Top 10 Best Dog Food for Huskies: Fueling Strength and Vitality

Huskies. These athletic, hard working dogs are one of the most active dog breeds and were first bred by the Chukchi people of the Siberian Arctic. Medium-sized, active, and tenacious, these companions fit in well with the Chukchi’s nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

Siberian Huskies lived with these Eastern Siberian people for around 4,000 years before arriving in North America around the turn of the last century.

Initially dubbed “Siberian Rats” by Americans accustomed to the heavier, longer-legged Malamutes, these Siberian dogs quickly earned a reputation for athleticism, endurance, and strength.

In 1910, a team of Siberian Huskies won the 408-mile All Alaska Sweepstakes race. And in 1925, a diphtheria outbreak gripped the town of Nome, Alaska. A relay of these pups was tasked with the urgent job of returning a life-saving anti-diphtheria serum from 600 miles away.

The perilous and heroic run through frigid temperatures, buffeting winds, and blowing snow earned these dogs and their mushers a respected place in history. In 1930, this dog breed was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The Siberian Husky’s heritage is obvious in the modern dog. Their desire to live within a pack hierarchy, tolerance of cold, willingness to work, spirited personality, and physical strength are ice-clear reflections of their tough Arctic roots.

Their breeding is also evident in their dietary needs and attitude towards food.

In this article, we’ll take a look at what makes the Siberian Husky different from other dogs in terms of health concerns, natural eating habits, and the types of diets that satisfy these needs.

Taking all of these needs into consideration, here are our top picks for the best dog food for Huskies.

Best Dog Food for Huskies

 

1. Nom Nom Pet Food Delivery

First 5 ingredients (Turkey Fare): Turkey, Brown Rice, Carrots, Spinach, Eggs

 If you want to feed your dog a raw dog food diet but don’t want the inconvenience that goes along with it, you can outsource that responsibility to a dog food brand like Nom Nom. It produces excellent gently cooked meals that present much the same nutritional benefits as raw but without the risk of contamination.

Whole veggies and fruits help with antioxidants and vitamins to promote bone health, coat health, and proper brain function.

You can design your dog’s meal plan directly on the website, and the meals are delivered to you to be frozen or refrigerated until you need them. The meals come pre-portioned so that there’s no more guesswork about how much dog food your pup should at eat every mealtime. 

The brand teams up with canine nutritionists to help create the most fulfilling and nutritious dog food diet for your pet. You have meals delivered, making everything simple, and you can fill out a questionnaire so that the company can create a custom diet with just the right amount of calories and nutrients your dog needs.

The company makes use only natural ingredients, which are gently cooked individually then mixed in small batches. Since the recipes are customized to each particular pup, all formulas Nom Nom Fresh makes are ideal for all life stages, from Husky puppies to adult Huskies. 

2. Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Formula

First 5 Ingredients: Lamb, Lamb Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Egg Product, Lentils

Taste of the Wild has produced a high-quality dog food formula that we are not sure can be beaten at this price point. Using lamb & lamb meal as its two animal protein sources, this dry dog food takes its inspiration from the ancestral diet of prehistoric canines.

It contains 25% protein and 15% fat. These numbers are brilliant and far above average. A high amount of protein and fat will do wonders for supporting the growth and maintenance of your dog's muscles and bones. High-fat content is also necessary for your dog to maintain a healthy immune system.

It is worth pointing out, however, that some of the protein in this dry dog food formula is vegetable-based, with pea protein and potato protein featuring on the ingredients list.

Vegetable proteins are harder for your dog's stomach to break down, but it shouldn't be too much of a concern if your dog does not have any digestive problems.

Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain formula is made with choice natural ingredients and is grain-free. It also does not contain any wheat, corn, or artificial flavors and colors.

Lastly, species-specific K9 Strain Proprietary Probiotics, along with prebiotics and antioxidants have been included for overall pet nutrition, digestive health, and strong immune system.

3. Iams ProActive Health Adult MiniChunks

First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Ground Whole Grain Corn, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Chicken By-Product Meal, Dried Plain Beet Pulp

This Iams ProActive Health Adult Chunks is formulated for small breed adult dogs, and it is designed to help your little pooch build strong, firm muscles with quality protein from chicken and egg ingredients.

