Fresh Food for Huskies: Energy & Joint Support

In terms of DNA, huskies are closer to wolves than most dog breeds, especially with Siberian huskies sharing the same ancestry line with those magnificent beasts. Sure, your furry friend is no wild creature, but it still needs high-quality husky food for building up its reserves. 

As huskies are highly active dogs, they expend a lot of energy, and that means you should have the right meal plan to keep their stamina at the level of their wild ancestors. Most nutritionists and veterinarians suggest a mix of kibble and raw food, but completely switching to a fresh-food diet brings even more benefits, as you’ll see from our guide below.

Getting to the Bottom of Husky Nutritional Needs

Those harsh conditions of Siberian wastelands shaped huskies into a breed that’s always at the top of its energy level, with an extremely fast metabolism. That’s also why it’s advised not to feed a husky directly before exercise, but rather right after, or at least a couple of hours before.

Fresh food is the best fit for their fast metabolism and energy needs, and it’s also the best solution against common husky health issues. They extract the maximum amount of energy from food, so it makes sense to switch them to a fresh-food diet, as it retains more nutrients than processed foods. 

For those reasons, slow-cooked protein sources, coupled with fresh fruits and veggies, make the best meal plan option. It’s also good to throw in some anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids for joint support and to help tackle issues like arthritis that might potentially form along the way.

[Source: Pawy]

What is the Best Food to Feed a Husky?

The best food for huskies includes a mix of steamed and slow-cooked protein sources, fatty acids, and fresh fruits and veggies. Huskies also require a constant water supply, so it’s also beneficial to leave a couple of water bowls throughout the house. Here’s an overview of the best fresh foods to feed your doggo:

High-Quality Proteins for Building up Energy Reserves

To stay healthy and active, huskies need a mix of high-quality, lean proteins and healthy fats. At Pawy, our experts slow-cook locally obtained protein sources filled with amino acids for muscle maintenance and repair. 

If you’re preparing fresh-food meals for your dog yourself, you can focus on these protein sources for building up those energy reserves:

• Chicken

• Beef

• Fish 

• Turkey

• Eggs

Certain protein sources also pack additional benefits, such as organ meats that contain essential nutrients for maintaining proper eye health. To build and maintain muscle, you should feed your husky lean animal proteins like chicken or turkey, which are easily digestible.

You can get a custom fresh-food diet plan based on your pet's particular needs by simply ordering a trial box. Our experts will always work with you to craft meals suitable for your dog’s health.

Healthy Fats as Endurance Food

A proper husky diet requires healthy fats along with protein sources, all because of that ancient ancestry line. In the harsh winter conditions of their natural habitat, huskies used to chew on high-fat food sources like fish.

They metabolize fats for energy, which is why you need a mix of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These are found in salmon, sardines, lean animal fats, and plant-based oils. Huskies will burn those fats later on during exercise, which means healthy fats are a necessary diet component. 

The Impact of Fresh-Food Nutrition on Joint Support

As a breed, huskies are prone to developing joint-related issues, such as hip dysplasia and arthritis, which cause mobility issues. That further degrades muscles and leads to dogs becoming overweight, which minimizes their ability to enjoy the active lifestyle they need.

Because of that, you should focus on husky food that’s beneficial for joint health. Foods packed with omega-3 fatty acids are perfect for this purpose. Their anti-inflammatory properties reduce the chance of developing chronic joint problems, so you’d be doing your pupper a favor by switching to a fresh-food diet. 

Benefits of Fresh Food for Huskies

Now that you’re familiar with the best food for huskies, it’s time to discuss the overall health benefits of switching to a fresh-food diet, besides joint support and energy buildup:

• Improved digestion: Unlike processed foods like kibble, fresh food is much easier to digest. Huskies are prone to digestive issues, so fresh and nutrient-rich ingredients are your best line of defense against an upset. 

• Proper weight management: Maintaining optimal weight is crucial for huskies, especially when it comes to keeping their activity and energy levels high. That’s why nutrient-rich fresh-food items make way more sense than processed fillers that bring no calories and just impact the body weight for the worse. Remember, you have to do what’s best for your dog to prevent those bothersome joint issues, and proper weight management is one of the ways to reduce joint stress.

• Better coat and skin health: Besides protein and healthy fats, fresh husky food also contains essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that affect the skin and coat. It also minimizes shedding and helps prevent dry skin, which may lead to sensitivity issues.

  
  

Additional Fresh-Food Diet Considerations

Fruits and veggies are also extremely beneficial for keeping a husky’s immune system at a high level. They bring the much-needed vitamins and minerals, and Pawy meal packages delivered to your address contain all those ingredients. 

Items like apples, bananas, pears, oranges, and even watermelon are crucial for a balanced diet. On the other hand, you should avoid grapes, raisins, and plums. 

Fresh vegetables like broccoli, cucumber, green beans, and cauliflower also help flush toxins and provide healthy fiber for better digestive health. Plus, they can be served as treats because they are low-calorie and don’t add much weight. 

You can even use iced fruits and veggies for teething puppies. With all that in mind, our Pawy experts craft fresh-food recipes that include all the mentioned ingredients to make sure your dog stays happy and healthy.