Eating Habits of Siberian Huskies

Siberian tribes raised Siberian huskies to run sleds for miles, in below-freezing temperatures. The Chukchi tribe in particular would feed the breed the smallest amount of food possible to maintain its strength and agility, while preserving what little food was available in such cold temperatures. Adult huskies are often regarded as fickle eaters, which could be explained by their origins. Proper diet and nutrition is essential to every aspect of a Siberian husky's life as an energetic, overly active dog that loves to run.

  1. Appetite

    • As puppies, huskies often have an incredible appetite. As they grow older, their eating habits typically change, and adults make the most of less food. While huskies generally have excessive appetites as puppies and average appetites as adults, they are unlikely to eat when placed in a stressful situation, or when they're hyped up.

    Diet

    • Feed your huskies top-quality food. Incorporate a mix of 80 percent dry dog food with 20 percent soft dog food. If you're feeding your husky a raw-only diet, stick with fresh meats such as chicken and beef, and implement vegetables such as peas and carrots. When huskies are pups, their eating habits are generally intense and they will consume more food. They should feed on their mother's breast milk for at least 8 weeks before switching to solid food. To provide your husky with the best possible nutrition, consider nutritional supplements such as glucosamine and fish oils.

    Feeding Amount

    • When eating, husky puppies' stomachs will swell up. Once this happens, remove the food. Puppies will overeat, so it is the owner's responsibility to monitor food intake. If your adult husky is eating dry dog food only, it will need approximately 5 cups per day, broken down into no more than three feedings. If your husky receives treats throughout the day, reduce the amount of food it has at meal time. When feeding your husky raw food only, feed 3 to 4 percent of its body weight. Defecation habits and weight should be closely monitored.

    When to Feed

    • Husky puppies younger than 1 1/2 months will need to feed on their mother's breast milk approximately six to seven times each day. The same rule applies if you're bottle-feeding your pup. At 1 month, start puppies on solid food, with water added to avoid choking. At 2 months and older, puppies should be consuming approximately 5 percent of their body weight, twice a day. Needless to say, pregnant huskies will need to eat more, but should still be exercised regularly.

    Risks Associated with Negative Eating Habits

    • When not consuming the proper nutrients, huskies may become depressed or inactive. Monitoring your husky's behavior will alert you to any issues that may be caused as a result of its food intake. It is best to provide a husky with only one type of food to avoid constipation, diarrhea, or other digestive problems. If not exercised often, or if overfed, huskies may be prone to obesity. A dull, lackluster coat may also signal a problem with your husky's diet.