Huskies are a unique dog breed with special nutritional needs because this wolf-like canine evolved to feed in a harsh, cold climate. We analyzed the top high-quality dog foods available today and found that ORIJEN High-Protein Dry Dog Food is the best dog food for Siberian Huskies. This formula contains all the necessary calories, proteins, fats, and micro-nutrients needed in the daily diet of an athletic dog breed like your Husky.
Best Dog Food For Adult Huskies – Our Top Pick
Orijen High-Protein Dry Dog Food
This high-calorie dog food is packed with proteins and has the right combination of fats and carbs for a Siberian Husky. The grain-free formula gets most of its proteins from animal and fish meat. It also contains fruits and veggies that provide vital micro-nutrients and enzymes needed by an adult Husky.
Orijen Adult Dog Food contains a wide range of fowl and fish meat that any Husky will enjoy. This high-protein formula is loaded with healthy fats required for your precious pooch.
The bulk of the protein is derived from animal meats like chicken & turkey, fish meats like herring, flounder & mackerel, and eggs. It also contains pumpkins, carrots, and apples that deliver essential vitamins and minerals needed by your Siberian Husky.
This formula contains about 85% meats and 15% vegetables and fruits. This makes it perfect for Huskies, which are an active breed with a slow metabolism.
This dog food also contains herbs like turmeric and rosehip that provide antioxidants, which help slow down your canine’s aging process and boosts overall health.
Why We Like It
- Has over 38% protein and 18% fat that is ideal for an active Husky
- Contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which provide a healthy and shiny coat
- Enriched with glucosamine and chondroitin that support healthy joints
- Fortified with zinc, iodine, choline and other essential minerals
- Rich in calcium and phosphorus that build strong bones
- Provides vital probiotics that help your pooch’s digestive system absorb nutrients
Best Priced Dog Food For Adult Huskies
Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete Dog Food
This high-protein dog food is perfect for highly active dogs. It delivers most of its protein from chicken meat, which is a Husky’s natural food in the wild. The special formula is enhanced with superfoods like kale, chia seeds, and blueberries that provide vital antioxidants for your canine.
Diamond Naturals Extreme Athlete dog food is a protein-packed formula specially formulated for highly active and sporting dog breeds like the Husky. Most of its protein comes from cage-free chicken meat that provides a delicious taste and superior nutrition for your wolf-like canine pet.
It also delivers energy and proteins in the form of quinoa and chia seeds that help your dog build lean muscles and maintain a spirited lifestyle.
This formula is enhanced with antioxidants from superfoods such as spinach, oranges, carrots, and blueberries. They boost your Husky’s immune system and slow down the body’s age-related wear and tear.
This dog food also contains healthy bacteria and a lot of fiber that aids your pooch’s digestive system.
Why We Like It
- Contains over 30% protein and 20% fat that will fuel your Husky
- Loaded with Vitamin A that maintains eye health
- Delivers healthy probiotics that improve gut health
- Provides glucosamine and chondroitin needed for healthy joints
- Has Vitamin E which gives your pooch a shiny coat
- Enriched with vital minerals like zinc, potassium, copper and many more
Best Dog Food For Husky Puppies
Nutro Ultra Puppy Dry Dog Food
Loaded with proteins and healthy fats, this dog food has the right balance of nutrients needed by a growing Husky puppy to develop a fit body. It contains DHA and Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for building a shiny fur coat. Calcium and phosphorus present in this formula help your pup develop strong bones.
Nutro Ultra Puppy dry dog food comes loaded with proteins from three meat sources: chicken, lamb, and salmon. This combination of high-density proteins is ideal for nourishing the growing body of an active Husky pup.
With over 300 kilocalories in every cup, this specially formulated recipe delivers enough energy to fuel your lively pup’s daily needs.
It is also fortified with all the essential vitamins and minerals that promote brain development, skin health, and bone development in your growing puppy.
