful antioxidant, and including this vitamin in your huskies’ diet will help promote the growth of their fur and maintain it. We all know that one of the most distinguishing features of a husky is its coat.

Gluten or Lactose Intolerant

There are huskies that are either gluten or lactose intolerant; for this reason, it is vital that you avoid foods with milk, wheat, skim milk powder, and whey.

HOW MUCH DO I FEED MY HUSKY?

Determining the right amount of food to feed your husky might seem like a difficult task because the nature of these dogs is that they do not require a lot of food. The basic food requirement of a husky is about 1.5 to 2.5 cups of food distributed between 2 to 3 meals over the course of a day. However, if you want an accurate daily intake for your husky, then you would have to speak to your veterinarian.

There are some things you need to know about the feeding behavior of huskies, and they are mostly unique to the breed. Other breeds may be willing to eat anything that you give them and almost eat any amount of food, but huskies tend to display the following.

• If they aren’t as active as they usually are, they will eat less.
• If they are full and satisfied, they won’t eat.
• If they exercise regularly, they will eat more.

The basic measurement is good to maintain a healthy weight in a moderately active adult husky; however, varying factors may cause this measure to change, and these factors include;

Age

Huskies need a different amount of food at different stages of growth. A husky puppy needs less food than an adult but will need food rich in vitamins and protein. However, once the puppy has gotten to the adult stage, the nutrient levels are usually reduced. A senior husky needs the least food, but they need enough to maintain a proper weight and their senses.

Activity Level

If your husky is active throughout the day, then they would need more food in order for them to keep up with their activity level, but if your husky lays around all day, then the quantity of food provided should be less in order to avoid them becoming obese.

Because of this, the amount of food you give your dog should depend on the amount of energy they use. Ensure that there is a balance between their calorie intake and caloric usage because if the intake is more than the usage, then your husky could be at risk of becoming obese.

Health Status

The health status of your husky also determines the quantity of food they should be given. Puppies will need a lesser amount of food but food rich in protein and fat; pregnant huskies will need more food because of their unborn puppies. Breastfeeding huskies require more fats, moisture, and proteins in their food as they are important to the formation of breast milk. Sick huskies may require more or less food, depending on their condition.

TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE BEST DOG FOOD FOR YOUR HUSKY

• Make sure that the dog food you opt for contains high-quality ingredients from natural sources like real vegetables, protein, and omega fats. The higher the quality of the ingredient, the better the health of your husky would be.
• Ensure that your dog’s food is calorie-dense. Make sure you pick options with lots of high-quality proteins, fats, and carbs. The omega fats are vital in the maintenance of your dog’s skin and coat, while the proteins and carbs provide your husky with muscle nourishment and energy.
• It is best that you avoid going for options that contain either grains or dairy ingredients. Huskies, in general, are gluten and lactose intolerant and have issues digesting these foods. Try your best to make sure that your dog’s food is free of both ingredients.

Most times, it’s a great idea to purchase smaller packs of dog food to figure out which one your husky likes. When you know which they like, you can get a larger bag as they tend to last longer and are generally cheaper.

FOODS TO AVOID

Huskies are a tough breed. They are known to be resistant to most food allergies, especially those caused by cereal grains; they can eat almost anything because of this. However, this doesn’t mean that you should feed them any food you can find. Like all other dogs, there are specific food items that you shouldn’t feed your husky, they include;

Chocolate

Chocolate is a huge no when feeding dogs. It contains a cardiac stimulant which is known as theobromine. New research shows that white or milk chocolate, when given to your dog in small amounts, is okay, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Onion and Garlic

These foods are used a lot in most human meals, but they contain substances that can destroy your husky’s red blood cells, which can lead to anemia, thus making your husky weak and lethargic.

Cooked Bones and Fat Trimmings

We have said that huskies need fat in their diet but avoid giving them fat rimmings as they usually contain high concentrations of unhealthy fats. Feeding your dog these unhealthy fats could lead to them developing pancreatitis. Another meal you shouldn’t feed your dog is cooked bones, especially poultry bones such as turkey and chicken, because they break easily and produce splinters that may injure the intestines or stomach of your husky.

Excessive Amounts of Dairy

Most dairy products like milk are rich in proteins, calcium, and fats. However, if you feed your husky too much of these products, it could lead to gastrointestinal symptoms such as cramping and diarrhea. Huskies are known to have exceptional tummies, but you may not know if your husky is one of the unlucky few that are lactose intolerant.

WHAT IS THE BEST DIET FOR A HUSKY?

The ancenstral huskies’ diet was filled mostly with fatty meats because fat contains a high amount of energy or calories. A gram of carbohydrates usually contains 3.5 calories of metabolizable energy, while the same amount of fat contains 8.5 calories, which is twice as much as carbohydrate can provide. The typical high-fat diet of huskies is still used in the North to provide them with the energy they need to work.

However, huskies are now becoming permanent members of families worldwide, and these families mostly live in urban areas where there isn’t much need for high-fat diets. But this does not mean that they should be fed low-fat diets.

To determine the best diet for your husky, you have to note some of their unique feeding behaviors particular to this breed.

• They get easily bored if they are fed the same food repeatedly.
• They are picky eaters.
• If they have a negative experience with a particular food, they may never eat that food again.

Because of these feeding habits, coming up with the best diet can be a bit difficult; seeing that feeding them the same food every day can lead to food boredom, leading to your dog eating less and turning its frustration into other things.

Selecting a diet that may have an adverse effect at the beginning can also cause them to stop eating that kind of food ever again. All these could narrow your options down and leave you with limited options.

Because of these reasons, experts have recommended a formula to follow when it comes to finding a diet for your husky.

• Ensure there is a base food that offers all the exceptional fats, proteins, and micronutrients.
• Make sure there is a variety of food additions to enhance the flavor of the food and Taste of the dog food base.

The whole point is to provide your husky with food that they wouldn’t grow bored of and one that they find yummy. Using a variety of base food should help solve the concern.

Selecting the best dog food for your husky doesn’t have to be a difficult task. Like we mentioned earlier, we have provided you with a comprehensive list of the best dog food for huskies. These products will provide your husky with the needed nutrients your dog needs to stay healthy and strong. Even if you own a picky husky, this list will provide you with yummy options for your dog to enjoy. Let’s take a look at the list.

Below is a comprehensive list of the best dog food for huskies available on the market. This information will help you choose the best suitable dog food for your husky.