Best Dog Food for Huskies - Comparison and Reviews
Author: Becky Roberts
Last Updated: September 2023
Category: Best Dog Food
All huskies dream of dashing through fields of heavy snow, leading their owners on grand adventures. They see themselves as four-legged wolves and partners to their owners, traipsing through forests, and chasing after animals. 🐕
They’re survivors and working dogs, and they require the sort of food you’d feed an intrepid warrior hound.
If you own a husky of any age, you know that they’re usually bounding with energy. Husky food should be packed with the sort of fuel to keep your dog healthy, active, and energetic throughout its life. Inadequate food can diminish their performance and make them sluggish, slow, and dull.
In this article, we’ve reviewed five of the best dog food for huskies available on the market. We’ll also give you some information about the breed to keep you informed of the nutritional needs of your high-energy husky. Knowing how to care for your faithful friend is the first step in providing them with a long and happy life. 🙂
Best Dog Food for Husky 2023 - Reviews
1. Crave Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food With Protein
Crave Dog Food combines high protein and essential nutrients into a high-quality dry food that delivers what your husky craves: meat. Crave provides a variety of different flavors to entice husky’s taste buds, but they make each flavor with real ingredients and superior animal protein. Crave gives your dog all the energy it needs to grow and maintain a healthy coat.
Crave grain-free food comes in Beef, Chicken, Lamb & Venison, and Salmon & Ocean Fish flavors. All their flavors have the distinction of being grain-free, which reduces the possibility of triggering food allergies and makes the pellets easier to digest.
Pros
- Grain-free. Crave food is 100 percent free of grain, which means it limits the number of vegetable carbohydrates for your dog and makes it easier for them to digest.
- High animal protein. Real animal proteins, as opposed to synthesized artificial proteins, are what your dog needs for healthy development, and strong teeth and bones.
- Excellent proportion of ingredients. Crave food recipe has a fantastic nutritional blend for high-energy huskies that requires an abundance of protein.
- Quality product. No recalls have been issued for this brand.
Cons
- Expensive. Crave is more expensive than other dog food of similar quality. It’s also far more pricey than lower quality dog foods that contain inferior ingredients.
2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Dry Dog Food for Adult Huskies
Much like Crave’s adult dog food, Blue Buffalo’s Wilderness brand advertises itself as 100 percent grain-free. It prohibits chicken byproducts, such as feathers or beaks, which sometimes find their way into inferior products. Eliminating the grains, such as wheat and soy, also ensures that your dry dog food doesn’t trigger food allergies or becoming susceptible to the lethargy brought on by imbalanced carbohydrates.
Blue Buffalo offers three different flavors: Chicken, Duck, and Salmon. The bags are available in three different sizes, though you’ll probably want the most substantial supply for energetic Huskies. Blue Buffalo’s blend also offers its patented Lifesource Bits, which promise a perfect mixture of vitamins and minerals to keep your husky healthy and active.
Pros
- Lifesource Bits. A formulated and patented blend of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals helps support your dog’s immune system.
- Grain-free. No wheat, soy, or other grains, which are harder for carnivorous animals to digest and can trigger food allergies.
- Good protein. Blue Buffalo contains enough protein to sustain and strengthen your active working dog.
Cons
- Expensive. Blue Buffalo’s 24-pound bag is even more costly than the Crave blend.
- Protein. The Blue Buffalo product is so protein-rich that it will not be suitable for inactive huskies. You should monitor your dog’s intake for sudden, unexpected weight increases.
3. Purina Pro Plan SPORT Formula Dry Dog Food
If you’re a dog person, you have probably invested a lot of yourself into your Husky.
The Purina Pro Plan is designed specifically for active huskies and formulated to maximize their health and happiness. It does contain grain products, but it balances high protein for energetic working dogs like the Husky.
Purina offers several varieties of their Pro Plan, including Salmon and Chicken. The Chicken blend advertises that it contains no corn, wheat, or soy. So, if you’re concerned about grains, it’s a reliable option.
Pros
- Salmon Protein. Purina Pro plan is rich in salmon protein, which provides your dog with ample Omega-3 vitamins. Eating salmon is a fantastic way to keep your Husky’s coat healthy and shiny.
- Rice-blended. The grains they do include are mostly rice varieties. Including rice into your dog’s diet can aid with any digestive issues that your dog is experiencing.
