Are you a new husky owner wondering what to feed them? Or someone who’s planning to get a new husky? Regardless of your goal, we are going to explain what do huskies eat in this article. After reading our full guide, you are all set to plan your next move. We are also going to discuss what they should not eat at the end of the article. Let’s get into it.
Huskies are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. Back in the 1800s Siberians used to breed Huskies to pull the sledge, and that is why Huskies are energetic and hardworking dogs.
Recently, they have attained popularity as household dogs, and dog owners face a lot of questions. As Huskies are quite different from other dog breeds, dog owners often ask about the eating habits of these majestic creatures.
The hardworking nature of these dogs gives them a distinct diet necessity. So, Huskies(1) need more nutritious raw food in their diet, unlike other breeds. However, there are several alternatives from which one can choose.
One can always consult a veterinarian for a more personalized diet plan.
We have consulted various medical websites, educational sites, and authority sites to make a list of all the things that one can give the Huskies for proper nourishment. In this guide, one can also find the list of foods which one should avoid at all costs.
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What Do Huskies Eat?
A Husky needs a healthy nutritional diet & vitamins to meet its requirements.
Although Huskies are trained to travel long distances and are popularly known as working dogs, the amount of food they consume is very less in comparison to their body structure.
From ancient times, the sherpas from Siberia have made them work hard with minimum food intake. This behavior stuck with them even after becoming a household dog.
The peculiar eating behavior is bliss for many Siberian husky owners. Huskies do not eat more than what they need, and they have a very genuine understanding of this trait.
This control over their food intake reduces the chances of obesity in them. However, if one trains the dog regularly, it is bound to eat more than the usual amount.
There are three types of diets that Husky owners follow. The choice depends on the preference of the dog, and one can conduct a few trials to know what the dog’s preference is.
We are providing you with all the options, and we will discuss all you need to know before fixing a specific diet. The three main diet plans are as follows –
- Commercial food diet
- Natural raw food diet
- Mixed diet
1. Commercial Food Diet:
Most of the Siberian husky owners prefer this type of diet more than other varieties due to the low cost and carefree nature of the solution.
Commercial food diets consist of wet or dry dog food. However, Husky owners complain that a commercial food diet is not a viable option for this large breed.
They claim that dry or cat dog food lacks the required number of calories & dog nutrition. This low calorie is not adequate for the high-calorie requirement of an active Husky.
However, maintaining a tight diet schedule and quality should be sufficient for the Husky. Premium-quality dog food is the only option for Huskies.
Saving a few bucks can have adverse effects on the Husky as the lower-end products cannot fulfill the nutrient requirement.
There are several online articles that can recommend a great dog food product for a Husky.
Dogfood.guru is one such website among them, and they have a good collection of products one can compare.
We are providing some of the crucial components that one should look for in any dog food for the Husky.
- Plant Proteins are nutrients that are available only in plants. It is one of the ingredients which dog owners often ignore, but these are equally essential.
- Meat Protein is one of the most imperative supplements that dogs need. One should always ensure that the dog is getting at least two or three types of meat proteins in every meal. It serves as the foremost source of much-needed calories.
- Fats are also essential for Huskies, but they should be kept in check. Too many oily products can cause obesity, and it is dangerous for Huskies. The meals should have chicken fat, canola oil, or flaxseed to reach the fat requirement.
- Omega-3s are another crucial protein supplement that helps in keeping the coat healthy. The majestic fur of the Husky needs this protein in sufficient amounts. Premium dog foods have an ingredient called DHA, which supplies Omega 3s.
- The dog food also should be gluten and lactose-free, and it should have a low amount of curb.
Some of the best dog food brands for Huskies are –
- Nutro max chicken meal and rice
- Origen
- Wellness Core Natural grain-free dry dog food original turkey and chicken
- Purina pro plan FOCUS sensitive skin & stomach adult dry dog food.
- Blue buffalo life protection dry adult dog food
- Taste of the Wild Dry Dog food
The first two brands produce mixed dog food, and the last four are amongst the best dry dog foods available in the market.
We have collected this data from foreverhusky.org and labradortraininghq.com. These websites maintain an up-to-date list of all the premium dog foods available in all parts of the world.
2. Nutritional Raw Food Diet:
A nutritional raw food diet is the healthier and more sustainable alternative to a commercial food diet. In this diet, you can control the exact number of calories for the Husky.
The main advantage of this natural raw food diet is that it offers variety to Husky’s diet. Huskies get bored with eating the same commercial food over and over.
It results in a decreased appetite for the Husky. It can be dangerous as one would think that the dog is not eating because the dog isn’t hungry.
Whereas, that is not the case. There are some disadvantages, as well. The preparation time for this type of diet is comparatively more than commercial food.
This expensive alternative is also harder to store for a long time as well. We have made a list of all the nutritional raw food you can give to the pet Husky:
- The meat of chicken, lamb, and other white meats
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Brussels Sprout
- Bell peppers
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Apples
- Apricots
- Bananas
- Blackberries
While arranging a nutritional raw food diet, one should keep a close look at the number of vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, or fat in the intake.
Consulting a veterinarian should be the right approach to make the most effective diet plan. Lacking any of the nutrients can result in malnutrition and several ailments.
3. Mixed Diet:
A mixed diet has the benefits of both a commercial food diet and a nutritional raw food diet. Most husky puppy owners like this type of diet because of its balanced nature
Despite being a working dog, Huskies don’t eat extravagantly. They prefer to eat as much as they want, and it is always crucial to reach that nutritional value.
So, one should always make sure that the food has sufficient nutrients in every meal. Dog owners often make the mistake of mixing natural food with commercial dog food.
