Best Dog Food for Huskies

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Spoiler alert: the best dog food for Huskies isn't the same for every dog! Why? Because your Husky has specific age or health needs. This in-depth dog food guide for your Siberian Husky dog covers everything, from puppies to seniors (and every age in between). We also dive into the best diet for allergies, sensitive stomach and weight gain.

Best Husky Dog Food



#1 Pick

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Victor’s ingredients (like sweet potatoes) are perfect for active dogs like Siberian Huskies. Other main ingredients include peas and healthy chicken fat.

Best for Husky Pups

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Best for Old Huskies

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#1 for Allergies & Stomach

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Best for Weight Gain

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Not only is Orijen good for weight gain…but it’s quite possibly the best dog food in the world.

In other words:

Choosy Husky parents choose Orijen. :-)

Husky Feeding Guide

Owning a dog is one thing. Owning a Husky…is quite another.

Personally, I did not realize how different Huskies were from other dogs.

For one thing, they are incredibly personable pack dogs.

While some dogs are true and loyal to one particular member of the household, a Husky sees no reason in keeping the love between himself and only one other person.

At our house, we often throw dinner parties and every guest has lovingly come to know our Layla as “the welcome wagon”.

It could be that she’s building relationships to assure that she gets a few morsels of food here and there. …but I jokingly say if we were to be burgled, she would welcome them just as heartily!

(Huskies aren’t good watch dogs and even worse guard dogs, if you were wondering.)

Another way Huskies differ from most other kinds of dogs?

Their eating habits.

Most dogs demolish any kibble you give them, unless they are picky eaters.

But Huskies?

Huskies don’t do that. If they are full or even somewhat full, they simply won’t be interested in eating.

You might think something is wrong, if you’re not familiar with this aspect of their behavior, but it’s simply a breed pattern that stands out.

Huskies can also experience what is known as “food boredom“, where they will become disinterested in foods that they have normally enjoyed and eaten well.

We have this very same problem with Layla, but we have found a few tricks that work well:

  • Add a little cheese or a few meat scraps that your Husky isn’t used to getting. This can spark enough interest in the food that they will decide it’s worth the effort.
  • Add beef or chicken broth to make gravy for dry food, or mix with a small amount of wet, canned food.

The idea is to make your Husky feel as though he’s getting a new food every couple of days or so.

Best Food for Siberian Husky Puppy

 Best Food for Siberian Husky Puppy

Here are our picks in the best food brand for Husky puppy category (and why):

1. Taste of the Wild High Prairie

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The main ingredients are protein content like roasted meats. Dogs love the taste of roasted meats because it’s different from the same ol’ blah.

But remember protein and fat, plus carbohydrates work together to keep your Husky pup growing in the healthy direction.

Fruits and vegetables pack in the antioxidants that help your puppy’s body systems to grow and function properly.

Healthy fat content helps to improve your dog’s appearance. TOTW also creates normal stools that can be hard to manage for Husky puppies.

Husky pups are prone to digestive tract sensitivity, which can cause stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea, but this formula alleviates much of that.

This puppy food brand keeps shedding to a minimum, which is a huge plus for Siberian Husky dogs. Grooming can be very demanding for this breed and shedding is a part of life.

2. Wellness Core Puppy

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Wellness contains about 80% more meat than many other foods. Premium chicken meal, turkey meal, and salmon, to give you an idea.

Grain free means there is less chance that your puppy will experience the allergies that are tied back to food fillers and unnecessary food products.

Wellness helps keep your dog from looking overly lean or malnourished, yet won’t pack on extra pounds or lead to obesity.

You can expect healthy, shiny, and beautiful fur with Wellness CORE.

Oils from the fish-based formula improve coat health and are a sensitive tummy’s best friend.

3. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Food

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Nutrients + vitamins minerals + no artificial ingredients that often cause stomach upset, allergies or other health issues.