This dry dog food formula offers balanced omega fatty acid content for healthy skin and coat as well as 7 essential nutrients for heart health and general wellness. Plus, it is formulated with l-carnitine to help your dog burn fat and maintain a healthy body weight.

As promised, the first ingredient in this recipe is fresh and real chicken. It’s a premium kind of protein that helps build strong muscles. And a blend of wholesome fibers and probiotics in the mix support a healthy digestive and immune system in your dogs. 

4. Ziwi Peak Venison Air-Dried Dog Food

First 5 Ingredients: Venison – Meat (Includes Up to 3% Finely Ground Bone), Venison – Liver, Lung, Tripe, Heart and Kidney, New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussel, Lecithin, Chicory Inulin

This unconventional air-dried food is like jerky for dogs and contains 96% meat, organs, and finely ground bone.

As you’ve guessed, that remaining 4% doesn’t leave much room for low-value fillers. This is one of the most nutritionally-dense foods that Husky owners can give for their active pups. 

Ziwi Peak food delivers the nutritional strength of raw food and the convenience of dry kibble. The twin-stage drying process the brand uses naturally preserves the dog food while retaining most of the nutrients. Because of the process, the food contains more moisture than your average kibble and will not need to be rehydrated.

The food contains plenty of naturally-derived nutrients, but it also has added minerals (Iron Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, etc.) and vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, folic, and more).

This high-quality dog food is simply made with two meat or seafood ingredients: venison and green-lipped mussel. In addition to skipping common problem meats, this recipe omits other common offenders like dairy, corn, soy, and wheat.

5. Orijen 6 Fish Grain-Free Formula

First 5 Ingredients: Whole Atlantic Mackerel, Whole Atlantic Herring, Whole Atlantic Flounder, Whole Acadian Redfish, Atlantic Monkfish

With its stunning concentration of whole animal ingredients in WholePrey™ ratios, this grain-free dry dog food delivers concentrated nutrition in the form your Siberian Husky was made to consume. Protein-rich fish makes up 85% of the food.

Two-thirds of the meat in this dry dog food is either fresh or raw, and the remaining third of that meat is dehydrated at around 194°F.

This low-heat processing locks in the nutritional value of the food, in part making it possible for this dog food recipe to include only minimal vitamin and mineral supplementation.

 The carefully chosen fish proteins combined with the sunflower oil and fish oil (herring oil) deliver plenty of healthy fats and omega fatty acids to sustain your dog’s healthy skin and coat. 

The rest of the recipe includes nourishing fruits, vegetables, and botanicals chosen for their nutritional value. It contains natural marine-sourced EPA and DHA to support a healthy skin and coat as well as critical eye health. 

This nutritionally-dense dry dog food is made without any fillers, byproducts, or artificial ingredients and all of its ingredients were sustainably farmed or fished in the United States. 

6. Primal Chicken Formula Nuggets Freeze-Dried Dog Food

First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Necks, Chicken Gizzards, Organic Kale, Organic Carrots

If you’re interested in an adult food not violated by high-heat processing, but don’t want to deal with the hassle of preparing raw food, this dry dog food in the form of nuggets offers a more convenient solution. 

The dog food features a freeze-dried mixture of raw and real chicken muscle meat, bones, and organs blended with other ingredients chosen for their nutritional value. The chicken used here is antibiotic-, hormone-, and steroid-free. 

The grain-free recipe has optimum levels of amino acids, essential fatty acids, and omega fatty acids from the combination of premium animal protein and healthy fats (fish oil).

Organic produce delivers naturally-derived nutrients, while a vitamin e supplement is added to support your dog’s immune function and his body’s ability to form red blood cells.

 

7. Orijen Puppy Formula Review

First 5 Ingredients: Fresh chicken meat, fresh turkey meat, fresh whole eggs, fresh whole herring, fresh chicken liver

Orijen puppy food is a great choice for your Siberian Husky because it delivers pure, unadulterated animal protein. Nourishing protein makes up an impressive 38% of the food, with just 17% carbohydrates.

Since it’s meant to be a biologically-appropriate diet, two-thirds of the meat in this product is fresh or raw. The remaining ⅓ of the meat has been air-dried at about 194 degrees Fahrenheit. This low-temperature processing locks in the nutritional value of the meat.

