Introduction to Dry Dog Food for Huskies
I tested dozens of products and found Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food to be the best dry dog food for huskies.
I held each dry dog food to the same standards. I collected data about the first five ingredients, their calorie content, and their standout features. Then I compared all the data to pick the top five options in this review.
I’m a former vet and have owned a husky for more than ten years, so I understand their need for a balanced diet. I strive to find the healthiest food, but I know many huskies are picky, so I weigh the diet requirements with great-tasting dry food.
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food is my top choice because it’s affordable and includes chicken protein and fresh fruits and vegetables, like carrots, broccoli, apples, and cranberries.
Read on to find out why these five dry dog foods are the best options to feed your husky.
Our Best Dry Dog Food For Huskies
| Item | Picks | Product | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best Overall | Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food | ⭐ 9.5 |
| 2 | Best For Husky Puppies | Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Dry Dog Food | ⭐ 7.4 |
| 3 | Best Active Huskies | Purina Pro Plan Sport All Life Stages Performance Dry Dog Food | ⭐ 9.0 |
| 4 | Best Adult Huskies | Purina ONE True Instinct Adult Dry Dog Food | ⭐ 8.4 |
| 5 | Best Budget Option | Iams Minichunks Adult Dry Dog Food | ⭐ 8.2 |
The 5 Best Dry Dog Foods for Siberian Huskies Reviewed
Each review includes the specific data found in my research, such as the first five ingredients and calorie count. You can use these spotlights to find the balanced diet your husky needs. The rest of the review helps you understand why this brand stands out and what dogs it benefits most.
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food
Key Features
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken meal, brewers rice, whole grain sorghum, brown rice, and whole grain wheat
- Guaranteed Analysis: 28% crude protein, 12% crude fat, 3% crude fiber
- Calories: 367 kcal/cup
- Key Feature: Boosts joint health and promotes strong bones
Vets recommend Hill’s Science Diet because it gives your husky what they need. The food promotes healthy joints and bones to keep your dog active. It’s also specially formulated to keep older dogs from getting overweight.
Hill’s Science Diet is more affordable than many other brands because it contains filler. This feature is a bummer for husky owners who want to feed their dogs a diet high in protein. Ideally, two of the top three ingredients are protein, which would make Hill’s Science Diet incredibly expensive.
On the plus side, this food still contains a high percentage of protein for the cost. If your dog doesn’t have wheat allergies, Hill’s Science Diet is an excellent choice to keep them healthy and energized.
Pros
- Fish oil, glucosamine, and chondroitin help your husky’s joint health
- Hill’s Science Diet includes specialized food lines based on your dog’s age, including wet food
- Made in the United States from locally-sourced ingredients
Cons
- Contains more filler than expensive options of dry dog food
- Very small
- Goes stale easily
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Dry Dog Food
Key Features
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, pea protein, peas, and tapioca starch
- Guaranteed Analysis: 36% crude protein, 16% crude fat, 5% crude fiber
- Calories: 423 kcal/cupKey Feature: Protein content encourages puppies to eat meat and have naturally high energy levels
Blue Buffalo Wilderness is a great dog food brand because it uses real protein and natural ingredients to create healthy, filling meals for dogs. This option for puppies has a high protein percentage and plenty of fat to keep their skin healthy.
This food has no allergens, so you don’t have to worry about corn, wheat, or soy. Blue Buffalo also includes antioxidants to prevent many health issues commonly plaguing puppies, so you’re in good hands with this food.
One significant perk to Blue Buffalo is that they have food lines for every stage of your husky’s life. You can start with this puppy food, transition your pet to adult food, and then on to senior kibble to ensure it’s always in the best shape.
Pros
- Grain-free dry dog food gives your husky puppy all the protein it needs
- Uses real chicken to start your puppy off on a healthy path
- Fatty acids keep your dog’s skin healthy, fur glossy, and bones growing correctly
Cons
- One of the more expensive items on the list
- May not be sustainable
- Does not meet the requirements of older dogs
Purina ONE True Instinct Adult Dry Dog Food
Key Features
- First 5 Ingredients: Turkey, chicken meal, soy flour, beef fat, and whole grain wheat
- Guaranteed Analysis: 30% crude protein, 17% crude fat, 3% crude fiber
- Calories: 365 kcal/cup
- Key Feature: High protein content to keep older dogs energized
The protein content of Purina ONE’s dry food is impressive, clocking in at 30%. That figure tells you that this food is healthy for your adult husky and keeps them full and energized all day. The beef fat also keeps their coat glossy, so they’ll look just as young as they feel.
Purina ONE is a famous name in dog food, well-known for using natural protein sources. That reputation makes it even more disappointing that they use so many allergens. Soy, gluten, wheat, and corn are high on the list of ingredients, so dogs with allergies or sensitive stomachs won’t enjoy this food.
Pros
- Contains turkey and chicken meal as the first two protein ingredients
- Fish oil and beef fat keep your husky’s skin hydrated and coat glossy
- Filling meals keep your husky full and energized
Cons
- Contains soy, wheat, corn, and gluten, so dogs with allergies can’t eat this food
- May cause stomach issues
- Some dogs may not like the taste of beef fat
Purina Pro Plan Sport All Life Stages Performance Dry Dog Food
Key Features
- First 5 Ingredients: Salmon, corn gluten meal, rice, poultry by-product, and whole grain corn
- Guaranteed Analysis: 30% crude protein, 20% crude fat, 3% crude fiber
- Calories: 527 kcal/cup
- Key Feature: Plenty of protein and calories keep your husky energized
Looking at the calorie count alone should demonstrate how effective this dry dog food is for active huskies. With so many calories in each serving, your husky will have plenty of energy for an active day. You can feed your pet Purina Pro Plan Sport dry dog food daily to keep their energy up, or use it on days you’re hiking or spending time at the dog park.
