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Huskies are a sight to behold with their thick coats, fluffy tails, and beautiful coloration. These dogs are incredibly friendly, but they do have high exercise requirements that make them a challenge for inexperienced pet parents. A healthy diet is a critical part of raising a well-adjusted high-energy pup.
Though dogs of all sizes have remarkably similar nutritional needs, it can still be helpful to consider breed, especially where health and disposition tendencies make some foods a better fit than others.
For example, Huskies are famously prone to hip and joint issues, so choosing formulas that incorporate glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate can offer helpful mobility support.
You’ll also want to give some thought to kibble size. Though some Huskies grow up to 60 pounds, many don’t exceed 50 pounds, which is generally the point at which a dog is considered a large breed. You might not need a large-breed formula, but you’ll still want to choose a food with larger pieces to avoid speed-eating and bloat.
To help with your choice, we’ve rounded up nine of our favorite formulas for Huskies and converted their nutrient profiles to a dry-matter basis for easy comparison. As always, it’s best to talk with your vet before switching your pup’s food to ensure they’re getting the right nutrition for their specific needs.
Best for Puppies: Nutro Natural Choice Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food
There are two categories of dog food: food designed for the growth stage (puppies) and food designed for maintenance (adults). The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) stipulates that puppy food should have a minimum of 22% protein and 8% fat on a dry-matter basis. This puppy blend comfortably exceeds these requirements with 28% protein and 18% fat, which is helpful for fast-growing Huskies.
The main ingredient in this formula is chicken, along with healthy carbohydrates like whole-grain barley, brown rice, and rice bran.
Omega-3 fatty acids provide DHA to help support your puppy’s eye and brain development, and natural fibers are included to aid digestion and overall gut health. Its calcium count is safely below the AAFCO puppy maximum of 1.5% (while calcium is important for bone growth, too much can lead to health issues) to appropriately pace your puppy’s growth.
Nutritional Content:
- 386 kcal/cup
- Protein: 31%
- Fat: 18%
- Fiber: 3.3%
- Calcium: 1.3%
- Moisture: 10%
Best for Adult Huskies: Purina Pro Plan Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula
Due to their muscular builds and active lifestyles, many adult Huskies can benefit from a higher-protein kibble blend, like this shredded chicken and rice formula that contains upwards of 29% protein. Chicken is the first ingredient, along with carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and live probiotics. A lot of Huskies are prone to digestive issues and sensitive stomachs, so using food with probiotics is helpful in maintaining a healthy microbiome.
This recipe mixes hard kibble with softer shredded pieces, both sized appropriately to help prevent bloat. This formula also includes vitamin A and omega-6 fatty acids, supporting Husky’s skin and thick double coat.
Nutritional Content:
- 387 kcal/cup
- Protein: 29.5%
- Fat: 18%
- Crude Fiber: 3.4%
- Moisture: 12%
Best for Senior Huskies: Wellness Complete Health Senior Dry Dog Food
While the AAFCO does not have a senior dog food category, senior recipes can support your dog as they age and provide additional nutrients for certain health conditions. This recipe is designed to deliver complete nutrition to your senior Husky in support of three key aspects of health and wellness: digestive health, skin and coat health, and hip and joint health. It includes ingredients such as flaxseed, glucosamine, chondroitin, and whole grains for healthy fiber.
Deboned chicken is the main ingredient, followed by antioxidants like spinach and blueberries to aid overall immune health. Taurine helps support your senior dog’s vision and heart.
Nutritional Content:
- 416 kcal/cup
- Protein: 24%
- Fat: 11%
- Crude Fiber: 4.7%
- Moisture: 10%
Best Canned: Nature’s Logic Lamb Feast All Life Stages Canned Food
Huskies are famous picky eaters. One trick that helps is topping dry kibble with canned food to make it more enticing. Nature’s Logic all-stage canned dog food features fresh lamb as the primary ingredient and utilizes dried fruits and vegetables for key nutrients.
This grain-free and gluten-free formula is low in carbohydrates and fortified with natural eggshell calcium and animal plasma. If lamb isn’t your pup’s favorite, several other flavors are available: Beef, Chicken, Pork, Duck & Salmon, and Sardine.
