Good to see you here, Husky lovers! If you’re curious about the amount of reindeer your new pack of sled-pulling Huskies will be in need of this Siberian winter, I’m afraid we can’t answer that for you. If, however, you’re the lucky owner of a domestic Husky or a sweet, adorably blue-eyed Husky puppy, we’re definitely here to help!
Honestly, our team gets really excited when we see a thriving and happy Husky with his owner. And because we’ve done a ton of research around the best Husky food and the best Husky puppy food on your behalf, hopefully we’ll be helping you awesome Husky owners spend more quality time with your beautiful pets!
Quick Review: Top-3 Dog Foods For Huskies
101 on the best dog food for your Siberian Husky
Understanding Husky dog food labels can seem like a daunting task. Not all of us check the labels when we buy our own groceries, but our Husky friends don’t even have the choice to scope out their food! So, it’s up to us to do it for them and ensure that they have access to all the necessary macro- and micronutrients for an awesome everyday life. Here are the key pointers to have in mind when you’re looking at Husky puppy food or Husky food for your mature dog.
The average mature Husky who has a mass of around 50 lb is in need of approximately 1310 kCal per day. Divided across two meals, that means he should be consuming around 350-360 calories in each kibble cup.
What to have in mind when considering Protein
Because your Husky is a medium size dog, he is likely going to weigh in at up to 60 lb when he’s finished growing. If you’ve got a smaller female Husky, she could grow to about 35 lb. Anything within this range is considered healthy and fit for a breed that was originally trained to tow a sled across Siberian snowfields. Regarding their required protein from dog food, it’s recommended that adult Huskies have a daily dietary intake of at least 24% and potentially up to around 30%. Any dog food containing above this amount will also be fine, as long as it’s not excessively high (think 40%), as the extra protein will simply be excreted when they go to the bathroom.
Husky puppies will require a higher amount of protein within their puppy food, meaning that you’ll want to be looking among the best Husky puppy foods for something above
Real animal Fat sources in the best dog food for Huskies
Fat-wise, adult Huskies should be taking in close to 12 to 16 percent from their dog food each day. As with the majority of dog foods, Husky puppy food should have a higher fat amount, and mature Huskies will only require something closer to the 12% mark.
Whether you’ve got an active or not-so-active Husky will also affect the quantity of fat, and fat calories, that he needs to take in daily. Active dogs will be alright with a slightly higher percentage, while those who prefer to take it easy won’t require as many fat calories.
Lastly, fats in the best Husky food and the best Husky puppy food will come from real animal sources. Rather than an obscure ingredient like vegetable oil, therefore, keep your eyes peeled for things like pork fat or fat that’s directly from chickens.
The good and the bad about Carbohydrates
If no dog is in need of any carbohydrate, then why are they found in dog foods? The answer is pretty much the same whether you are buying a Husky food, Husky puppy food, or a dog food for any other breed. The good roles that carbs play in dry kibble are giving it some structure and ensuring it has a realistic shelf life. Where would we be, really, if we had to order more Husky puppy food or Husky food every few days?
The ‘bad’ about carbohydrates is when they are used solely as filling agents to reduce the cost of producing dog foods or puppy foods. Carbohydrates per se are not harmful by themselves. However, if you have the choice between the best puppy food for Huskies (or the best Husky food for adults) and a dog food or puppy that’s stuffed with cheaper carbohydrates for no real nutritive purpose, then wouldn’t you choose the first?
Why natural ingredients mean the best dog food for Huskies
If you’re able to find a Husky food or Husky puppy food that avoids the use of artificial add-ins, this is a definite plus in terms of helping him avoid allergies. As well as this, some of the synthetic preservatives in dog food can be a source of toxic chemicals. While your Husky isn’t likely to experience immediate effects to the presence of artificial preservatives within his Husky food, over time his exposure to these can add up.
