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Knowing what is the best dog food for Siberian Huskies comes down to understanding their roots. Huskies were originally bred to work in the Arctic wilderness pulling cargo-laden sleds over long distances. Their diet consisted of small amounts of heavily concentrated animal protein and fat – when it was available.
Huskies are, therefore, quite singular in the way their metabolism works as well as how much appetite they have, which affects the caloric amount they need to eat.
My main top 7 picks of the best dog food for Siberian Huskies in 2021:
Contents & Quick Navigation
How many calories does my Husky dog need?
Huskies are medium-sized dogs with an athletic build (which isn’t surprising – they are the athletes of the dog world!), and they are usually high-energy.
The max weight of the Siberian Husky is 50 lb (23 kg), so this is the weight I have used to calculate how many calories your Husky needs in his food.
This number is likely to be lower for female Huskies, however, as they tend to weigh less than males.
1000 Calories – Senior/Neutered/Inactive Huskies
1200 Calories – Typical Adult Huskies
1700 Calories – Active/Working Adult Huskies
*These calculations are worked out using Dog Food Advisor. You should consult your veterinarian to get a better idea of the specific caloric needs of your Husky dog.
How to make sure your Husky gets her calorie intake from husky diet
Bred for endurance and survival in freezing temperatures where food is scarce, Siberian Huskies have an efficient metabolism – a little food can last them a long time. This means that Huskies tend to eat small amounts of food for their size.
While it depends on your dog’s activity levels, a typical Husky will eat 2 ½ cups of food a day.
Many owners consider Huskies “easy keepers” because of this. However, given that they eat less, they need energy-dense foods, which pack more calories into small amounts. This way, she will still be able to get her daily calorie intake.
Higher quality dog foods for huskies usually offer food rich in calories (most high-calorie dog foods have between 400 – 500 calories or over per cup). While they do usually cost more, it is worth it to ensure your Husky nutritional needs are met in her diet.
So, in order to reach 1200 calories a day, if she eats 2 ½ cups a day, we need to find a dog food for huskies that contains about 480 calories a cup.
Common health problems in Huskies and how dog diet can help your husky
The majority of Huskies are healthy, but they are susceptible to some serious health conditions, which are all hereditary. Main health problems concern her hips and her eyes.
Eye diseases
- Corneal dystrophy: Non-inflammatory clouding of the cornea, or the outer surface of the eye. Usually, it occurs in both eyes, and in severe cases, the Husky dog can become blind.
- Progressive renal atrophy: Disease of the retina that causes progressive loss of vision and eventually, the blindness of Husky.
- Juvenile cataracts: Opacity that clouds or blocks vision, which usually starts before Husky is 2 years old.
There are some fruits and vegetables that contain key nutrients that can help your Husky’s eyesight. Here’s what to look out for in the food for Huskies:
- Blueberries: contain carotenoids, phytonutrients, and flavonoids, which prevent muscular degeneration.
- Broccoli: contains beta-carotene, which protects the retina from free radical damage.
- Carrots: contain a wealth of nutrients, including Vitamin A and beta-carotene, which support eye health of your Husky.
- Coldwater fish like salmon and sardines: rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are important in the health of eye cells for Huskies.
- Eggs: contain lutein and zeaxanthin (the only carotenoids found in the eye), which, according to the American Optometric Association, when added to your Husky diet protect and maintain healthy eye cells. Eggs also contain sulfur compounds that are particularly good to protect from cataracts
- Sweet potatoes: contains beta-carotene and anthocyanin, which contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Kale: contains lutein and zeaxanthin.
Hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a genetic disease that causes the head of the thighbone to fit poorly into the hip socket. It is more commonly found in large breed dogs like German Shepherds, however, it can occur in Huskies, too.
You can help your Husky by keeping her at a healthy weight*, as any extra weight puts a strain on your Husky dog’s joints.
You can also opt for the best dog foods that contain chondroitin and glucosamine, which are natural substances found in healthy cartilage. Chondroitin helps to neutralize destructive enzymes in the joint, while glucosamine is key in rebuilding damaged cartilage.
Calcium is also important to support your Husky’s bone and joint health. According to AAFCO, an adult Husky dog should get a minimum of 0.5% in her daily diet.
*A male Husky typically weighs between 45 – 60 lb (20 – 27 kg), while a female weighs 35 – 50 lb (16 – 23 kg).
Hypothyroidism
In a study conducted by Michigan State University, out of 140 dog breeds tested for hypothyroidism, Siberian Huskies ranked 27th.
This condition causes low thyroid hormones, causing skin problems, weight gain, and lethargy in Huskies. It can be managed well with medication.
Diet can also play an important role. Nutrients that can help this condition in Huskies include iodine (found in fish, kelp, and seaweed) and Omega-3s (found in fish oils).
