What to feed a husky to gain weight

How To Help a Skinny Husky Gain Weight: 5 Top Tips

If your husky is skinny or underweight, youll want to know why and what the next steps are to get them at a healthy weight again.

In this article, I cover everything owners need to know about husky weight and how to help a skinny husky gain a few pounds!

I will explain the three main causes of an underweight husky, which is of course crucial to know before trying any of the following.

5 Tips to help your husky gain weight.

• Add unsalted chicken broth
• Use dog food seasoning
• Mix in wet dog food to his kibble
• Add organic unsalted peanut butter
• Limit the time they have to eat

Empty food bowls will definitely help get your husky to gain extra weight. However, theres more to it than that, so lets first take a look at some important things to think about.

Normal Weight For Huskies

Does my tail look big in this!?

Lets take a look at the normal weight ranges for huskies. You may be concerned about your huskys weight when you dont need to be! Most huskies are on the slim side, and thats perfectly normal.

If you can feel his ribs a tiny bit, this is ok, just as long its a small amount. Remember that in general, for dogs, its healthier to be slightly underweight, than overweight.

According to the American Kennel ClubThe normal weight for an adult male husky is 45lbs 60lbsThe normal weight for an adult female husky is 35lbs 60lbs

This can vary slightly but your husky should ideally fit within these weight ranges.

Related Article: Why Is My Husky So Small?

3 Main Causes of Underweight Huskies

Rule out health issues

Of course, ruling out health issues is the most important thing to do and should be done first. Its strongly recommended to take your husky to the vet in these situations:

1. Your husky has completely refused to eat for more than 2 days 2. Your husky is eating more than usual and is still very underweight

If your husky hasnt eaten in around 2 days, you will need to take him to your local veterinarian asap. Hell need to have some nutrients very quickly and further checks to discover what the issue is.

If your husky is eating a lot but is still skinny, its possible he has worms. Worms feed on your dogs body and can lead to weight loss.

1. Inadequate diet & nutrition

Perhaps your husky is not getting along with his current diet. A good starting point is to make sure you are using a premium, trusted brand of dog food.

Its important that your husky is only eating high-quality ingredients from trusted sources to avoid an upset stomach. If his food is giving him any kind of discomfort, he wont eat it.

I have an interesting article that goes in-depth about why your husky isnt eating.

There is a big discussion around huskies eating a raw food diet. This topic has been covered in much more detail in another one of my posts.

Although the raw food diet supposedly has great benefits for huskies, its a complicated diet, and getting it right is very challenging.

If you have recently tried changing diets to a raw food diet and your husky is struggling to adjust, then I strongly recommend you go back to commercial dog food.

2. Fussy eating

Although this coincides with the diet section, huskies can be so stubborn that it deserves its own little piece!

There may be nothing wrong with your huskys diet or the food youre giving him.

If your husky gets remotely bored with his food, hell just stop eating it. just. like. that

Fussy eating can also develop if owners offer too many treats or tidbits throughout the day. A husky will quickly realize that if they refuse their own food, they may get something better off our plates!

This is where youll need to spice up his food to get him eating it again. Before you grab the chili, read the section below!

Related Article: Why I Love Human-Grade Pet Food

3. Too much exercise

Yep, theres such a thing as too much exercise even for a husky!

If your husky is extremely active were talking about 3 hours a day of exercise. Then their caloric intake will need to be completely different to cope with this.

A regular diet for a husky this active will not suffice. So its either their exercise that needs to be reduced or their calories that need to be upped.

• Highly active adult huskies could eat up to 2500-3000 calories a day and be just fine, depending on their actual exercise levels.

• If your husky is highly active, try raising calories to 2000 per day and monitor their weight over 2-3 weeks. (most huskies consume between 1250-1750 anyway, so testing out 2000 shouldnt be too much of a jump.

5 Best Ways To Help a Husky Gain Weight

1. Add unsalted chicken broth

A simple but very effective way to get your husky actually eating his food is to pour some chicken broth over the kibble before you put it down.

Nothing is more attractive to a husky than some tasty chicken juice. You can save the broth leftover from your dinner and use it for your huskys mealtimes.