Hill’s Science Diet standards are backed by veterinarians, scientists and nutritionists. If that’s not enough, they offer a 100% money back guarantee.

Best Dry Dog Food for Siberian Huskies (Healthy Adult Huskies)

1. Canidae All Life Stages

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With no corn, soy or wheat, it is perfectly formulated for all life stages. However, we recommend you feed this as an adult dog food (around 12 months) and feed a puppy-specific food prior to then.

This is one of the best dog foods for Huskies because of the lack of additives and ingredients that can often cause food allergies. Skin conditions, over-shedding and Siberian Husky stomach problems are common. Canidae helps all of those health issues (just read through the reviews!).

Canidae can drastically reduce the amount of Husky shedding that happens throughout the year. But the amount of shedding will be less.

Don’t be mistaken: your pet will still shed in the spring and fall, no matter what food he eats.

Expect sustained activity levels from carbohydrates like sweet potatoes.

2. Taste of the Wild

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This recipe adds an added layer of protection in being less apt to cause allergic reactions. The salmon oil and ocean fish meal promote healthy skin and fur.

Huskies transition well to TOTW without the gastric disturbances that are often associated with switching foods.

It’s also very good for Husky teeth, keeping them clean and their breath fairly fresh, for a food that isn’t specifically for such a thing.

3. Blue Buffalo Life Protection

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LifeSource Bits provides a perfect blend of antioxidants, nutrients, vitamins and minerals from the healthy whole grains and garden veggies in the nutritious ingredient lineup.

You can feed this dog food brand to almost any canine. This is a nice perk if you have other canine companions living in your home.

Best Dog Food for Senior Huskies

1. Wellness Complete Health Senior

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Elderly dog joints deteriorate. Husky joints are no different.

This dog food for Siberian Huskies contains glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy hip and joint function.

Zero soy, corn, wheat or byproducts.

This is a great asset for dogs that are still energetic and frisky in their later years.

It’s also another great food for the more picky eaters who just don’t seem to like anything.

2. Holistic Select Senior Health

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This formula includes fiber, enzymes, probiotics and probiotics to keep the digestive system humming along.

It also helps maintain the muscles and added glucosamine for joint supplement.

Holistic is a good food for Huskies because it is known to ease shedding by large amounts, even during shedding seasons. It’s also very easy on sensitive stomachs, allergies and the various flavors make it appealing to finicky eaters.

Plan for longer walks and more play time because of the increased activity level from this kibble.

3. Nutro Max

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Nutro Max is one of the most respected dog food brands on the market today.

Just look at those reviews!

Best Food for Husky with Sensitive Stomach (and/or Allergies)

Best food for Huskies with allergies

This section will help you combat common Siberian Husky stomach problems through a variety of diet tweaks.

1. Blue Buffalo Basics (LID)

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Made with only one animal protein source and pumpkin, common allergens are drastically reduced. And it is far easier to digest. Omega-3 fatty acids are included for an even healthy skin and coat – which are often problematic for Huskies.

Some dogs just seem to be allergic to everything and Basics alleviates most suspicious ingredients to give your Husky the best chance at a food they will enjoy while not being allergic.

2. Purina Pro Plan Focus

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No fillers, by-products, or artificial flavors/colors/ingredients can be found in this recipe. That means it’s a great choice to feed your Husky.

The added omega fatty acids mean a healthier coat that leaves skin less irritated and itchy and some of the industry’s leading experts back the brand.

With less irritation and allergies, your Husky is likely to drive you crazy! Renewed energy, a higher drive to play and the desire to run laps instead of back of forth through the yard.

Best Dog Food for Huskies to Gain Weight

Siberian Husky owners know is that it can be a real struggle to keep our dogs looking like he weighs a healthy weight.

Enter Orijen!

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Some Huskies can pack on the pounds with no problem and become overweight.

Other Huskies struggle to maintain the muscle on their bones. They can look thin despite all that fur.