What’s more, all of the meat ingredients are offered in WholePrey™ ratios, meaning that your pet gets the same ratios of meat, cartilage, and organs that they might find in the wild. This also means that Husky puppies get that wag-worthy flavor they love.

Because the minimally-processed meat is so nutrient-rich, this complete and balanced food doesn’t need a lot of added vitamins and minerals.

Zinc is the only supplement used in Orijen puppy food. All the other nutrients are naturally-derived, including the omega fatty acids that are responsible for keeping your pet looking and feeling good.

8. Instinct Raw Boost Large Breed Puppy Recipe

First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas, Chickpeas

This nutritionally-dense dog food is designed to support puppyhood growth. It is a solid source of animal protein with chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal leading the ingredient list, plus appetizing morsels of freeze-dried raw and cage-free chicken.

Aside from the chicken and turkey meal ingredients, the dog food also contains menhaden fish meal, lamb meal, and freeze-dried chicken organs to give it an extra boost of natural flavor. 

These nutritionally-packed nuggets offer a hassle-free way to offer Husky puppies the flavor and nourishment of raw food—plus they add variety to your Siberian Husky’s diet.

The dog food recipe incorporates DHA from chicken eggs—this fatty acid helps to support healthy brain and eye development, setting the stage for a healthy adult Siberian Husky. It has salmon oil and chicken fat too to provide your Husky puppy with plenty of omegas 

This food is made without grains or corn, soy, or wheat. It’s free of byproducts and fillers, as well as any artificial colors and preservatives. Instead, it contains probiotics, antioxidants, calcium, phosphorus, and natural DHA.

9. Orijen Senior Grain-Free Dog Food

First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Deboned Turkey, Yellowtail Flounder, Whole Eggs, Whole Atlantic Mackerel

By using fresh freeze-dried or dehydrated muscle meat, cartilage, bones, and organs, Orijen senior food offers hearty nutrition in its most biologically available form for your Siberian Husky.

This food features an impressive 85% animal content and the remaining 15% of this food is comprised of nutritious, low-glycemic fruits and vegetables, each one chosen for its nutritional value.

To suit senior dogs, this protein-packed food keeps the calorie count low. This recipe is free of anything artificial and doesn’t contain by-products, fillers, or grains.

10. Instinct Raw Boost Senior Recipe with Chicken

First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Chickpeas, Peas, Tapioca, Chicken

This food has all of the fundamental characteristics of a good food for senior dogs. It contains glucosamine and chondroitin to keep the joints in good condition, along with minimal carbohydrate content to keep weight under control.

This food gets a boost from morsels of raw and fresh chicken, delivering nutritious enzymes that would have been stripped away during high-heat processing. Salmon meal and freeze-dried chicken liver and heart provide additional boosts of proteins, amino acids, and all other nutrients your pup needs to get healthy once again.

The recipe also scores points with several other senior dog-focused additions. The inclusion of natural DHA from chicken eggs helps to support continued brain and eye health, while added L-carnitine helps to burn fat, keeping your Siberian Husky trim and healthy.

What makes a great food for Siberian Huskies?

Huskies are considered medium-sized dogs, putting them in the same size category as Australian Shepherds, Boxers, Vizslas, and other  dog breeds that are mid-sized. They reach 20-23” at the shoulder and weigh between 35-60 lbs as adults.

During a long trip across the Siberian Arctic, these dogs might not be able to eat two hearty meals per day, but they still had to perform at their peak. They were bred for endurance and the ability to thrive when food wasn’t always readily available.

For your Siberian Husky’s ancestors, a typical day might involve hours of vigorous work followed by a small portion of high-protein, high-fat, calorie-dense meat.

Dog food for Huskies should  amount to about 1,000 calories per day for less active or senior dogs, while highly active Huskies should consume 1,800 calories of food daily. This typically equates to 1.5 – 2 cups of a high-quality, nutritionally dense kibble.

Dog food for Huskies shouldn’t contain a lot of carbohydrates. Your dog doesn’t need much of this. Look for foods with minimal plant content and a healthy concentration of fresh, wholesome named meat ingredients; avoid byproducts.

Popular dog foods are one thing, but it’s always the stuff that’s in the label that matters. 