Be sure that youre using plain chicken broth. Its not a good idea to be adding salt and other ingredients that might upset the sensitive stomach of your husky. You can also make delicious, healthy chicken broth biscuits which serve as a great treat for your husky.

This doesnt increase calories too much, but more just encourages huskies to eat if their food if theyre currently refusing it.

2. Use dog food seasoning from Herbsmith

Herbsmith offers a fun and healthy way to make your furry friends kibble more exciting is to use dog food seasoning.

Much like we would add spices and herbs to our food to enhance the flavor, you can do the same for your huskys kibble.

They have various flavors in their range, all made from high-quality natural ingredients. Mix it into your huskys food and this will definitely give him something to drool over.

Their products have excellent reviews and are very reasonably priced. Check Herbsmith out here on Amazon.com.

3. Mix in wet dog food to his kibble

A small change in texture could be enough for him to start eating his food once again. Wet dog food is highly nutrition, high in protein and calories. So not only will this get him eating again, but itll increase his calories too (a little).

Preferably you use the same brand for the wet food as you already use for the dry food. Using the same brand will ensure the same quality of ingredients as your regular dry kibble.

Try introducing a small amount and always remember to follow the correct portion sizes.

Although huskies will never eat more than they need to, its still vital that YOU know the number of calories and the nutritional breakdown you are giving him.

I highly recommend Blue Buffalo Limited Ingredient Wet Dog Food. This avoids irritating sensitive stomachs.

4. Add organic unsalted peanut butter

It still seems that peanut butter is LOVED by practically every husky, so mixing in a small dollop to your dogs food will work wonders.

Yes its true that dogs should avoid many varieties of nuts however, peanuts arent actually nuts, theyre legumes filled with a lot of nutrition.

It is important to use organic unsalted peanut butter without the ingredient Xylitol. Other than salt and Xylitol, your husky should be perfectly fine eating peanut butter.

I recommend checking out the article below for more information on peanut butter and huskies.

Related article: Can huskies eat peanut butter?

5. Limit the time he has to eat (combat food refusal)

This is more of a training method. The goal of this is to train your husky to eat his food when you put it down.

Huskies can be left all day with food in the bowl and he will only eat when hes hungry, however, this is teaching him to graze and not eat properly.

Many husky owners have had great success by limiting the time that the food bowl remains down.

All you do is call dinner time, place the bowl on the floor, and in exactly 10 minutes pick the bowl up again.

Thats all the chance he has to eat until the next mealtime. By doing this, youre teaching your husky that food is not always readily available, he needs to eat his food when you give it to him or it will shortly be gone.

This actually simulates what it would have been like for huskies over thousands of years. Nothing like a kickback to the past!

Additional Info: The Honest Kitchen

Popular Articles on My Happy Husky:13 Signs That Your Husky Actually Loves YouHow To Completely Train a Husky Puppy

Exercise Requirements

This wouldnt be a real husky article if I didnt mention husky exercise! Seriously though, huskies need A LOT of exercise.

Due to their upbringing for many years with the Chukchi Tribe in Siberia and sled racing in Alaska, they crave intense physical exercise, this is normal for them.

Without sufficient physical activity, your husky will be conserving too much energy, and this will not create a healthy appetite.

Summary

Its always important to be aware of the overall health of your husky, or any pet for that matter! So please, if you have an inkling that something just isnt right, never hesitate to contact your veterinarian.

Its good to know the correct information specific to the breed of dog you have.

If you are paying close attention to your pet you will notice when things dont seem right.

I hope this article has helped you and has given you some ideas to try out!

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The Furminator Undercoat Rakeand aHertzko Slicker Brushare by far the two best brushes that any husky owner should use.

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If you would like an easy to read guide for training your husky puppy, check out my bookThe Husky Puppy Handbookon Amazon.All purchases are greatly appreciated.

11 Best Dog Foods for Huskies to Gain Weight in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

It can be stressful to have a dog that is underweight, and Huskies are a breed that are particularly prone to this because of their high activity level. It can also be difficult to determine your Huskys body composition due to their thick coat. If you suspect your dog is underweight, your first option should be a vet visit to rule out medical causes.