Many owners ask about the best dog food for Huskies to gain weight. It’s a common theme in Husky forums:

From Jamel…

“Nala is 1.5 years old. She is very picky about her food. I’ve tried many kibbles and toppers, etc. We have given her cooked chicken, scrambled eggs, tablespoon of peanut butter, and rice… I don’t care, I still love her skinny unfluffy self. But I want her to gain weight. That area between her hips and ribs really bothers me.”

It’s a Husky Thing

Or from Mara…

“I just rescued a 6 month old husky … He is really under-weight. I can feel and see his hip bones. He acts normal and is hyper. We’ve been to the vets, and had him dewormed and given a thorough exam. Vet says he is fine. I tried changing his food … still no signs of weight gain.”

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So, why is it so hard for a Husky to gain weight?

And what’s up with the notorious Siberian Husky appetite?

If your Husky won’t eat and is losing mass. Or seems to be really skinny despite your best efforts, you may be wondering what you can do to get those calories in.

What is a Husky’s Ideal Weight?

Before we talk about how to fatten up your skinny Husky, let’s talk about what is normal size for a Siberian Husky.

According to the American Kennel Club, female Huskies should be on the smaller side, weighing at least 35 lbs. Ideally, they should weigh no more than 50 lbs. They should measure around 20 – 22 inches tall at the shoulder.

Males should be slightly larger, weighing a minimum of about 45 lbs. They should weigh a maximum of 60 lbs. Height-wise, they should stand between 21 and 23.5 inches.

Huskies are medium-sized and are often described as “compact” for their build.

Huskies have thick fluffy coats that make it hard to tell if they are “too skinny.”

For a dog of healthy mass, you should be able to feel the ribs just under the skin with slight pressure. However, they should not protrude. The same goes for the spine.

Remember, it is harder on your dog’s system to be overweight rather than underweight. Dogs that measure on the low end of the scale may be perfectly healthy.

We are so used to seeing hefty dogs that an average or slightly below average sized dog can seem thin to us.

If you have no other health concerns about your pet besides how much he weighs, be sure to talk to your veterinarian before you make any crazy adjustments to their diet to fatten them up. They may actually be a-ok.

The Husky is a Snow Dog

One of the things that you have to remember is that your dog is a snow dog.

But we’ll get to that in a second. You also need to know that Huskies are one of the oldest breed of dogs.

They have genetic tendencies and instincts that run strong. This is especially true when it comes to eating.

Huskies were originally bred by the Chukchi people in northern Siberia an estimated 4,000 years ago! These dogs traditionally worked very intensely and consumed very few calories.

When you are worried about how little your Husky eats, remember that this is normal for the breed. They were bred to have a high metabolism (i.e., eat calories, then burn them) and to be able to get the most energy out of a small amount of food.

When thinking about the best dog food for a Husky, it is wise to consider what these guys would have eaten 4,000 years ago.

I can guarantee you (without the benefit of a time machine) that the original Huskies never ate corn or wheat.

Huskies were also let loose to roam in the summers. They basically had to fend for themselves.

Because of this, they maintained their instinct for hunting and ‘grazing’. It is instinctual to eat small bites of food here and there.

This breed’s origins and heritage provide a better understanding of the ideal foods for him:

Ingredient #1 – High-Quality Protein

Have you ever noticed your Huskies’ instinct to hunt?

That’s because the know how, and they like meat.

4,000 years ago the Huskies diet was based on high-quality meat derived proteins.

When looking for dog food for your underweight Husky, this should be the first ingredient that you check for.

Look for the following ingredients at the top of the ingredient list:

  • Fowl: This includes turkey, duck, and chicken
  • Fish: Salmon is often named as a prime ingredient, but this can include other species as well.
  • Grassland Animals: This can include beef or lamb

Be careful when you read the ingredient labels. If possible, buy dog food that lists whole meat ingredients. These are preferable to heavily processed meat by-products.