If your Husky suffers from thyroid problems, it is vital that she gets a diet rich in vitamins and minerals from high-quality dog food and diet that includes fruits and vegetables. This is especially important because most of Huskies (and any other dogs) with this condition are lacking in the basic nutrients and minerals they need to stay healthy.
Importance of the best husky diet that covers Macronutrients required for Siberian Huskies
Protein
18% is the minimum protein requirement for an adult Husky dog. Most good quality dog foods and diet contain more than this (over 25%) to provide the best nutrition for your Husky dog.
As Huskies are highly energetic and consume a lot of calories quickly, they need a protein-rich diet and should receive between 25-35 % protein. Working Huskies will need at least 35% or more protein in their diet.
Say ‘no’ to by-products and unspecified main ingredients like ‘meat meal’ or ‘animal meal,’ as these are low-quality sources of protein.
Fat content in the diet for best dog food for Huskies and diet
Since they have medium or long, thick coats, and burn a lot of energy quickly, I think that anywhere between 15 and 20% of fat is suitable for a Husky. Dry dog food usually contains about 16% of fat.
If your Husky is a working dog (especially in cold temperatures), a higher-fat dog food (more than 20% fat) will be a good option, as she will need more fat to use as energy.
Just as I advise with protein, make sure your Husky gets good sources of fat! Look for specific fats, like chicken fat. Fish oils and flaxseed are also very good sources because they also provide your dog with Omega-3 fatty acids for her skin and coat health.
Carbs
I believe that it is always better to choose a dog food or a diet that focuses on high protein and low carbohydrates, as Huskies don’t require a lot of carbs, and too many can cause stomach upsets and weight gain.
While Boxers need grain-free dog food, Huskies are not as susceptible to allergies or skin problems. So, it is not necessary to go out of your way to get grain-free food. However, if you prefer grain free food, there is no harm in feeding her this diet.
I would still advise you to avoid common allergens in your Husky diet like soy, corn, wheat, and yeast, and opt for whole grains like brown rice and barley.
Lots of fruit and veg
As I outlined in the ‘Health’ section, the best dog food for Siberian Huskies should have plenty of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support her thyroid function, eyesight, and immune system.
The easiest way for your Husky dog to get these nutrients is from best dog foods for huskies that contain a variety of fruit and vegetables.
Foods to avoid for Husky Dogs
Siberian Husky may be better with grains than other breeds, but some owners say that Huskies find it difficult to digest lactose.
It is probably to be safe than sorry and avoid dog foods or diet with dairy products. That means no milk or cheese, and remember to look out for milk by-products, such as skim milk powder and whey powder.
Best dog food for Huskies reviewed
Finally, we are ready to show you our recommendations. We narrowed it down to 7 of what we think are good choices of high-quality dog food for Huskies.
Here they are:
#1 The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Beef Dry Dog Food
The Honest Kitchen is a brand that seems to be well-loved by its customers, many of whom claim that their dogs can’t get enough of it! This brand prides themselves on their use of ‘human-grade’ dog food, which is free of chemicals, preservatives, and their meats are antibiotic and hormone free. Now that’s what I like to hear!
This dog food recipe contains a good amount of protein for Huskies, at 31%, which is sourced from beef. They go on to throw in some fruits and vegetables, including sweet potatoes (great for her eye health), and flaxseed (providing Omega-3 for her thyroid and coat). There is also a source of thyroid-supporting iodine in the form of potassium iodide.
The fat content is perfect for the typical Husky, at 16%. However, I wouldn’t recommend this dog food if your Husky is a very active or working dog, as she will use a lot of this fat as energy, and may not have enough to keep her skin and coat healthy.
While it contains a good amount of Calcium at 1.1%, there are no additional ingredients for joint health. I, therefore, don’t highly recommend this dog food for Huskies with joint problems.
Finally, it provides 514 calories a cup, which makes this a good food for Huskies who don’t eat large amounts, as you’ll only need to feed her 2 1/3 cups a day unless she requires more than the typical amount of calories.
The Honest Kitchen is a good option if you are looking for the best dog food for Huskies at an affordable price.
What’s Good
- Quality ingredients at a low price
- High-quality protein source
- Contains some fruit and veg
- Good for Huskies who don’t eat large amounts
- Contains ingredients that support eye and thyroid health
Top Cons
- Doesn’t contain glucosamine or chondroitin
- Not good for highly active Huskies
#2 Orijen Original Adult Dog Dry Dog Food
Orijen is a brand I recommend again and again. I love their high-quality, varied recipes, which use many ingredients that are fresh and local.
This recipe contains an impressive 38% protein from a range of meats, including turkey, chicken meal, flounder, mackerel, herring, and sardine. The use of fish meal here gives your Husky a good dose of Omega-3 for her eyes and thyroid as well as skin and coat health.
