Do Huskies need grain free food? Husky owners are usually not sure whether or not to feed their huskies with grains because fear that their dogs may develop allergies from eating grains. In some cases, dogs with sensitive stomachs may even suffer stomach upset.

The truth is that grains are very nutritious for dogs. Some grains contain carbs, fats, and antioxidants which are very healthy for your dog. These nutrients healthily promote your husky’s skin, coat, boost their immune, and more.

Do Huskies need grain free food?

A lot of dog owners fear that grains will cause allergies in their dogs. That is a myth. Unless your dog is sensitive to allergies or has a sensitive stomach, grains are not bad for your husky, but it is not compulsory to feed your husky grains.

The truth is that food allergy is low in dogs and cats, and the ingredients that cause it is not grains. Grains are nutritious and safe to feed your husky. In fact, the chances of your dog suffering a grain allergy are less than 1%, the rest 99% are the chances that your dog will not suffer an allergy to grains.

As a dog owner, feeding your dog grainy food is a thing of choice. You may or may decide to not feed your dog grainy foods depending on the level of your dog’s sensitivity to grains. But generally, grains are healthy and safe for most dogs.

Some common grains in your dog’s food ingredients may include

• Oats
• Corn
• Barley
• Rice
• Wheat
• Rye
• Sorghum and so on

While you may already be familiar with some of them, others might not be that familiar but are equally nutrient-rich for your husky. For instance, barley is considered very rich in fiber (both soluble and insoluble).

Do not focus so much on grains and forget to feed your dog other essential nutrients such as the ones below.

• Protein – Huskies prefer a diet that contains protein. Meats are a good source of protein for your husky. You can feed them with that. Protein helps dogs repair their tissue, build muscles, and promotes healthy skin and coat. Chicken, turkey, lamb, or ducks are rich sources of protein you can feed your husky. By-products too such as the liver, kidney, and lungs are also good sources of animal protein

• Fats – The energy in fats is so concentrated they’d give dogs more than twice the energy (see Jennifer Coates, DVM—PetMD) they get from protein and carbohydrates. Fats help maintain your dog’s cells, muscles, nerves, and tissues. They also aid the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.

• Fruits and vegetables – Fruits and vegetables contain a good amount of dietary fiber which helps maintain your husky’s gastrointestinal system. Fruits and loaded with vitamins to keep your furry friends fit as a fiddle.

What is the healthiest food for a Husky?

Researching the best dog food to feed your husky can be outrightly tiring and time-consuming. Despite your effort, you may still end up without a satisfying answer.

Generally, it is best to feed your dog commercial dog food and raw food. A mixture of packaged dog food and raw red meat is considered very healthy for your husky. Dogs need foods that are high in protein to keep them in good shape.

Adult huskies can do just fine on any top-rated formulated food. Husky puppies on the other hand could develop a serious hip disease if fed with too much calcium. In addition, senior huskies need more protein and fewer fats. Husky puppies on the other hand need more fats and less protein to ensure they grow healthily. However, you have to watch the amount of calories your puppy dog takes and cut down on it if it’s too much. You’d know that your puppy has too many calories from its look; if it’s looking too plump for its age, then it could be an indication that your dog has excess calories.

Never feed your dog cooked bones. It could injure or even kill your dog. Instead, you can feed your husky dry bones, they are very good for dogs.

What food should huskies avoid?

With the rise in homemade dog foods, there could be the possibility of feeding your dog with toxins without even being aware of it. Some food contains toxins, therefore may be harmful to your husky. As a dog owner, you should pay attention to what your dog consumes. Let’s find out what human foods are not good for your husky.

• Caffeine
• Chocolate
• Grapes and raisins
• Yeast dough
• Avocado
• Alcohol
• Raw fish
• Fruits pits
• Sugar
• Xylitol
• Corn on the cob
• Onion
• Salt

Besides you as a husky owner, another person who knows your dog well is your vet doctor. You can reach out to your vet and ask for advice on what to not your husky. This may only be necessary if you need more information on what nutrients to feed your husky, otherwise, you don’t have to.

Are huskies picky with food?

No, generally, huskies are not picky with food. If you have a husky that is picky, then there might be something responsible for its behavior towards food. This include, health issues, lack of sufficient exercise, overfeeding, boring-looking foods, or husky’s age.

Health issues

Digestive system parasites are common in huskies. Your dog may be suffering from digestive system problems which can result in a low appetite. The only way you can be sure is by visiting your vet. Do not ignore negative feeding behavior in your dog to avoid deteriorating into something more serious. Ensure that your dog eats an equal proportion of foods 2-3 times a day.

Lack of sufficient exercise

When your husky lacks sufficient amount of exercise, it may become less interested in food. This is because your dog has pent-up energy that has not been expended. Exercise improves their bowel movement, and makes them hungry, which in turn increases their appetite.

Overfeeding

When your dog becomes picky with food, chances are your dog is overfed which is not good for its overall health. Avoid overfeeding your dog to prevent arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes.

Boring-looking foods

Most dogs love it when their meal is looking delicious and huskies are not left out. You can spice things up by switching your dog’s food a bit to see if they love it better. For example, you can begin to serve your dog wet foods if it has been on a long dry food diet.

Huskies age

When your senior husky becomes uninterested in food, it may be due to age. As your dog becomes older, their metabolism tends to slow down which causes them to slow down on food. If this is the reason why your dog is picky with food, then you don’t have to worry much since it’s a natural occurrence. You can get your senior husky senior dog foods and hope that it will turn things around a little, otherwise, contact your vet.

Conclusion

By now, you must have been informed that grains are not bad for your husky, but at the same time, they are must-have meals for your dog.

Be attentive to your dog’s reaction to eating grains and adjust accordingly. If your dog develops an allergy or stomach upset, do not hesitate to consult your vet to avoid further health issues.