The best dog foods will also offer protein from multiple sources. The brand may list beef and chicken, for example.

This is good!

The more meat-based proteins, the better.

Protein should make up at least 30% of your Husky’s diet.

If your dog is really active, a picky eater, or has a tendency to skip meals, consider a dog food that offers up to 40% protein.

Remember, protein calories in dog food can come from non-meat origins. This might work well for most dogs, but for a skinny Husky, it is best to get as much protein and nutrients from meat as possible.

What About Grain-Free Diets?

“High-protein” labeled dog foods are packed with soy meal, corn or even wheat gluten.

These ingredients all indeed add a valuable source of protein to regular dog food.

But remember, Huskies are different.

Soy can be an acceptable ingredient in your Huskies food, but it should never be the main source of protein in your dog’s diet. When reading ingredient labels, be sure that soy is not listed as the first ingredient.

Corn and wheat-based ingredients should also be avoided.

These two ingredients are often used to bolster the protein percentage of dog food. They are also very commonly used as the carbohydrate base in most commercial feeds.

Unfortunately, Huskies are well-known for their digestive issues. Many Husky owners blame grain intolerance for these common problems. Most of them swear that going GF solved their dog’s problems.

This old breed from an isolated part of the world, does not have the stomach for grains.

Alternative Carbohydrates

So if your dog shouldn’t eat corn or wheat products, and should only have a minimal (if any) amount of soy, what in the world can they eat for carbohydrates?

Look for foods that use rice and other alternative vegetable-based carbohydrates. Sweet potatoes are a great option for dense calories. Some brands of feed even use potatoes, different fruits and vegetables, seeds, and even raw peanut meal.

Carbohydrates should make up around 30% of your dog’s diet.

Ideally, they should come from nutritionally dense caloric sources, like the ones mentioned above.

High-Quality Fats

Healthy fat calories should make up the remaining 30% of your dog’s diet.

Fats that offer a balanced blend of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in:

  • Fish oils
  • Flaxseed oil
  • Sunflower or Safflower Oil
  • Pork Fat 
  • Poultry/Chicken Fat

Be sure that the ingredient label of your dog food lists at least one of these ingredients as their main source of fat.

A Word About Siberian Husky Zinc Deficiency

We cannot talk about how to help skinny Huskies gain weight and not mention Zinc Deficiency Disorder.

The Husky, along with other dog breeds (like the Alaskan Malamute), can develop a whole slew of health problems because of zinc deficiency.

It is suspected that only 15% to 40% of zinc that your dog receives through its diet is actually absorbed! This means that to meet their daily needs, your Husky actually needs dog food that offers a high dose of zinc.

But beware:

Zinc should not come from a random zinc supplement added to low quality ingredients.

Zinc is naturally found in nearly all of the ingredients we have previously listed.

Whole-animal proteins and a grain-free diet are best for your Huskies diet because these two factors influence the quality and digestibility of the zinc that your dog consumes.

Corn and wheat (and even soy) can cause poor absorption of this vital mineral. Over-processed meats are lower in zinc than their whole-animal counterparts.

If your Husky is too skinny and you want it to gain weight – check to see if they have any of these other symptoms or health problems:

  • Chronic digestive issues. This could easily be mistaken for food allergies! Your pet could have frequent bouts of diarrhea or vomiting. Some animals show a concerning lack of appetite.
  • Skin issues. You may notice raised, cracked rough patches of skin that form around your dog’s nose. These can also form around the muzzle, eyes, groin, or even around the paws.
  • Fur issues. This includes excessive shedding or a thin and brittle coat.
  • Other hormonal issues. Does your adult Husky dog have no reproductive instinct? Female go into heat or your unaltered male show interest in females? 
  • Constant infections or cough. Does your dog get frequent infections? Do they heal slowly from knicks and scratches? Get sick easily or cough frequently?
  • Seizures. Has your dog ever had a seizure?
  • Other sicknesses of the vital organs. This can include liver, kidney or heart issues that your vet may have already identified.

