How to choose the best dog food for Huskies

Recently welcomed a Husky into your life? While you’re probably adjusting to their high energy, impressive fluff and majestic strut, you’ll also want to consider finding the best Husky dog food for your pup specifically. Like you’d expect, their nutritional needs are pretty similar to those of their ancient ancestors who were bred to sprint across ice deserts and hunt for their own food (awoooo!), but there are a few factors to consider about your pup’s modern lifestyle when it comes to their diet. So to find out what you need to know before choosing the best dog food for the Huskies in your life, take a look below and explore a few of our suggestions.

How to pick the best dog food for a Husky

If you’ve only recently become a pet parent, picking the best dog food for Huskies can be a bit of a minefield, but there are a few basic principles you can follow. For starters, check the Husky food’s nutritional adequacy statement which will be on the packaging (we’ll explore a few aspects of this below, but if you’d like more info, read more from the AAFCO - Association of American Feed Control Officials), the ingredient list, and that it’s specifically formulated for your pup’s age. We’ll get into a few of these tips and more below, so without any further ado, here are a few things to keep in mind when picking the best dog food for your Husky.

• Is it complete or balanced? If the Husky dog food you’ve picked says it’s ‘complete’, that means it contains all the nutrients your pup needs, whereas if it’s described as ‘balanced’, you can rest assured that not only does it contain all the nutrients it should, but they’re also in the right ratios. So, ‘balanced’ is going to be your best bet, but don’t immediately write off dog food that’s described as ‘complete’ - it’s always worth a little further research.
• Correct life stage. Depending on your dog’s age, the Husky dog food you choose will differ. The life stages defined by the AAFCO are gestation/lactation, growth, maintenance, and all life stages. Why does it matter that you’re choosing food that’s aimed at dogs of your own pup’s age? Well the ratios of each key nutrient group they need differ throughout their lives, so it’s important to feed your pup grub that’s not only tasty, but right for their stage of development too.
• Check the nutritional adequacy statement. This can be found on the label or packaging of your dog’s food - it should state that it meets the AAFCO’s nutritional levels for your dog (or cat, just FYI!) and the life stage that the food is formulated for.
• Raw, dry, canned or packaged? This is really down to your (and your Husky’s!) personal preferences. Raw dog food has become increasingly popular in recent years, but it’s worth treading with caution and getting advice from your vet before going ahead. Why? Well it’s much harder to make sure your pooch is getting the right nutritional balance for their age with raw food, whereas pre-packaged has been formulated specifically. 
• Animal protein. You might know that unlike cats, dogs aren’t obligate carnivores, but even so, most of their diet should be made up of animal protein. So, when you’re choosing the best dog food for your Huskies, make sure it’s got at least two sources of animal protein within the first three ingredients - this means the food is predominantly meat.
• Fat content. This includes ingredients such as chicken fat and fish oils - just be sure to keep this moderate and if you’re unsure, make sure the food claims to meet the AAFCO’s nutritional recommendations for your pup’s age.
• Limited carbohydrate. The dog food you choose for your Husky shouldn’t be packed with carbohydrates - while dogs can digest it, their food should be made up of animal protein for the most part.
• Artificial ingredients. In the same way that artificial ingredients aren’t great for us humans, we should be avoiding them when choosing food for our pups, too. Look out for colorings, preservatives and any other additives before picking your pup’s grub.

Breed-specific things to consider for choosing the best dog food for Huskies

While the AAFCO’s requirements can be followed for a healthy pup of any breed, there are a few things to consider when it comes to choosing the best Husky dog food specifically. The first is that Huskies are somewhat likely to develop hypothyroidism, which is a condition where the thyroid gland doesn’t produce as much of the thyroid hormone that it should. 

Why is this a problem, and how is it relevant for choosing Husky dog food? Well the thyroid hormone is associated with your pup’s metabolism, regulating it to stabilize their weight. Unfortunately, that means pups with hypothyroidism are sometimes more likely to become overweight than pups without it, and therefore choosing the best dog food for Huskies with the condition is even more important (ask your vet for guidance on this and consult them before changing your pup’s diet). 

Another point to consider when choosing the best dog food for a Siberian Husky is their activity levels. As you’ll know, the ancestors of the Huskies we know and love today were talented sledding dogs with impressive physical agility. If this is something you’re leaning into (i.e. giving your pup hours of exercise and training), be sure to monitor their weight and increase calories if they seem to be losing any. And anyhow, any unexpected weight loss or gain should always be met with a visit to the vet.

Best dog food for Huskies with sensitive stomachs and skin

• Purina Pro Plan oatmeal and lamb sensitive formula. This dry dog food from Purina is packed with protein and made with oatmeal, which is easily digestible and easy on your pup’s digestive system. Rest assured it’s made without corn, wheat, soy or poultry by-product meal, so it’s unlikely to cause your pooch any unnecessary irritation. It’s also fortified with extra probiotics that help promote a healthy gut and immune system.
• Purina Pro Plan salmon and rice for puppies. If you’re on the hunt for the best dog food for a Husky puppy with a sensitive stomach (or skin), you could give this dry food from Purina a go. Packed with protein as well as omega-6 fatty acids from the salmon and sunflower oil, your pup should be able to develop healthy skin and a full, fluffy coat without any stomach upsets or skin irritations.

Best dog food for Husky puppies

• Orijen grain-free puppy food. This puppy food from Orijen is packed with protein-rich ingredients that’ll suit your Husky puppy’s development. Find chicken, turkey and turkey giblets in the first three ingredients (and even more protein sources in those following), making it one of the best dry dog food for Huskies on the protein front, at least.
• Blue Buffalo Nature's Evolutionary Diet Wilderness chicken puppy dry dog food. If you think your pup will be into dry food over the sloppier textures of canned, you might want to consider this food from Blue Buffalo - the first three ingredients are deboned chicken, chicken meal and dried chicken, so you can rest assured knowing it’s jam-packed with amino acids for your growing pooch.
• Orijen Amazing Grains dry puppy food. If you liked the look of the Orijen wet food yet your pup prefers dry, check out this version. Packed with protein (which is what your now tiny pup needs to build that all-important muscle mass) and fish oils (i.e. healthy fats that promote joint health), it’s designed to give your pup the best start in life possible.

Best dog food for Huskies in their senior years

• CANIDAE grain-free dry dog food. This has to be one of the best dog foods for Huskies on the market - made with just nine ingredients (and the top three being animal protein, naturally), you can rest assured your senior pooch will be getting all the nutrients they need for healthy golden years. Made with chicken, sweet potato and garbanzo beans, this mix is made without corn or wheat, so it’s also fab for pups with sensitive stomachs.
• Blue Buffalo homestyle chicken dinner. If your pup has always preferred wet over dry dog food, this chicken-based meal will provide your older amigo with lots of protein and is enhanced with extra vitamins and minerals like glucosamine and chondroitin to pack an extra nutritional punch.

Everything you need to know about Husky puppies

Recently welcomed a Husky puppy into your life? Firstly, congratulations! And secondly, you’ve probably got a whole lot on your mind, alongside finding the best dog food for your Husky. To get clued-up on your favorite breed, make sure you’re sitting comfortably and explore our guide to Husky puppies.