Natural is always better, we reckon, and this extends to the use of synthetic nutrients in Husky food too. When choosing between a Husky puppy food or grown-up Husky food with leafy or colorful veggies as a vitamin source, or one with a lot of chemical-sounding names, in our opinion it’s always a wiser choice to pick the former.
How the best Husky foods avoid preservatives and other add-ins
The best Husky puppy food and Husky food will often be found with a clear label stating that it’s free completely from artificial or synthetic add-ins. If you’re having a good browse at the dog food or puppy food label, you might also want to keep an eye out for natural preservatives such as Vitamin E-based tocopherols, rosemary extract, and Vitamin C-based citric acid. These are healthier alternatives that do not put your adult Husky or Husky puppy in unnecessary contact with potential toxins.
Is my Husky better off with wet dog food, or with dry dog food?
The wet dog food or dry dog food debate is always a favorite of ours! Let’s consider the pros and cons of each, so that you can make the decision for yourselves and pick out the best Husky food or best Husky puppy food for your best friend.
Wet varieties of dog food
Canned, wet varieties of dog food typically give your Husky a lot more moisture than he’d otherwise be getting with dried kibble. Since some Huskies- and dogs more generally- don’t often drink enough water, wet varieties are a super way to ensure that they aren’t going to dehydrate. Wet varieties of Husky food can give your older Husky a much-needed rest when it comes to his teeth, and this is also the case if your Husky has a jaw problem or is missing a tooth or two.
Wet food can also be beneficial for dogs that are struggling through health complications. By offering extra hydration, wet food can help support urinary health, help support kidney health, as well as give your struggling canine the extra boost of hydration they need. Whether it’s for a specific medical concern or just to add some extra flavor to your dog’s dry kibble, wet food is perfectly safe for your canine companion.
Dry varieties of dog food
Dry versions of Husky dog foods, or kibble, are longer-lasting in your pantry, and often have the added benefit of a textured surface. When your Husky chews his Husky food, therefore, he’s doing the doggy version of brushing his teeth, and it helps to counteract tartar build up and yucky breath.
The dry varieties of dog food or puppy food are also a more economical option, on the whole, and what a lot of Husky owners do is add in some water or some wet dog food to ensure that their dog is getting enough moisture. This is an especially awesome idea for Husky puppy foods, as it allows them to try out different flavors and textures at the same time!
Help me to choose the best food for my adult Husky!
- Wellness Core® Natural Grain Free
Pros
- Turkey is our top ingredient here, and contributes to a protein level of 34%, so gobble, gobble!
- 16% fat means Wellness provides a suitably high content for energetic Huskies
- 2% calcium is balanced oh-so-perfectly with phosphorus for healthy Husky bones
- Glucosamine, check! Chondroitin, check!
- Omega-6 and 3 are sourced naturally from salmon oil
- Yep, it’s got carrot and broccoli amongst other lovely greens
Cons
- It might be a little on the premium end of the scale, cost-wise, but aren’t our Huskies deserving of the best Husky food? We reckon they are!
- Taste of the Wild Grain Free High Protein Natural
Pros
- Beef dog food can be a great change from chicken dog food, and Taste of the Wild lets your Husky try something different
- 29% crude content of protein, tails up!
- Zinc content of 150 mg/kg- above minimum daily recommended requirement to combat deficiencies
- Many beautiful, delicious veggies like beans and peas
- Fruit content including superfoods blueberries and also raspberries
- Contains fiber-rich chicory root
- Free of all grains
Cons
- If your Husky is sensitive to egg, he unfortunately won’t be able to eat this specific dog food
- Blue Buffalo BLUE Life Protection
Pros
- Tocopherols and oil of rosemary replace synthetic preservatives in this awesome Husky food
- 24% of natural chicken protein
- Contains zinc
- Calcium at 1%
- Also an awesome source of glucosamine
- Carrots for A vitamins and sweet potatoes for a whole bunch of other lovely natural vitamins, alongside superfoods like blueberries, kelp, peas and spinach
Cons
- It contains rice, so if you are keen to go completely without grains then this isn’t for your Husky
Help me to choose the best food for Husky puppies!
