Top 5 Picks of Best Dog Food For Huskies – 2019’s Reviews & Buyer Guide

Siberian Huskies are very active dogs with huge amounts of energy. Finding the best dog food for huskies involves knowing what the breed needs and why.

The breeders of these dogs required that the animal could pull a light load for long distances with a small amount of food and as the breed has a high metabolism, a little food will last them a long time but it should be the correct nutrition.

The breed is unique in its feeding habits and is almost self-regulating as to the amount it will eat. Huskies can also be very stubborn dogs which means if they take a dislike to a certain food, they will simply refuse to eat.

Our choices of suitable foods to review are as follows and you can visit Amazon to see product reviews and customer questions and answers.

Below here is our complete instruction about how to choose the products​, continue reading for more details

What Diet is Suitable For A Husky?

Huskies are working dogs. They need a diet that gives them strong bones and teeth which does not make them overweight. If a husky becomes obese, it can be very hard to lose that weight again. Most husky breeders say that tinned dog foods are not suitable for the breed and that they are intolerant to milk after ten weeks old.

Because these dogs are very energetic, they use up a lot of calories and therefore need a high-quality calorific food. The breed is not particularly excited about food and eat relatively small amounts for their size. They need a high protein diet to keep them active.

A male husky can weigh up to 60 pounds and a female can weigh up to 51 pounds. Ideally, they should be slightly less than that but based on those sizes a normal adult husky should need around 1100 calories per day. An older dog around 1000 calories and a very active husky might need as many as 1800 calories.

How Much Food Should Huskies Eat?

These dogs are not picky eaters but have certain traits that sometimes complicate the feeding. They will not eat if they feel full and they prefer to eat after exercise. They can become bored with a type of food and if they have been sick at some point, that may well stop them eating that particular food ever again.

Leaving a bowl of dry food out lets him eat when he needs it but is hard to regulate. They can also be quite possessive about their food and with more than one canine eater, it can cause problems.

So most breeders recommend dividing the food into two or even three small portions a day. This works better for their calorie intake and helps prevent bloat.

Because the breed eats less for its weight than other dogs, about two thirds of the manufacturer’s amount stated in on the bag will probably be more suitable.

Protein Requirements

Protein builds bone and muscle as well as supplying energy but only the correct type of protein provides amino acids that allow the body to absorb the protein it needs. This is usually found in whole meat or fish and not in the meal that some manufacturers include in their products.

A husky is a high-energy breed. Although AAFCO (the regulatory food organization in USA) suggests 25% to 35%, lots of breeders recommend 40% to 50%. There is some protein in grain and vegetables but not as beneficial as meat.

Carbohydrate Requirements

The ancestors of our domestic dogs would have lived largely on meat which also provided fats and there would have been very little in the way of carbohydrates such as wheat, potato and rice.

Dogs do not really need these additions but they are a cheap source of filler for manufacturers. They are easy and cheap to find as well.

Fat Requirements

The right fats in a dog’s diet help produce hormones and build the immune system. They help the body absorb the vitamins that contribute towards the immune system. Fats build muscle, nerves, tissues and cells and reduce inflammation.

The most important fatty acids in the diet are Omega 3 and Omega 6 and these are found in salmon oil, poultry fat, flaxseed and sunflower oils.

Mineral and Vitamin Requirements

Fruit and vegetables give vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The fibre is provided by sweet potato, potato and pea. Vitamin A promotes a shiny coat but also helps the eyes and Huskies are prone to corneal problems. Vitamin B9 helps against anaemia and Calcium which is supplied by eggs and milk helps the growth of strong bones and teeth

Food Allergies

With all breeds of dog there are some foods that are more likely to produce intolerances and allergies than others. Red meat can be a culprit but many dogs find that the fibre in wheat as well as the gluten causes problems. The dog’s digestive tract is quite short and this often means that it has trouble with the tough fibre in grains like wheat.

It makes their stools more frequent and very little nutrition is absorbed. The gluten in wheat can also cause allergies and many food manufacturers are now producing a grain free version of their food. Dairy products can cause allergies and huskies should not be given milk after ten months old. It does not agree with them.

