How to Identify a Healthy Husky Puppy

Husky puppies make active and loving companions, but selecting a healthy puppy will save you heartaches and vet bills down the road. When you decide on a husky as a pet, you're getting a dog that loves to run. They were bred as sled dogs, and the breed is still used in sled dog racing today. Huskies show fewer hereditary health problems than most other breeds of dog, so selecting a healthy husky puppy is mainly a matter of observation and asking the right questions.

Instructions

    • 1

      Check the puppy's eyes. The eyes should be colored blue or brown and be bright and clear. The third eyelid should not have any discharge, inflammation or swelling.

    • 2

      Examine the puppy's nose. It should not have any yellow or foul-smelling discharge.

    • 3

      Open the puppy's mouth, and check the teeth. The gums should be a bright pink color. A few crooked teeth in the husky's mouth are not a concern, because the adult teeth will push them out. However, if the jaw is undershot, overshot or twisted, the problem will not get better as the dog grows.

    • 4

      Check the puppy's ears. Lift each ear, and look in the ear canal. Smell the ear to check for a strong odor. Excessive wax buildup and head shaking can be signs of an ear infection or ear mites.

    • 5

      Watch the puppy walk and run. Most puppies are fairly coordinated at eight weeks of age. Make sure the hips don't sway (a possible early sign of hip dysplasia, which huskies are at risk for) and the legs and toes are straight.

    • 6

      Check for a distended or bulging abdomen. This can be a sign of worms or a hernia.