Husky puppy dog owners, you should be aware that your little puppy (or puppies, if you’re lucky!) are best fed more than twice a day, and in total will thrive on anywhere between 1670 and 2500 daily kCal whilst they are under 4 months. As time passes and they grow past 16 weeks, something like 1115-1670 daily kCal should do the trick until they switch over to adult dog food.
- Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Puppy
Pros
- 28% protein, lamb being listed first in the ingredients
- Fish oil provides DHA
- At least 1.1% calcium is contained in Purina Pro Plan, which we think is thumbs (or tails) up!
- Fat’s naturally preserved, and at 18% this makes it among the best puppy foods for Husky puppies that are super active
Cons
- 18% fat should only be appropriate if your Husky is getting sufficient exercise and burning sufficient energy to require the calories that this will give him
- Made with the vague ingredient of milled by-product from poultry
- Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Wet
Pros
- There are so many goodness-filled veggies and fruits in this delicious sounding Husky puppy food- we’ve got parsley, blueberries, kale, spinach and apple to name a few
- This means it’s a great source of the required daily vitamins for your Husky puppy, including but for sure not limited to D3, B12, C, K and A
- The wet protein percentage is 11-12%, and all the top ingredients are real meats
- Flaxseed gives your Husky puppy food some Omega-3
- Free 100% of grains
Cons
- It’s great, actually, and it’s pâté, so we reckon the slightly higher price is well worth
- Merrick Grain-free Puppy Recipe
Pros
- Grain-, and therefore gluten-free
- Sweet potato comes with a great dose of the calcium benefits of a supplement, plus it’s replete with C and A vitamins!
- 28% protein which is derived from yummy chicken and super salmon
- Fat sourced from chicken, once again naturally preserved
- Flaxseed oil is the source of Omega-3
- Rosemary extract and tocopherols mean zero percentage of artificially derived preservatives
- Calcium at 1.2%
- Made to address joint health through glucosamine content as well as chondroitin
Cons
- Nope, it’s even a great price for the best Husky puppy food
FAQ
How might I select the best Husky foods to avoid Husky allergies?
Our dear Husky friends are susceptible to quite a range of allergies- from environmental pollutants to ingredients that you might find hidden amongst lower quality dog foods, however, compared to other kinds of dog breed, they are quite robust and resilient. Their fluffy coats definitely help them in this respect, and in fact, it’s generally a more common occurrence that Husky puppy or grown-up Husky owners might find themselves to be the allergic ones!
When it comes to picking out a great, or the best, Husky food or Husky puppy food, some commonplace dog allergies to think about are:
- Filler ingredients that are gluten-based, such as the usual wheat or soy or corn suspects
- Even the basic animal meats that feature in dog foods can be allergens for certain Huskies, and ingredients including but not limited to beef or pork can trigger an undesirable allergic reaction in your Husky
Is it bad or good to mix up Husky food or Husky puppy food?
There are some definite advantages to mixing between brands of different Husky food or Husky puppy food. Dog food or diet rotation can be a natural way to sustain overall gut health. This is because even the best Husky food or Husky puppy food can be A++ when it comes to certain nutrients, but lack a little of something else. When you’re giving your Husky puppy or grown up Husky the same dog food or puppy food each and every single day for years, it’s not impossible that these missing nutrients can contribute to a deficiency.
On the other side of the coin, even the best Husky foods can have a nutrient profile with a little too much of a certain nutrient- calcium, let’s say- and over time your Husky may be getting an excess of this. By switching around between different brands of dog food that are specifically crafted for either Huskies or medium size dogs, you can help counteract this effect by creating a ‘cycling’ pattern that gives your Husky puppy or mature Husky some variation.
Helpful Links
- https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/caring-for-a-dog-that-has-food-allergies#1
- https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/companion/our-services/nutrition-support-service/basic-calorie-calculator
Last update on 2024-11-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API