Many things can cause reactions and there is no easy way to find out apart from elimination. You can however, reduce the likelihood by avoiding the most obvious ingredients.

Unhealthy Foods to Avoid

Looking at the ingredients on a bag of dog food, it is wise to avoid meal as the main ingredient. This is made from the bones and carcase of the animal and has very little nutritional value. Huskies need the protein from whole meat.

Grain like wheat, corn and soy are also fillers which are hard to digest for a dog and may cause problems. When manufacturers list an ingredient as meat, it may conceal the fact that this meat may be anything including rats and roadkill. This sounds horrible but, unfortunately, is sometimes true and not worth the risk.

All dogs should avoid chocolate, raisins, coffee and grapes. Remember that the dog also needs a constant supply of water to help digest the food and huskies, in particular, will go back and back to the water bowl at regular intervals.

Possible Health Issues with Huskies

Huskies suffer from cataracts which can occur form 6 months of age. They also have some allergic reactions that cause skin disorders and often have a loss of pigment on the nose. On the good side, they suffer less than most other breeds for hip dysplasia and joint problems. The breed is mostly strong and healthy.

Now Let’s Have A Look at Our 5 Top Picks So Far

1. Taste of The Wild – Pacific Formula

The protein in this food is primarily salmon with ocean fish meal and because Omega 3 is also included, the fat content is the correct type. The fibre content is sweet potato, potato and potato fibre so there is no grain product included.

Smoked salmon is also a part of the content and provides a tasty flavor. Fruits like blueberries, tomatoes and raspberries provide antioxidants and the company include a wide variety of supplements.

One of these is Yucca extract which helps prevent flatulence and because some fermentation product is included, the digestion process is improved.

2. Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food

This grain free product is made with all natural ingredients and the primary source of protein is whole chicken and turkey. There are no meat by-products and nothing artificial is added to the food.

There are fruits, vegetables, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals as well as flax see Omega 3 oil for a shiny coat.

There are prebiotics added to promote the growth of healthy bacteria and from the ingredients listed, the protein content is about 40%.

3. Blue Buffalo Life Protection

This company are very proud of their whole food product. The main protein content is deboned lamb and a wide range of fruit and vegetables. These are blueberries, apples, pomegranate, spinach, pumpkin and blackberries.

The fibre content is sweet potato, potato and carrot and this company have a system called’ life source bits’ which combines a selection of vitamins and minerals designed for the optimum health for the dog.

There are nutritious whole grains like oats, barley and brown rice and Flaxseed oil for the Omega fats needed. With nothing artificial, this food is produced to a high standard.

4. Orijen Original Dry Dog Food

This company pride themselves on a lot of locally sourced ingredients. There are fewer ingredients but 85% of the content is poultry, fish or eggs and 15% is vegetables.

This is another grain free food and the main protein source is deboned chicken, turkey or yellowtail Flounder as well as mackerel.

5. Nutro MAX Dry Dog Food

Nutro has been manufacturing excellent dog food for many years. The main protein ingredient in this product is chicken meal made from whole chicken meat along with rice. There are no meat by-products and nothing artificial.

The wheat, corn and soy ingredients that can cause irritation are never included and the company adds lots of minerals and vitamins as well as fruit and veggies.

The kibble is shaped to be crunchy and can help to reduce the tartar on teeth. Natural fibre makes the product easy to digest as well as proving to result in smaller stools and less waste.

Conclusion

With their high energy and activity, Huskies need a high protein diet. A grain free food will also help prevent allergies. They are not big eaters and a little food will go a long way with this breed. They need to be fit and have lots of exercises but are excellent family dogs.

Taking care of your Husky means finding the right diet and after the puppy stage is over, two meals of grain free a day will be a better regime and will help prevent bloat at the same time.

To be summed up, I suggest Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food as the best choice for huskies

Compared to others, this product has appropriate balance of protein and fat content. It also contains lots of vitamins and minerals. Fruits, vegetables, antioxidants as well as Omega 3 oil surely will help your furry friends to maintain their health.

*Please keep in mind that with the above opinions, all of those come from my own experience. There are still some exceptions for some specific dogs. Consult your local vet for more information if your dogs are not in general cases*