Can Huskies lose weight

Overweight Siberian Husky (How to tell & What to do)

If you have ever owned a Siberian Husky, you know that they are some of the best companions that anyone can have! This is why Husky owners become concerned when they notice that their dog is overweight.

Many reasons can cause a Siberian Husky to become overweight or obese but thankfully there are also many ways to avoid this happening!

If you are interested in learning more about why your Husky may be overweight, and how to help them get back to a healthy weight, keep reading to learn more!

Why is my Siberian Husky so big?

Like all dog breeds, there is a standard height and weight for Siberian Huskies. Some owners wonder why their Husky looks so big in comparison to other dogs of the same breed.

If you are noticing that your Husky, in particular, is looking larger than other dogs, it is probably because your dog has reached its full height and weight faster than other dogs of the same breed, they could also be overweight.

Normally Siberian Huskies are not overweight dogs. They tend to have a leaner body type that is long and tall.

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If your Siberian Husky is overweight, it is usually caused by a lack of exercise, poor diet, or a mixture of both. Seeing as Huskies were originally herding & hunting dogs, they are used to experiencing a lot of movement and exercise.

Huskies must have room to move around and gain the necessary exercise to stay at a healthy weight.

Note:No dog should be overweight, this can affect their health, movement, and quality of life. If you are concerned about your dogs weight, take them to the vet to find the best option for your dog, in particular!

While exercise and diet are the two main reasons for Husky weight gain and obesity, health conditions can also cause your dog to gain weight. Here are some of the most common issues that can occur if your dog is overweight or obese:

• Arthritis
• Muscle tears
• Breathing problems
• Tumors
• Hypothyroidism
• Skin Diseases

Skin diseases are common for overweight or obese Siberian Huskies because excess fat causes irritation on the skin and itchiness which can lead to bacterial infections.

Tip:If you are worried your dog might be overweight, it is best to visit the vet as soon as possible. The vet will be able to help you determine the next steps to ensure your dog stays happy and healthy!

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What Is a healthy weight for a Siberian Husky?

If you are familiar with Siberian Huskies, you know that they are a medium-sized dog breed. As mentioned above, there are specific height and weight ranges that Siberian Huskies should meet.

All Siberian Huskies grow at different rates; the standard weight for adult female Huskies is between 3551 lbs. and for adult male Huskies, between 44-60 lbs.

Male Huskies are normally heavier and taller than female Huskies; although, male Huskies shouldnt weigh more than 70 lbs.

Tip:If you notice your Husky is above the standard weight limits, they may be overweight, or they may not be a purebred Siberian Husky.

Siberian Huskies tend to become fully grown around 16 months of age. Although, some Huskies keep growing for a while and dont reach their full height and weight until two years of age!

It is usually easy to tell if your Husky still has growing left to do solely because of their paw size.If their paws look very big in comparison to their bodies, they are probably not through growing yet!

Here are the standard weight ranges for both male and female Siberian Huskies and what they should weigh around each month of their lives:

MALE:

FEMALE:

Dont worry if your Husky puppy isnt growing as quickly as other Huskies, they may just be taking more time to reach their full height and weight!

Height plays an important role in how much a Siberian Husky will weigh. Female Huskies typically have slimmer bodies than the males and range between 1821 inches in height, male Huskies tend to range between 2023 inches.

Note:If your Husky is smaller than the standard height and weight ranges for Huskies, they could be a miniature Husky!

Overweight Mini-Husky

People are oftentimes confused when their Siberian Husky doesnt meet the height and weight ranges of the breed, this is probably because they are a miniature Husky!

Mini-Huskies typically grow differently than the Siberian Husky breed. They tend to grow faster and reach their full height and weight much more quickly. The ideal height and weight for these pups also vary.

Here are the standard weights that miniature Huskies should be at during different points of their life:

An adult mini-Husky should weigh between 16-30 lbs. Although, since these dogs do grow differently, some may be bigger, and some may be smaller!

Note:Mini Huskies are very small when they are born, so dont be alarmed if they dont gain a lot of weight right from the start, it takes them a little while before they start growing!

It is important that mini-Huskies dont become overweight. Because their body type is petite and smaller in weight and height (typically around 1318 inches in height), having extra weight can cause strain on their bodies which can result in health problems.

How to tell if my Siberian Husky is overweight?

Some Husky owners struggle to determine if their dog is overweight. It is sometimes hard to know, especially if the dog doesnt necessarily look overweight. Thankfully, there are many ways to determine if your dog is overweight!

Some of the main ways Husky owners determine if their dog is overweight is to take them to the vet, take note of their weight over time, take notice of their body shape, and do body checks on the dog!