Note that this wet mix has an especially high fat content—something that’s helpful in tempting a picky eater but may not a good option for a full diet, especially for dogs who need to watch their fat intake. It’s a good idea to check in with your vet before making this your Husky’s main source of nutrients.
Nutritional Content:
- 556 kcal/can
- Protein: 35.7%
- Fat: 35.7%
- Fiber: 10.7%
- Moisture: 72%
Best for Skin and Coat Health: Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe
This limited-ingredient Salmon and Brown Rice recipe is an excellent option if your Husky needs extra skin and coat support for its thick double coat. It’s made with omega-rich fish protein, salmon being the first ingredient, and canola oil. Salmon also provides muscle-supporting amino acids.
Brown rice offers natural fiber to promote healthy digestion, and taurine is included for heart health. This limited-ingredient blend is also a nice option for dogs with food allergies or sensitive stomachs.
Nutritional Content:
- 340 kcal/cup
- Protein: 26.7%
- Fat: 13.3%
- Fiber: 5%
- Moisture: 10%
Best for Digestion/Sensitive Stomachs: The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Chicken & Oat Clusters
If your dog suffers from a sensitive stomach or digestion issues, this whole grain, minimally processed recipe fortified with natural probiotics may be a good fit. The formula includes 27% protein and contains a blend of chicken muscle meat, chicken liver, and eggs. Along with probiotics, oats, pumpkin, and apples provide additional healthy digestion support.
Highly digestible ingredients, like whole-grain oats and barley, provide energy and additional nutrients, like fiber. This recipe also includes a mix of healthy fats, including flaxseed, coconut oil, chia seeds, and salmon oil, which support your dog’s skin and coat health.
Nutritional Content:
- 428 kcal/cup
- Protein: 27%
- Fat: 16.4%
- Crude Fiber: 5.7%
- Moisture: 12%
Best for Active Huskies: Purina Pro Plan Active All Life Stages 27/17 Chicken & Rice Formula
Highly active or working Huskies benefit from dog foods with higher protein and fat levels to support their energy requirements. This high-protein Chicken & Rice Formula is formulated specifically for active or working dogs and includes 30% protein and 19% fat. It uses chicken as the first ingredient and a mix of amino acids, glucosamine, and omega fatty acids for muscle, joint, and mobility health.
Added omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin A help nourish your dog’s coat and skin, and live probiotics promote healthy digestion. This food is appropriate for puppies, adults, seniors, and lactating and pregnant female dogs.
Nutritional Content:
- 475 kcal/cup
- Protein: 30.7%
- Fat: 19.3%
- Fiber: 3.4%
- Moisture: 12%
- Glucosamine: 400 mg/kg min
Best Grain-Free: Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Smoke-Flavored Salmon Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Sometimes, dogs need to go on a grain-free diet for specific health needs, whether due to an allergy or a vet’s recommendation. This blend uses salmon as the first ingredient, providing 28% protein per serving and omega fatty acids for skin and coat health. Dried chicory root provides a natural source of prebiotic fiber to support a healthy gut, along with Taste of the Wild’s K9 Strain probiotics.
Along with protein, this formula includes fruits, vegetables, and legumes which provide energy and antioxidants, including sweet potatoes, lentils, and blueberries. This is an all-stages, all-breed mix that is also free from chicken and eggs.
Nutritional Content:
- 408 kcal/cup
- Protein: 28%
- Fat: 16.7%
- Crude Fiber: 4.4%
- Moisture: 10%
Best Raw: Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties
While more research is needed, some studies show that raw food may retain more nutrients than extruded food like kibble and may also be easier for some dogs to digest. These freeze-fried raw patties are packed with protein, providing 46% per serving from a mix of single-source animal protein, including beef, beef liver, beef kidney, beef heart, beef tripe, and beef bone. It also uses a blend of certified organic fruits and vegetables, including beets, carrots, squash, and blueberries.
These patties are made in the USA and can be served as is or rehydrated with water. If beef isn’t your dog’s favorite, other varieties include Chewy’s Chicken, Duck Duck Goose, Surf ‘n Turf, and Tantalizing Turkey.
Nutritional Content:
- 56 kcal/patty
- Protein: 46%
- Fat: 37%
- Crude Fiber: 5.3%
- Moisture: 5%
- Microorganisms: 50,000,000 CFU/min
How We Chose
The products featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.