If your dog has had a seizure or other serious health issues, you most likely have a close relationship with your veterinarian. That’s great.

But unfortunately, many vets treat these issues as individual sicknesses. They often miss the underlying cause of it all, which for Huskies, is frequently zinc deficiency.

If you just read this list and are suddenly seeing your dog’s boniness with new concern, we highly recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian. It is really important to discuss your concerns with a professional.

Take advantage of the opportunity to discuss with your vet any changes you would like to make to your dog’s diet to help your Husky gain weight.

Some Other Tips to Help Your Husky Gain Weight

Have you tried every amazing, super-best dog food under the sun?

And your dog still won’t eat.

They still look skinny.

They have no zinc deficiency. Your vet says they are fine.

You know that there has got to be something that you can do. There has to be some magic dog food for Huskies!

Unfortunately, there is no magic answer. But here are a couple of tips from other Husky owners that seem to work. Maybe they can help you too.

1. Change up your dog’s food seasonally

Remember, 4,000 years ago the ancient Husky would not have eaten the same thing year-round.

Fall and Winter

In the fall and winter, try giving them higher fat content in their diet. Look for fish-based proteins and fats. Pay attention to the Omega fatty acids in their diet. This will help them develop the coat they need for the winter.

Summertime

In the summer, try lowering the fat content and switch up the proteins to be fowl or other grassland animal-based. 

Huskies are notorious for getting bored with their food. Switching their meals seasonally adds variety and can help prevent boredom.

Be sure to mix the new food with the old, gradually switching to the new food throughout the course of a week. This will avoid any sudden upsets to their stomachs.

2. Set very specific meal times

If your Husky does not eat its entire meal at once, it may be because of its instinct to graze randomly throughout the day. 

Huskies only eat what they need to when they need to.

If they are only a little hungry at mealtimes, they might take a bite or two. Then they will no longer feel hungry. They will then leave the rest of the food to dry out or get stale.

Sound familiar?

Unfortunately, leaving the dog food out all day can let the flavor go off. This might be reason enough for your picky Husky to just not eat any more at all.

This problem is most often solved by sticking to an eating routine.

It’s simple. First, set out your dog’s meal and call them to eat. Give them 10 minutes to eat all they can. After 10 minutes, put the food away. Do not give them another bite until the next mealtime.

You should see your Husky understand the new rules pretty quick. They will learn to take advantage of mealtime to eat their entire meal while it is fresh.

3. Increase your dog’s exercise

Huskies are famous for needing very little food for how much energy they have. 

If you want your dog to feel hungry, make sure that they get a lot of high-intensity exercise.

4. Mix wet and dry dog food together

This does not need a lot of explanation. 

We do, however, recommend that you use wet and dry dog food of the same brand. This will help prevent any digestive problems.

The most important thing to remember is that a skinny Husky is healthier than an overweight one.

We hope these tips on the best dog food for Huskies to gain weight are helpful for you.

Are Huskies lactose intolerant?

Yes. Huskies have sensitive stomachs and digestive issues, so avoid giving them milk products.

Can I feed my Husky a vegetarian diet?

Yes, though it is not recommended – even by the scientists who have proven it. A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition back in 2009 makes the claim that hard-working Huskies can thrive on a carefully formulated vegetarian diet.

The same author of the study, however, insists that it is an incredibly hard diet to provide for the Husky. She actually recommends against Husky owners trying it. The demanding nature of researching and preparing a well balanced (home-cooked) vegetarian meal plan for your dog makes it a very difficult diet to maintain.

She even criticizes many commercial vegetarian dog food companies! She claims these options are untested through a lack of verifiable feeding trials. She worries that they may not provide adequate nutrition dogs really need to stay healthy.

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