Visiting the vet is one of the most beneficial things an Husky owner can do to ensure their dog is at a healthy weight. By keeping a check on your dog, either by taking note of their weight gain or by doing physical body checks, it is usually easy to tell if they have gained weight.

It is also a good idea to keep track of your Huskys weight as they grow older, this can help you determine if they have packed on weight at certain times during their lives.

If you are checking to see if your Husky is overweight by feeling their body,you should be able to feel the ribs when you rub over them but not see the ribs.If you are seeing an Huskys ribs, this would mean that they are underweight.

Note:A vet can recommend the most effective ways for your Husky to lose weight safely while also determining which steps to take first, this is why it is always best to visit them first!

Another interesting way to determine if your Siberian Husky is overweight is if you have noticed a change in their behavior. You may notice yourdog has become lazy or is having trouble breathing, these are both signs that your dog is overweight.

There are some interesting theories that some Siberian Husky owners have on why their Husky has gained weight. Some owners noticed that their Husky began gaining weight after being neutered.

A large number of owners with Huskies who have themerlegene stated that their Husky was overweight and wondered if the gene could be the cause of the weight gain.

How To Help My Siberian Husky Lose Weight?

For a lot of owners whose Huskies are overweight, helping their dogs reach a healthy weight is very important. Thankfully, there are many ways to help your dog get back to a weight that is healthy for their body type.

Exercise, diet, and lifestyle change are three of the most important factors in helping your Siberian Husky lose weight.

A mixture of exercise and a proper diet usually helps overweight or obese dogs drop pounds very quickly. Removing foods that cause weight gain and having your dogeatdecent portions of food is crucial.

Note:A lot of weight gain in Siberian Huskies is caused by the amount of food they areeating. Thankfully, a lot of dog food brands will mention portion sizes for dog breeds of different sizes and ages on the packaging.

If you are concerned about your Huskys weight, it is important that you visit the vet first before trying anything to help them lose weight. A vet can ensure that your dog doesnt have a health problem that is causing the weight gain and can suggest the best methods for helping them lose weight.

Along with the more intense methods of helping your dog lose weight, there are also simple ways to help your dog shed the pounds.

Simply switching the treats and snacks they are having throughout the day can make a huge difference. Some owners tend to give their Huskies human snacks that are high in calories, this can cause weight gain very quickly.

While there are human snacks that cause Huskies to gain weight, there are some human snacks that instead can help them lose weight!Green beans, carrot slices, and cooked lean meat,are some of the most popular human snacks that dogs are given to help them lose extra weight.

There are many other ways to help your Siberian Husky lose weight, here are some of the most common ways Husky owners have achieved this:

• Break up mealtimes: This not only helps your dog digest better, but if you feed them several small portions throughout the day, they wont be as hungry and willeatless!
• Control treat intake: Tossing your dog treats throughout the day is a quick way for them to pack on the pounds, try lessening the number of treats they are receiving throughout the day and see if they lose weight!
• Consistent exercise: Walking is the most beneficial exercise that an overweight Husky can achieve. They dont need to go running or anything extravagant, simply going on a walk, or playing with other dogs at the dog park can get them up and moving which in the end, results in weight loss.
• Make homemade food:Making homemade dog food for your Husky can be very beneficial depending on what nutrients and ingredients they need! It is easy to make the food yourself if you know what special diet your dog is needing!
• Lots of water:It is very important that your overweight Husky drink lots of water, especially if they are exercising more than usual, or experiencing a diet change.

Tip:Sometimes Huskies willeatmore food if they dont have access to water and are thirsty, make sure they always have access to fresh, clean water!

Best dog food for an overweight Siberian Husky?

When Huskies become overweight, the first thing many owners think to change is their dogs food. Thankfully, there are many options when it comes to determining the best food to help your Husky lose weight!

Dog food that is branded for weight loss is a great option to choose when trying to get your Husky to lose weight. Any foods that have high protein and low sodium are also great options!

Most dog foods sold for weight loss are usually easy to find and have names such as Light and Fit, or Weight Managementone of the most recommended dog foods for Huskies trying to lose weight is theBlue Buffalo Fit and Healthydry dog food.

TIP:It is best to talk with your vet first before switching your Huskys food to ensure that they are being switched to a food that benefits them the most!

While we strive to give the most accurate and helpful information about your pets health that we can, this article is meant to be informational only and not medical advice. Never disregard, avoid or delay in obtaining medical advice from your veterinarian or other qualified veterinary health care provider regardless of what you have read on this site or elsewhere.