Part of being bred to consume only small portions of nutritionally dense food is that unlike most dogs, who will eagerly gobble up almost anything that’s set before them, your Siberian Husky might skip meals or grow finicky about their food. They tend to eat more after exercise and not eat much on inactive days.

Like humans, many Siberians appreciate dietary variety. Diving into an identical kibble bowl day after day can get old. These dogs like to mix it up with new flavors and textures.

What are the unique health concerns of a Husky?

Choosing the best dog foods for this breed requires an understanding of the health issues they face. The best food addresses these common concerns, keeping your dog healthy.

Eye Problems

Siberian Huskies have a tendency to develop eye problems. These problems include:

Cataracts – any opacity of the eye lens. Cataracts are painless, but can lead to loss of vision. This condition can occur for a number of reasons and is associated with the late stages of PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy).

Most cataracts in dogs are inherited and can occur at any age. In Siberian Huskies, they typically occur in the back of the lens. Antioxidant supplementation can help to manage this condition. According to a 1999 study of 1,345 Siberian Huskies, 8% of the examined dogs had inheritable cataracts.

Corneal Dystrophy – this inherited condition affects the cornea and causes clouding of the eyes. In later stages, it can manifest as crystals or gray-brown deposits deeper in the cornea.

While most dogs can still see fairly well in spite of the disorder, some suffer from severe vision loss. In the above-mentioned study, 4% of the Siberian Huskies had corneal dystrophy.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy – a condition most often found in male Siberian Huskies. PRA causes the rod photoreceptors to die, leading to night blindness. Without specific daily antioxidant supplementation, the condition can lead to total blindness within one year of diagnosis.

While the disease has no cure, daily antioxidant supplementation can help to slow its progress, allowing affected dogs to keep their vision for years.

Glaucoma – this disorder involves cell-produced fluid in the eye not draining properly. This fluid normally moves into the bloodstream, but in dogs with glaucoma, it builds up in the eye.

This condition is painful and can lead to blindness. Fortunately, this condition is less common among Siberian Huskies than the other three mentioned above.

What type of diet can help keep Siberian Huskies’ eyes healthy?

Since these conditions tend to be hereditary, having a conversation with your breeder will help to ensure that your Siberian Husky won’t develop these eye problems later in life. Choose a reputable breeder with a history of producing dogs with healthy eyes.

That said, you can’t always prevent these conditions through good breeding, and diet can help to encourage ocular health. A diet rich in nutritious vitamins like A, C, and E can help to encourage continued eye health, as does the inclusion of Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA.

 

Zinc Responsive Dermatosis

Zinc responsive dermatosis affects dogs in three forms. Type one is most common among Siberian Huskies and Malamutes.

This skin condition involves poor intestinal absorption of dietary zinc. Despite getting enough zinc through their diet, afflicted dogs show symptoms of zinc deficiency, including crusted, scaly skin lesions and a dull, dry coat.

What type of diet can help prevent zinc responsive dermatosis in Siberian Huskies?

While this is a hereditary condition, it can be exacerbated or caused by too much or too little zinc in the diet during growth. It’s important to always feed a balanced diet without excess supplementation.

Another important thing to look at is making sure that your dog isn’t consuming any supplements that could interfere with zinc absorption. If your Siberian Husky has been diagnosed with the condition, a high-zinc diet or zinc supplements can help.

Plant-based antioxidants and calcium bind to zinc and can keep it from being properly absorbed by your dog’s body, so it’s a good idea to choose supplements carefully and avoid excess plant content in your dog’s food.

Lactose Intolerance

Siberian Huskies are typically lactose intolerant. Whether choosing a commercial dog food or preparing a homemade diet for your dog, it’s important to avoid foods that are high in lactose, like milk, ice cream, and some cheeses.

Here’s a chart showing the lactose content of common dairy products.

Last Words

Finding the best dog food for Huskies (or even for their Miniature counterpart) is a crucial step in ensuring the health, happiness, and vitality of these remarkable and resilient canine companions. Huskies have specific dietary needs that should be met to maintain their unique energy levels and coat quality. By prioritizing high-quality protein sources, healthy fats, and essential nutrients, you can help your Husky thrive.

Always consult with your veterinarian to tailor their diet to their individual requirements and keep an eye on their overall health. With the right choice of dog food, you can embark on a rewarding journey of companionship with your Husky, knowing that you're providing them with the nourishment they deserve.