The fat content is just fine at 18%. As I said with The Honest Kitchen, if your Husky is a very active or working dog, you should look at other brands that contain at least 20% fat.
Another thing I like about Orijen is that they never fail in the nutrient department in their dog foods. They use a whole bunch of fruits and vegetables, which are all fresh. This recipe contains carrots, kale, and blueberries, which are great for her eye health, as well as kelp, which gives her a little kick of iodine to support her thyroid.
So that’s her thyroid, her eyes, and now for her hips. Orijen doesn’t fail there either, as they add glucosamine and chondroitin into the mix to give her joints some help. To top it off, there is also a very good amount of Calcium (1.4%) to keep your Husky’s bones and joints strong. I highly recommend this food for Huskies with hip problems.
The only downside to this dog food recipe is that it provides just a little under the calorie content I recommended for an average Husky who eats 2.5 cups a day, at 470 calories a cup. That means she would have to eat just a tad over 2.5 cups a day to get her daily intake, but the difference is just 0.05-cup.
Another point I want to make is that Orijen dog food is very costly, which is why it didn’t make the #1 spot. If you can afford it, I think it’s a great dog food option for your Husky.
What’s Good
- High-quality ingredients
- High-quality, varied protein content
- Contains a wide range of fruit and veg
- Contains ingredients that support thyroid, eye and joint health
Top Cons
- Expensive dog food
- Just a little under 480 calories per cup
#3 EVO Turkey & Chicken Formula Large Bites Dry Dog Food
EVO is a brand that develops their dog foods formulas specifically for active dogs, using the ancestral diet approach. That means 82% meat, 18% fruit and vegetables and 0% grain.
This recipe sources its protein from 5 types of meat, which are the first 5 ingredients. It’s not surprising, then, that this dog food contains a highly substantial amount of protein, at a whopping 43.9%. The fat content is also high as 23.77%. This recipe is, therefore, ideal for very active or working Huskies.
EVO also adds quite a few fruits and vegetables into this dog food, including carrots to support your Husky’s eye health. They also add eggs to the recipe, which we have seen, help maintain healthy eye cells and protect against cataracts.
There are plenty of added vitamins and minerals, too, including iodine and Omega-3 for her thyroid, and a high level of Calcium (2.6%) for Husky bones and joints. Though, unfortunately, there is no glucosamine or chondroitin for Husky dogs with hip dysplasia.
A letdown with this dog food recipe is that they include cottage cheese. While cottage cheese is fairly low in lactose, it could cause an allergic reaction in some Huskies.
This dog food provides the most calories of all four, at 516 calories per cup. To provide your Husky with 1,200 calories means feeding her 2.3 cups a day, so this food is perfect if your Husky doesn’t eat large amounts.
If your Husky is a working dog and requires 1,700 calories, however, she will need about 3.5 cups a day.
What’s Good
- High-quality, varied protein content
- Contains some fruit and veg
- Includes ingredients that help eye and thyroid health
- Good for Huskies who don’t eat large quantities
- Good for highly active or working Huskies
Top Cons
- Doesn’t contain glucosamine or chondroitin for joint health
- Contains cheese, which could be an allergen for some Huskies
#4 Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Dog Food
I have chosen this dog food for its quality ingredients, as well as its tried and tested popularity. It has over 800 reviews at Chewy, 84% of which gave 5 stars. So apparently many dogs and owners alike are more than satisfied with it!
It is also the most affordable of all four, so if you are on a budget but still looking for a quality dog food for your Husky, Blue Buffalo Wilderness is a good option.
This recipe is rich in protein, at 34%, containing varied meat sources including deboned salmon, which gives her Omega-3s to keep Husky dog’s coat, eyes, and thyroid health.
It is fairly low in fat, at 15%, so it is better for Huskies who are less active or a little overweight.
This formula adds in a nice array of fruits and vegetables, including carrots, sweet potatoes, and blueberries, which support her eye health. They also include glucosamine in the dog food recipe, but, unfortunately, do not go that bit further and add chondroitin. Therefore, it will help your Husky’s joints somewhat, but not as much as Orijen’s recipe.
The downside with Blue Buffalo (which is why I had to rate it much lower than the rest) is that the calorie content is low for Huskies; it only has 410 calories a cup, so this is a food for Huskies who eat more. A typical Husky (weighing 53 lb) would need just under 3 cups a day of this dog food.
What’s Good
- Quality ingredients
- The best price of all options listed here
- Over 800 reviews on Chewy (84% are with 5 stars)
- Range of fruits and vegs
- Includes ingredients that help eye, thyroid and coat health
Top Cons
- Low-calorie content for average Huskies
#5 Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food
It’s a very popular dry dog food which suits Huskies very well. First five ingredients of it are salmon, potatoes and sweet potatoes, peas and ocean fish meal.