This food’s impressive fat content, vitamin E, and antioxidants keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy. It’s nice to know this meal keeps your husky from feeling itchy or uncomfortable when you’re spending the day being active.
The downside of Purina Pro Plan Sport All Life Stages Performance Dry Dog Food is that it uses a lot of filler and allergens. Poultry by-product is one of the first five ingredients, as are corn, grain, and gluten. Huskies with sensitive stomachs will want to avoid this option.
Pros
- High in protein and calories to give your husky plenty of energy
- Contains omega fatty acids to improve joint health
- Vitamin E and antioxidants keep your husky’s skin and coat nourished
Cons
- Includes poultry by-product in the first five ingredients
- Very fishy smell
- Very small
Iams Minichunks Adult Dry Dog Food
Key Features
- First 5 Ingredients: Lamb, brewers rice, chicken by-product, whole grain barley, and whole grain corn
- Guaranteed Analysis: 25% crude protein, 14% crude fat, 5% crude fiber
- Calories: 382 kcal/cup
- Key Feature: Keeps your husky healthy and full without breaking your budget
You can look at the protein content of this food and already understand how it’s the best budget option compared to others on the list. It also contains chicken by-products as one of the first five ingredients, significantly lowering the cost without sacrificing too much protein.
For an affordable cost, Iams Minichunks Adult Dry Dog Food provides a lot of good for your husky. It has high protein and fat percentages. The fiber content, along with vitamin supplements buried in the ingredient list, helps keep your husky’s digestive tract running smoothly.
Iams has a whole line of dog food, so if your husky likes Iams Minichunks Adult Dry Dog Food, you can give them more similar meals. There are different options for life stages, along with wet food.
Pros
- Most affordable dry dog food for huskies on this list
- Contains lamb protein
- Has healthy carbohydrates to keep your dog full
Cons
- Includes chicken by-product in the first five ingredients
- Lots of fillers
- Can trigger allergic reactions
Guide To Buying The Best Dry Dog Food For Huskies
The five foods reviewed here are some of the best available. If you want to check out other options for your husky, keep this buying guide in mind. As you shop for dog food, consider these key factors.
Ingredients
The first ingredients in dog food tell you a lot about the benefits it offers. Animal protein should always be first because huskies need plenty of protein in their diets. Ideally, two sources of protein appear in the first three ingredients.
Animal fat is also beneficial for huskies because it keeps their skin hydrated and their coat glossy. Many husky dog food options include chicken fat or fish oil for their nutritious properties. Such ingredients can prevent your husky from excessive shedding, too.
Whole foods with organic ingredients are ideal, but they’re also more expensive. If you can’t splurge on organic dry food, make sure your choice doesn’t include too many artificial dyes and flavors. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has guidelines pet food manufacturers adhere to, so you can check their site for diet information.
Dogs’ Age
Your dog’s age impacts the type of food you should buy. All huskies need protein to help build and maintain muscle and animal fat to keep their skin from getting itchy and their fur from shedding. Antioxidants prevent illnesses, and probiotics keep their digestive system working smoothly.
Puppies need food that fills them up and gives them enough energy. Food geared towards husky puppies is full of vitamins and nutrients that keep them from becoming overweight.
Adult and senior huskies are at the opposite risk—becoming underweight. However, if they eat too much and don’t exercise because of their age, they can develop obesity. They need protein-laden foods that help them feel young and energetic so they can still run around.
You can find dry foods geared toward every stage of your husky’s life. The best choice for puppies on this list is Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Dry Dog Food. The best choice for adult huskies is Purina ONE True Instinct Adult Dry Dog Food.
Health Concerns
Carefully transition your husky to a new dry food by mixing small portions of it with their current food. Take a week or two to let them adapt before you feed them an entire bowl of the new food. This approach will help you notice any health concerns that may stem from the new brand.
There shouldn’t be any health issues if you choose food with quality ingredients, as mentioned above. Finding dry food rich in proteins is a great start, but also check for artificial ingredients and allergens.
If your husky gets sick after eating, sheds more, seems itchy, or has a reaction to the food, go see your vet. They can check the food ingredients and see what’s wrong with your husky. Your husky might be allergic to an ingredient in the new food. Your vet can help you pinpoint the problem and suggest the right food choice.
FAQ
Below are some commonly asked questions about selecting the best dry dog food for huskies.
What food should Huskies eat?
Huskies require high-protein food to ensure healthy growth, fur and skin. This can be in the form of dry, wet, meat or a combination of food types.
What food husky should not eat?
Like most dogs, there are some foods huskies should not eat, including:
1. Grapes
2. Chocolate
3. Macadamia Nuts
4. Coffee
5. Tea
6. Garlic
7. Onions
Should Huskies eat dry food?
Yes, huskies can eat dry food. Sometimes, people mix dry and wet food together for added texture and taste. You’ll just need to monitor your husky’s reaction to this to ensure it doesn’t upset their stomach.
Conclusion
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food is the best dry dog food on this list, and your husky is sure to love the flavor. You’ll love that it’s affordable for offering so many healthy vitamins and nutrients.
Paying attention to the type and percentage of protein helps you know that you’re getting quality dog food for your husky. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food offers chicken protein and fruits and vegetables for antioxidants, giving your husky a healthy meal.
Depending on your husky’s life stage and health concerns, you might want to choose another dry food option from this list. Know that you’re going to get great quality from any of the five brands I reviewed.
Buy a bag of Hill’s Science Diet Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food from Chewy today and see how it positively impacts your husky’s energy levels and overall health.