Why We Like It
- Provides over 28% protein and 15% fat suitable for a growing pup
- Delivers high-calorie proteins from chicken, lamb, and salmon that promote muscle development
- Has easily digestible carbs from cooked brown rice
- Enriched with chelated minerals and Iron proteinate for better absorption
- Fortified with seven essential vitamins
- Contains no wheat, soy or corn
Best Dog Food For Senior Huskies
Diamond Naturals Dry Senior Dog Food Formula
Filled with antioxidants, probiotics, and superfoods, this uniquely blended dog food is ideal for a senior Husky. The easily digestible proteins in this formula promote muscle health. At the same time, its high fiber content supports the digestive system of your aging pooch.
Diamond Naturals Senior dog food contains chicken meat, oatmeal, and eggs as the primary source of proteins. This makes it easily digestible for elder Huskies.
Whole grain brown rice found in this formula provides healthy carbohydrates that will fuel your senior pooch and keep him active.
Healthy bacteria added in this formula can boost your canine’s immune system and also improve his digestive health.
This formula has the right balance of proteins, fat, and carbs needed by an aging Husky.
Why We Like It
- High-protein, high-energy recipe suitable for aging Huskies
- Provides Omega-3 fatty acids necessary for maintaining healthy skin and fur
- Contains coconut extract that makes elder dogs feel energetic
- Delivers vital probiotics that support digestive health
- Antioxidants from superfoods like spinach and blueberries boost overall health
- Fortified with chondroitin and glucosamine that promote joint health
Your Husky Dog Is A Winter Athlete!
Huskies are medium-sized dogs that are strong, resilient, and athletic. They are easily recognizable because of their wolf-like appearance. They live for up to 15 years and can weigh up to 60 pounds.
They originally served as sled dogs that pulled cargo for many miles across freezing winter lands. Both Siberian Husky and Alaskan Husky are highly intelligent breeds. They are fast-runners with high endurance.
Huskies adapted to survive in harsh and cold conditions, so they can go for long periods on very little water and food.
Even though a husky is a high-endurance, winter athlete, it still makes a lovable family pet. Huskies are great with children and can be trained to be well-behaved and gentle.
As these dogs were bred to pull heavy cargo over long distances with minimal rest, they are highly active and have a tremendous amount of energy. So Huskies require lots of daily exercises to keep them occupied.
This breed needs a high protein and high-fat diet to meet their daily energy needs.
How To Feed A Husky The Right Way
Every dog breed has unique nutritional requirements. Let us take a look at the specific dietary needs of a Siberian or Alaskan Husky dog.
How many times should you feed a Husky in a day?
Although Huskies are a highly energetic breed, they evolved to feed only two times in a day. This is because their natural habitat was a harsh winterland where food was difficult to come by.
You can split your pet’s meal into three times per day if you want to, but never combine it into just one meal per day. If you have to leave your Husky alone for a long time, you must make arrangements to feed him twice a day.
This is because Huskies have a slow metabolism. If you feed him one big meal instead of two small meals, then he can become bloated.
Bloat is a deadly condition where your pooch’s stomach becomes twisted and blocked. This can cause a blockage to blood flow that can quickly become fatal.
Excess activity increases the risk of bloat. Huskies are very active animals. If you feed him one jumbo meal and then your canine starts running around immediately afterward, it can lead to bloating. That is something you want to avoid.
How much food does your Husky need daily?
An average, 50-pound adult Husky needs about 2 to 2.5 cups of food divided into two separate meals every day.
Your dog’s daily calorie needs can vary based upon his health, age, and activity levels.
The AAFCO recommended daily calorie requirement for Huskies, based on their activity level, is as given below.
Less Active (Seniors/Puppies): 1000 calories
Moderately Active (Normal Adults): 1200 calories
Highly Active (Very Active Adults): 1800 calories
These numbers are just indicative and can vary based on your individual pet’s size, health, and special needs.
Though Huskies eat less, they need to be fed a high-calorie, energy-dense diet loaded with fat and protein.
Pregnant Huskies that are also highly active may sometimes need even more than 1800 calories. Your dog’s behavior before and after mealtime should indicate if she is still hungry.
Does she go hunting for treats after just having finished her meal? Then she may still be hungry. On the other hand, if your Husky seems to be getting chubby lately, then you may be overfeeding her.
Husky puppies obviously need lesser food compared to adults. But they too require the same high-protein and high-fat diet. Because their growing muscles and activity levels demand a large number of calories and nutrients.