- Different options. Purina’s Pro Plan brand comes in a variety of sizes and options to customize it to your dog’s weight, activity level, and age.
Cons
- Choices. Purina Pro Plan doesn’t have an abundance of flavor alternatives for dogs. You can either have Chicken or Salmon. So, if your dog has a problem with either of these tastes, you may need to consider a different brand.
4. Taste of The Wild Grain Free Premium High Protein Dry Dog Food for Husky Puppy
Taste of the Wild is the first of our reviewed products designed specifically for your growing Husky puppy. It’s high-protein puppy food devoted to helping your husky puppy grow into a healthy and active adult. Diamond Pet Foods manufactures Taste of the Wild, and they add additional probiotics to aid with digestion.
It is crammed with all-natural ingredients including fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, sweet potatoes, peas. Their grain-free options come in two flavors, Salmon and Bison with Venison in case your puppy has food allergies. Taste of the Wild sources the best ingredients available with few fillers or synthetic components.
Pros
- Grain-free. This brand reduces the possibility of food allergies caused by grains. Some grains are harder for huskies to metabolize and can lead to lethargy and digestive issues.
- Probiotics. Taste of the Wild adds natural probiotics and antibacterials, such as blueberries, to their formula to aid digestion. Probiotics help maintain the proper balance of bacterial flora in your puppy’s gut.
- Healthy for your puppy. Taste of the Wild is formulated for puppies, with the appropriate balance of vitamins and minerals to ensure healthy growth and an abundance of energy.
Cons
- Bison and Venison. Some puppies are allergic to beef, as well as chicken. Bison and venison are both rich in protein, however, and could present other problems.
- Expensive. It’s more costly than other puppy food brands with similar mixtures.
5. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula for Senior Huskies
Like puppies, senior huskies have specific dietary needs that traditional adult dog foods lack. Older dogs, particularly seniors who were once extremely active, need additional support for their joints and bones that grow brittle with age. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula infuses their blend with supplements to help your old Husky age gracefully.
Like other dog foods, their Senior Formula puts protein in the limelight. Blue Buffalo also adds glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, though, to assist you in keeping your dog mobile and active for longer. It also does not contain wheat, soy, or corn products, much like other brands noted in this review list.
Pros
- Formulated for senior dogs. Older dogs need joint support to keep them healthy and active as they age. Blue Buffalo brand adds glucosamine and chondroitin supplements to keep your dog’s bones and joints healthy.
- Natural Ingredients. Blue Buffalo maintains that all its ingredients are natural. It is careful to avoid chicken byproducts, such as feathers or beaks.
- Lifesource bits. Blue Buffalo adds specially prepared bits made from antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to aid digestion and provide needed supplements to your aging Husky’s diet.
- Easy to digest. Digestive problems are common in older or less active dogs. Blue Buffalo designed their dog food to help older animals with their digestion.
Cons
- Flavor. Blue Buffalo doesn’t offer much variety in taste. If your dog is allergic to chicken, this is not your best option.
How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Huskies
Huskies aren’t like other medium-sized dogs. They were bred to be working dogs—pulling loads, hunting, and providing the engine for sled dog transportation in colder climates, where food was often scarce. Always keep these things in mind when thinking about the nutritional needs of your Husky.
A Husky’s traditional environment required that they adapt to a scarcity of food. They have a low metabolism, which allows their bodies to do a lot with little input.
Huskies are skilled at regulating their food intake, unlike many other dogs who will eat until they are sick. Most Huskies will stop eating once they’re full, which makes feeding them less of a chore than with some other breeds. You should still only feed them about 60 percent of the recommended amount based on their weight, as the recommendations are designed primarily for other breeds.
What to Consider When Buying Food for a Husky
Related: Best Large Breed Dog Food
Nutritional Needs of Huskies
People have engineered Husky’s for strength and energy and designed them to endure in wintery climates where food is scarce. Like most dogs, they primarily need protein to maintain strong bones and healthy muscle mass. Game and fish are often the best sources of animal protein, so look for foods with meat as the primary ingredient with fruits and vegetables to provide fiber and good fat.
Always consult your veterinarian for the proper proportions of dog food to give your dog. Your regular vet knows your dog individually. They’ll have a better idea of the best brands and nutritional balances for your particular Husky.
