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Can there be a better-known dog than a Siberian husky? Huskies are often the dog of winter; not only because they originated in the cold, arctic lands of Siberia, but they are also famous for being part of sled-driving Iditarod race teams. Huskies are the mushers of the dog world; the face-paced runners who are tough to keep up with unless you’re a runner yourself.
Distinguished And Beautiful
Huskies are also known for their distinct and beautiful colorings. Huskies only come in 6 standard colors including white and varying combinations with white, such as red, black, gray, sable, and agouti. Though there are similarly colored breeds, such as the Alaskan malamute and the Samoyed, Siberian Huskies are fairly easy to distinguish and this is one reason why they are so popular.
If Your Husky Is Full, He Will Not Eat
If you have ever known a husky, then you know that they are strong and energetic dogs. They were bred to be working dogs and the breeding continues in their very nature today. Huskies weight in between 35 and 60 pounds, depending on gender. And though this makes them a medium-sized dog, they tend to eat less than other breeds of their same size.
Due to their metabolism, the husky can get by for longer periods with less food as they were bred to be efficient in this manner.
Traveling and working for long periods before mealtime was essential to get tasks and travel accomplished. Some huskies will skip a meal on occasion, but this is not a cause of concern as they will eat when they get hungry.
If Your Husky Is Active, She Will Eat More
Huskies are athletic and active and the average 50 pound dog will need about 1350 calories each day to function well. Since huskies are known to skip meals or eat less on occasion, you might want to consider a calorie-dense food that will pack a lot of energy into a small amount. Huskies are not known to be grazers, so leaving food out for long periods is not encouraged. Plus, if your husky is not very active and has a tendency to overeat, you’ll need to watch her weight. An overweight husky has a shorter lifespan than one who is in a healthy weight range and there are other health concerns that can come with being overweight, such as joint pain and arthritis.
Your Stubborn Husky Might Get Bored
Huskies are picky eaters. They are stubborn in nature, and this carries over into everything from activity to food. The smallest thing can put a husky off from a certain food, ensuring that he’ll never eat it again. Huskies can get bored with the texture or size of the kibble and even leaving it out too long can make him turn up his nose at the meal. There are many different food varieties out there, so if your husky decides that chicken is no longer palatable, try duck. Duck compares favorably with chicken and other poultry meats in terms of protein and is very high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. A good choice for a wellness dog food with duck would be Blue Buffalo Wilderness Duck Recipe. Or, if beef becomes a problem, try venison or lamb. Lamb is a great ingredient in a wellness dog food as it is about 60% protein and a very good source of Vitamin A, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B12, Iron, Zinc, Copper and Selenium. A good choice would be Canidae Lamb Meal & Rice.
The Importance Of High Quality Protein And Fat
Protein and fat are the two most important ingredients in your husky’s diet, so look for food brands that have high quality forms of these ingredients. One low-quality form of protein is soy protein concentrate. This isn’t a “bad” ingredient but it’s not something you really want to see in dog food. It’s a plant protein so it’s not as easily digested and absorbed by dogs as meat protein. A low-quality form of fat would be animal fat preserved with BHA. This is troublesome in two ways. Animal fat is an unidentified fat source. The fat could be from any kind of animal, including road kill. And it is preserved with an artificial preservative that has been linked to cancer and seizures. Named fats, such as chicken fat, for example, preserved with natural preservatives like vitamin E, are better for your husky.
Taste of The Wild Pacific Stream Dog Food is one example of a wellness dog food with high-quality ingredients that would be good for your husky as it includes plenty of good fats from salmon and canola oils, and protein from salmon, smoked salmon, and salmon and fish meals.
Try A Dog Food That Includes Good Grains And No Dairy
The Siberian husky is not prone to grain allergies, so feeding him a wellness dog food that contains high-quality grains such as rice, oats, or barley should not be a problem. Avoiding filler-grains such as wheat and corn are a good idea to keep your husky healthy. Siberian huskies are known to be lactose-intolerant, so avoid foods that add cheese or dairy as an ingredient and do not indulge your pup in any of these treats at home. Some huskies have a difficult time absorbing zinc, so they will start to show signs of deficiency, even if the food that they’re eating has the right amount. If her diet is high in plant material, try adding a zinc supplement or switch to a brand that is higher in meat-based protein and has less plant material. Orijen Adult Dog food has 90% meat ingredients, includes 20% fruits and vegetables, and is entirely grain-free.
All dogs are amazing, but to know a Siberian husky is to love one. Feed him well and love him enough to adapt to his ever-changing needs and you’ll have a loyal and loving friend for life.