Senior huskies that are less active need lesser calories, but they need more protein. As they age, their muscles keep losing protein at a faster rate, and they need more protein in their diet to replace it.
What Do Huskies Like To Eat?
Huskies are descendants of wolves. They can eat a wide range of foods and are omnivorous. In the wild, their diet mainly consisted of meat, eggs, some grains, and few plants.
What Nutrients Does your Husky Need Daily?
Adult Huskies
Minimum: 18% proteins and 6% fats
Ideal: 25% proteins and 18% fats
Husky Puppies
Minimum: 22% proteins and 9% fats
Ideal: 30% proteins and 20% fats
Most of the protein in your Husky dog’s diet should come from whole meat. This includes fowl, fish, or other grass-fed animal meat.
Complex carbohydrates should also be added to your pet’s diet through legumes, fruits, and vegetables.
It is best to keep you Husky on a low carb diet because this reduces the risk of diabetes and weight gain.
Huskies do eat grains, fruits, and vegetables in the wild. So it is not necessary to put your canine on a grain-free diet. Make sure to choose only gluten-free grains when adding them to your pet’s diet.
Huskies need certain specific micro-nutrients in their daily diet to maintain optimum health. Let us take a look at what these are.
Nutrients Needed For Bone Health
Calcium & Phosphorus
Your Siberian Husky needs resilient bones to maintain a high level of activity and stay healthy. Husky puppies need even more calcium because their bones are still developing. Your pooch’s food should provide him with sufficient calcium and phosphorus to help maintain optimum bone strength.
Nutrients Needed For Skin & Fur Health
Zinc
Huskies are susceptible to some forms of skin diseases like dermatitis if they do not get enough zinc in their food. Make sure your dog food is fortified with zinc.
Vitamin E
Your Husky’s diet needs to be rich in Vitamin E to maintain a shiny and thick coat of fur. Check that your dog food provides this.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Your dog’s diet should be rich in omega-3 fatty acids to help give him a thick and furry coat that keeps him warm and protects him from infections. Fish oil or flaxseed oil are the best sources of these vital nutrients.
Nutrients Needed For Digestive Health
Probiotics
Huskies are picky eaters, and they eat less quantity of food at a time because of their slow metabolism. Hence they need to assimilate the maximum amount of nutrients from their food. Adding probiotics in your pooch’s diet will ensure his gut contains all the essential microbes necessary for digestion and assimilation of nutrients.
Pleasing A Picky-Eater Husky
Huskies tend to be fussy eaters sometimes. If you feed them the same food day after day, they might get bored and refused to eat it eventually.
If you have a fussy eater on your hand, then you can spice up your pooch’s food by mixing a little bit of vegetable oil in the dog food. Just add one or two teaspoons of olive oil or flaxseed oil into the dry kibble. This will make the food more appealing to your Husky because he is naturally attracted to the aroma of the fat in oils.
Another way to stimulate your pooch’s appetite is to mix wet food along with his kibble. A canine that ignores dry kibble will come running at the aroma of a high-quality wet canned dog food.
You can also mix some shredded chicken, peas, or sliced carrots into his meals every few weeks, to bring some variety into your Husky’s diet.
What Should Huskies Never Eat?
Some foods are harmful to your Husky and should always be avoided.
Dairy Products
Most Huskies are lactose intolerant. Avoid feeding them daily products like milk, cream, or cheese. Feeding your husky dairy products can cause diarrhea, gas, and abdominal pain.
Gluten Products
Many Huskies also find it difficult to digest gluten and may have a gluten allergy. So don’t feed them any wheat or whey-based products to your pooch. Symptoms of gluten intolerance include itchy paws, weight loss, diarrhea, dull coat, and ear infections.
Fat trimmings
Although Huskies like to eat fat, you shouldn’t feed them fat trimmings because they contain many unhealthy fats. Feeding high-fat products too frequently can lead to fat deposits in the pancreas. This can increase the chance of your pooch developing pancreatitis.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains theobromine, which is bad for all dogs. Because Huskies like fatty foods, they are more likely to sneak off a chocolate bar when you are not looking. While eating one piece may not hurt your canine, if you feed it regularly, your Husky can develop serious health problems.