As mentioned, Huskies food should consist mostly of animal proteins, but you should also limit the carbohydrates for your dog. Watch out if they’ve been eating bread products on the sly, and don’t feed them anything high in carbohydrates. A few carbs won’t harm them, but excess intake may cause health issues, including digestive problems, lethargy, and food allergies.
Some of the foods we’ve reviewed contain fruits like berries and rice, too, which are healthy ingredients. Both contain the fiber, vitamins, and minerals needed for healthy digestion, but you should ask your vet if you have specific questions.
Rice is neutral to digest, and Huskies likely would have had berries on their adventures in the wild. Their digestive tracks are already engineered to metabolize them.
Buying Food According to Life Stage of Husky Dog
Puppy
Your Husky is a ‘puppy’ from birth until they’re about 24 months old. During this time, they’ll learn everything they need to know about you and their relationship with you. Take care that you’re fully aware of the food puppies eat and their behavior.
Puppies need to learn, play, and eat well to grow into the adult dog you want as part of your family. Feed your Husky protein-rich food with low carbohydrates and teach them what you expect of them. Just like children, they’re at their most formative in their youth and will take all their cues from you.
Adult
Adulthood in huskies usually occurs when they are 2 years or older. Adult Huskies will have developed most of its behavior and routine between one to two years old, though you can still try to adapt them with training.
Senior
Huskies are ‘seniors’ between seven and ten years old and senior dogs have specialized foods because they have less energy and more potential health issues to consider. Check with your vet regularly to help mediate the changes that older huskies require to keep them active and happy.
Husky Health Conditions and Special Dietary Needs
Zinc deficiency
Huskies seem more prone to Zinc deficiency than any other breed. A Zinc deficiency in Huskies may be genetic, but it also can be a result of poor diet. A lack of proper zinc intake for your dog may result in lethargy, hair loss, or other problems.
Consult your vet if you think this might be a problem.
Fish products, like salmon, are an excellent way to boost the levels of zinc in your dog’s system, too. Many of the products we recommended above are high in fish protein or have zinc added as a supplement to their formulas.
Joints and bone problems
As a dog ages, so do their bones and joints. Hip dysplasia is a common problem with senior huskies that can cause terrible pain and difficulty moving. Providing your dog with proper nutrition throughout its life is one of the best methods to mediate and prevent it.
Other Issues
Help your husky maintain their proper weight throughout their life and make sure they have the nutrients and food necessary to prevent bone issues. Should they occur, however, you’ll notice your dog won’t be as energetic as they usually are, and the quality of their sleek skin or shiny coat may diminish.
Digestive problems are also common in huskies that have food allergies or are aging. Keep an eye on the state of your dog’s health and note any changes that happen suddenly. It’s best to seek out a veterinarian for solutions and treatment.
FAQs
How much do you feed a Husky puppy?
Your Husky puppy needs time to wean from its mother’s milk. You shouldn’t rush the process, as puppies are still developing and require the nutrients provided by their mother. Once they’re about four weeks old, start introducing regular puppy food in small amounts to get them used to it.
Mix their regular food with water to soften it. Puppies’ teeth, though sharp, aren’t adequate to deal with regular food in its hardened form. After a week, start reducing the amount of water and continue until you’re serving them regular kibble.
You should feed them a half a cup of the food-water mixture three times a day. Only leave the food out for twenty minutes. Husky puppies don’t need as much protein as most dogs, so overfeeding them can be harmful.
How much do you feed an adult Husky dog?
Adult Huskies have developed a metabolism that makes the most out of a little. You should be careful about overfeeding them, though most of the time, they’ll stop eating once they’ve had their fill.
Most dog food packaging features guidelines on how much to feed your dog based on weight. Ask your vet as not all dog breeds have the same nutritional requirements. A sufficient general guideline for Huskies is a cup of food twice per day, in the morning and evening.
When should Huskies switch from puppy food to dog food?
Always consult your veterinarian about the proper time to switch from puppy formula to adult dog food. You can start shifting over to adult food between eighteen and twenty-four months old.
You’ll probably have more success if you try to switch them gradually. Give a mixture of adult and puppy food for a while. Then, decrease the amount of puppy food over time until you’re only feeding them the adult food.