This mixture can be dangerous for the dog as it upsets their sensitive stomach and causes several dietary problems.
Related Article to read:
What Should Not Be Eaten By Huskies?
Now that you know all the healthy food that a husky can have, it is also necessary to be aware of which food to avoid for a pup or adult husky.
There are quite a few food items that can harm this dog breed more than it will benefit. We have made a detailed list of all the things that one should avoid for the husky.
1. Grapes and Raisins:
Grapes are one of the most dangerous edibles for Huskies. Both grapes and raisins have toxins that can induce severe symptoms like kidney failure, or even death.
You should immediately consult a veterinarian if the Husky eats even a single grape. Grapes are dangerous for all the dog breeds and Huskies are not exceptions.
2. Milk:
Dairy products are not always suitable for a puppy or even adult dogs as they do not have sufficient enzymes to digest them. Large quantities of milk can cause an upset stomach, and one may need to take the Husky for a check-up.
However, milk in little quantities should not create any problem. There’s another alternative that can have adverse effects on Husky’s health.
Almond milk has large quantities of fat, and it can cause obesity. If one is feeding almond oil to the Husky, make sure that it is getting sufficient exercise.
3. Raw egg:
While cooked eggs are safe for Huskies, you should not give them raw ones. Uncooked eggs may contain organisms like salmonella and E. Coli & can be harmful to their sensitive stomach.
They can be subjected to several kinds of ailments if one continues to include uncooked eggs in their diet.
Experts also suggest that one should not give cooked eggs to Huskies as they do not have any nutritional value. Cooking takes away crucial components from the egg due to heating.
4. Avocado:
Avocados do not create immediate problems in Huskies, and one should avoid this delicious food just to be safe.
Avocado has a component called persin, which is dangerous for many animals. However, Huskies seem to be comfortable with Avocados.
But this condition can vary from one species to another. That is why one should keep an eye for a few hours on the Husky if it consumes one.
5. Raw Chicken:
One can let a Husky eat raw chicken, but one should avoid this prospect and give a cooked piece of chicken with no seasoning or sauces.
Animal protein, like uncooked chicken, is not harmful to the husky, but it can spread diseases like salmonella. Just make sure that there are no added extras in the cooked meat.
Apart from the items above, there are several other things which one should avoid. Here is the list –
- Prunes
- Cherries
- Citrus fruits
- Soda
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Onions
- Garlic
- Salty food
- Sweets
Food Recipes for Husky:
There are several recipes available on YouTube and other websites to guide one through the process. We have two dog food recipes that one can easily make at home.
1. Homemade Dog Food Recipe with Turkey and Eggs
Collected from youtube.com
You need the following ingredients –
- Grounded organic turkey
- Eggs
- Shredded Carrots
- Green vegetables
- Fish oil
- Turmeric
Method –
- Step-1: Shred the carrots so that Huskies can digest them. Chop the greens as finely as possible,
- Step-2: Boil the turkey with a little water and oil. Make sure that you cook the meat properly so that the Huskies can digest it.
- Step-3: Fry the eggs with little oil. Use TEFLON-based utensils while cooking the eggs so that one doesn’t need to add much oil.
- Step-4: Make a crumb of the eggshells. Mix it with the cooked turkey until it is part of the meal.
- Step-5: Put turkey first into the bowl. Then put shredded carrots and then add the greens. Put fish oil on top of the previously used items.
- Step-6: Now put the cooked eggs on top of the food one has prepared. Do leave a little bit of turmeric before giving it to the Huskies.
2. Beef, barley, and Bowties (BBB) –
Credit / Source : Myhusky.com
This unique recipe needs the following ingredients –
- Barley – 1 cup
- Veg oil – 1 tablespoon
- Beef mince – 500gm
- Beef broth – 1 liter
- Diced Tomatoes – 1 can
- Potatoes – 4
- Carrots – 4
- Small cabbage – ½
- Small bowtie pasta – 300gm
Follow these simple steps to cook the meal –
- Start by chopping, and grating all the ingredients in the above list.
- Heat 2 cups of water and 1 cup of barley for at least 45 mins till it consumes all water. Keep the mixture away.
- Cook minced beef in a large pot and continue stirring to avoid any wastage due to burning.
- Pour the can of tomatoes, beef broth, and 5 cups of water into the pot.
- Then, one needs to add chopped potatoes and sliced carrots. Simmer the pot for 10 mins.
- Add bowtie pasta next, and again simmer for 10 mins. This time one needs to stir thoroughly.
- Add cabbage and barley after getting the pot away from the flame.
Conclusion:
There you go. Our list of what do husky eat. Taking proper care of any dog can be a monumental task. The Huskies are a breed of working dogs, and their diet can be different from other varieties.
You should also consider their weight and age before fixing any specific nutrition plan. Monitor and change accordingly.
Now you should have a clear idea about the dietary restriction of Huskies. Making a home-cooked mixed diet will be the best choice for any Husky owner.
It can be time-consuming and expensive, but a mixed-diet plan can meet the nutrient requirement of Huskies. However, if you have further questions, you may want to visit a professional vet for more consultation.
References:
- https://emborapets.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-what-huskies-can-and-cant-eat/
- https://www.jpost.com/promocontent/pets/best-dog-food-for-huskies-dont-give-your-dog-underrated-foods-445986
- https://huskyadvisor.com/feeding-your-husky-food/
- https://huskyowner.com/what-huskies-can-eat/
Hi There, AJ Oren here. I am the founder of this amazing pet blog & a passionate writer who loves helping pet owners to learn more about their pets through my articles. I am also the content manager of this blog. I have experience in pet training and behavior, sheltering, and currently working for a veterinary clinic.