Cooked Bones
Cooked bones splinter easily. Huskies like to chew on stuff, and giving him a cooked bone is simply asking for trouble. If the bone breaks in your canine’s mouth, it can hurt his mouth. Your dog might even swallow a splinter, rupturing his intestines and causing internal bleeding.
Heal Husky Health Problems With The Right Diet
Huskies are prone to develop certain health problems because of hereditary traits. Most of these diseases are related to hips and eyes. Giving proper nutrients to your pooch regularly can reduce the risk of developing these diseases.
Eye diseases
Juvenile Cataracts
After crossing 2 years of age, around 10 percent of all Huskies have a high hereditary risk of developing cataracts. The lens in your dog’s eye becomes cloudy and starts blocking light from reaching the retina. This impairs your pooch’s vision.
Corneal dystrophy
When the cornea of your dog’s eyes starts becoming opaque, this condition is known as Corneal dystrophy. Based on which part of the cornea starts becoming opaque. It can be classified as epithelial, stromal, or endothelial dystrophy. Huskies have a genetic tendency for developing this disease.
Progressive retinal atrophy
Progressive retinal atrophy is a genetic disease that causes gradual degeneration of the retina. It leads to progressive loss of vision and can cause blindness.
Many eye diseases can be prevented or slowed down by adding below foods to your Husky’s daily diet.
- Eggs and Kale provide zeaxanthin and lutein that are carotenoids needed in the production of eye cells. These compounds help keep eye cells healthy. Eggs also contain sulfur compounds that reduce the risk of cataracts.
- Fishes provide Omega-3 fatty acids that help maintain eye health.
- Broccoli is rich in beta-carotene, that guards the retina against damage from free radicals.
- Blueberries are rich in flavonoids, phytonutrients, and carotenoids that prevent cornea and eye muscles’ degeneration.
- Carrots contain Vitamin A and beta-carotene that improves your Husky’s eye health.
Hip dysplasia
Siberian Huskies have a high risk of developing hip dysplasia. This genetic disease causes the ball and socket in your dog’s hip joint to become misaligned and fit improperly. Eventually, the thigh bone starts rubbing and grinding against the hip bone, leading to pain and discomfort.
Your pooch may start displaying lameness in his hind legs or face some difficulty in getting up after lying down.
Picking a dog food that provides glucosamine and chondroitin will help develop healthy cartilage in your dog’s hip joint. This will reduce the risk of developing hip dysplasia.
Calcium is also essential for effective bone development and maintaining healthy joints.
Hypothyroidism
Huskies have a moderate risk of developing hypothyroidism. This disease is caused due to the body producing insufficient thyroid hormones.
It can lead to weight gain, skin problems, and constant tiredness.
Fishes and fish oil supplements provide Omega-3 fatty acids, which can help manage this condition.
Increasing fruits and vegetables in your Husky’s diet will ensure he gets all the vital minerals and vitamins needed for maintaining a healthy thyroid.
How to pick the best dog food for your Husky?
Protein is the most vital part of your Husky’s diet. This should be the number one criteria you use when picking the right dog food for your canine.
The formula must ideally have at least 20% to 25% protein.
The next important criteria is that the protein should come from animal or fish-based meats. These proteins contain all essential amino acids needed by an athletic breed like your Husky for maintaining lean muscle mass.
An average adult Husky needs about 1200 calories per day. Also, Huskies instinctively eat only small portions of food at a time because they have a slow metabolism.
So your dog food must be densely packed with calories and have very little filler content. A high-protein, high-energy formula is most suitable for your pooch.
How to switch dog foods?
It is always best to gradually switch from one dog food to another in small portions. Abruptly switching foods can wreak havoc on your pooch’s digestive system and cause diarrhea, vomiting, and gas.
Begin by mixing about 25% of the new dog food with 75% of the old formula. If your dog handles the food well, then the next day increase the content to 50% new and 50% old food. Then next day increase it to 75% new and 25% old and so on.
If your dog displays any symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea, then keep him on the 25% new – 75% old dog food combo for a few days to see if he recovers.
Gradually increasing the content of his diet from the old formula to the new formula will give his tummy time to adjust to the change seamlessly.