I like Taste of the Wild because their dog food recipes are made to satisfy the instinctual appetites of dogs. This means only real meat and fresh fruits and vegetables are used.
Despite kibble, it’s also available in the canned formula.
This particular recipe features salmon as its main protein source. With 25% protein content, this is good dog food for active Huskies, though not quite enough for working Huskies.
Aside from its good protein content, this dog food also includes 15% fat, which is enough to support the Husky’s high energy levels. Omega fatty acids will keep your Siberian Husky dog’s lush coat always shiny.
With ingredients like blueberries, raspberries, and tomatoes, this dog food recipe is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamins D and E, zinc, and taurine. Chelated minerals ensure that your Husky can absorb all these helpful nutrients.
Zinc is especially helpful in diets for Huskies, as the mineral helps support normal thyroid function. Huskies must also have adequate levels of zinc in their diet because the breed is prone to a skin abnormality called zinc-responsive dermatosis.
I recommend feeding active Huskies with this dog food, but racing or working Huskies may need something with more protein.
Note: For Husky puppies, go for the Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Dry Puppy Food Formula
What’s Good
- Salmon is a high-quality protein
- Easier for dogs to digest
- Fruits and veggies included
- Zinc helps Huskies avoid breed-specific diseases
- Prebiotic support for your Husky
Top Cons
- Lower caloric content
#6 Nutro Grain-Free Adult Lamb, Lentils & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food
Nutro crafts menu-inspired dog food recipes that feature only the highest-quality ingredients that are non-GMO, if that matters to you.
The main ingredient in this Nutro Ultra recipe is grass-fed lamb, which gives this dog food a protein content of 25%. This is perfect for the high energy levels and fast metabolism of your Husky.
The recipe’s 15% fat content, from chicken fat and sunflower, will help fuel your Husky’s energy, too, while keeping his skin healthy and coat shiny.
Supplements and vitamins and minerals from real vegetables and fruits, including split peas, sweet potatoes, and lentils, can help improve the immune system of your Husky.
Carrots, blueberries, and Omega-3 fatty acids are particularly beneficial, as the Husky dog is prone to eye problems. Feeding her the fatty acids can also help in countering hypothyroidism.
At 457 kcal per cup, this dog food’s caloric content is a little low for Huskies, so you might have to adjust serving sizes accordingly.
Overall, this is good dog food for Huskies that are house pets rather than racing dogs.
What’s Good
- Just the right protein content for active Huskies
- Omega-3 fatty acids to reduce the risk of hypothyroidism
- Carrots and blueberries support eye health of your Husky
- Supplements, vitamins, and minerals included
Top Cons
- Doesn’t contain chondroitin or glucosamine
- Caloric content is a little low for the Husky’s needs
#7 Wellness CORE RawRev Grain-Free Original Recipe with Freeze-Dried Turkey Dry Dog Food
Wellness CORE offers a wide variety of dog food recipes to fill the different nutritional needs of dogs. The brand’s RawRev line, for instance, includes freeze-dried meats for an additional protein boost.
With 36% protein, this particular dog food recipe has deboned turkey as its main meat. Turkey provides high-quality protein and fatty acids, which is beneficial for active Huskies. Freeze-dried turkey increases the recipe’s protein content, making this dog food a good choice even for a working Husky.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are also included in this dog food, so it can improve the joint strength of your Husky.
This recipe also has a good fat content of 16% from chicken fat, salmon oil, and ground flax seed. Fatty acids from these ingredients help keep the Husky’s coat shiny and healthy.
This dog food packed with vitamins and minerals, thanks to chicken liver, broccoli, carrots, blueberries, and kale. These ingredients help boost eye health, reducing the risk for eye problems for your Husky.
Though it’s on the low end for the protein requirements for a working Husky, I recommend this dog food recipe for more active Huskies. It’s a little more expensive than most of the other dog food options listed here, but all that nutrition is worth the investment.
What’s Good
- Freeze-dried turkey bits for added protein
- Glucosamine and chondroitin for Husky’s joint strength
- Chicken liver is rich in vitamins A and D
- Broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, and kale for eye health
- Rich in omega-3 and 6 fatty acids keep the coat shiny
Top Cons
- More expensive compared to other brands
Conclusion
My top recommendation for the best dog food for Siberian Huskies nutritionally is Orijen Dry Dog Food. However, it is very pricey, so if you are looking for a quality dog food that is more affordable, go with The Honest Kitchen.
Blue Buffalo is also a great option if you are on a budget, but bear in mind that your Husky will need to eat 3 cups to get her daily calorie intake.
EVO is another good choice (with a mid-range price), but it does contain ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction in some Huskies.
best dog food for huskies
Tell us about what do you think is the Best Dog Food For Siberian Huskies ?
is OR Top Dog Food Brand for Siberian Huskies? What do you feed your Siberian Husky? Leave a comment below!
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