Once your dog has gotten a clean bill of health, you may need to start looking into high protein and high fat foods to help put weight on your pup. Weve reviewed the best foods to help aid in weight gain for your Husky to make this time easier and less confusing for you.

Disclaimer: The foods reviewed here were chosen because they have certain characteristics that might help with some of the causes or consequences of this medical condition. However, they are not a medical treatment or a substitute for medical treatment. Keep in mind that each medical case is different and what works for some pets may not work for others. Your veterinarian is the right person to advise you on the best diet for your pets individual case.

A Glance at Our Top Picks (2024 Update)

The 11 Best Dog Foods for Huskies to Gain Weight

1. The Farmers Dog Fresh Dog Food Best Overall

When youre serious about getting your husky to put on some weight, youre not going to find a better option than The Farmers Dog Fresh Dog Food. Theyve worked with vets to develop and customize their recipes, and they tweak each plan to match exactly what your husky needs.

Not only that, but once your pup gets to the right weight, theyll adjust the meals again to keep them at their ideal weight. They pre-portion every meal and deliver it directly to your door, so all you need to do is feed them at mealtimes!

They only use the highest-quality ingredients that your pup will love, and its an extremely easy service to sign up for and use. However, while theres a lot to love about The Farmers Dog, its undoubtedly one of the more expensive options out there. But for everything you get, we think its well worth every penny and its easily the best overall dog food for huskies to gain weight.

Pros

• Customized diet plans
• Extremely high-quality ingredients
• Great for picky eaters
• Easy to sign up for and use
• Meals delivered directly to your door

2. Iams Proactive Health Active Budget Buy

The best dog food for Huskies to gain weight for the money is Iams Proactive Health Active food. This food has a 30% protein content with moderate fat at 18%. It comes in at 418 kcal per cup, making this a nutrient dense option. This budget-friendly food uses eggs, chicken, and turkey to pack a protein punch, but it isnt a good option for dogs with a sensitivity to chicken.

Its a good source of L-carnitine, which supports energy levels and healthy fat metabolism. A special blend of wholesome grains supports sustained energy levels throughout the day, and its a good source of essential minerals that support bone and joint health.

Pros

• Best value
• 30% protein content
• Moderate fat content
• Multiple protein sources
• Good source of L-carnitine to support energy levels and fat metabolism
• Supports sustained energy levels and bone health

3. Orijen Six Fish

Orijen Six Fish dog food is another good dog food pick for helping your Husky gain weight. This food has 38% protein from a blend of mackerel, herring, monkfish, Acadian redfish, hake, and a variety of other fishes. This is a moderate-fat food, but it is a great source of omega fatty acids, which support skin, coat, joint, heart, and brain health.

It contains probiotics to support healthy digestion, and this food is free of proteins that are common allergens in dogs, like chicken and beef. The kibbles are coated with freeze-dried raw food to enhance the palatability of the food.

This food does retail for a premium price, and it is a grain-free food, which is not ideal for many dogs and should be discussed with your vet prior to switching.

Pros

• 38% protein content
• Moderate fat content
• Great source of omega fatty acids
• Contains probiotics for digestive health
• Free of common protein allergens
• Freeze-dried raw coated kibbles are highly palatable

Cons

• Premium price
• Grain-free food

4. Eukanuba Premium Performance Puppy Best for Puppies

If youve got a skinny Husky puppy to feed, our favorite food pick is Eukanuba Premium Performance Puppy. This food contains 28% protein and moderate fat content. It does use chicken by-product meal as the primary protein. Many people mistakenly believe that meat by-product meals are not healthy for their dog, but this is actually a nutrient dense addition to dog food, although this does contain chicken protein.

This food is a good source of DHA, which is a fatty acid that supports brain development in growing puppies. It contains a tailored antioxidant complex that helps your puppy recover from exercise and activity more effectively. Glucosamine and chondroitin in this food both help support musculoskeletal growth and development.

Pros

• Top pick for puppies
• 28% protein content
• Moderate fat content
• Good source of DHA for brain health and development
• Tailored antioxidant complex supports exercise recovery
• Glucosamine and chondroitin support healthy bones, joints, and muscles

5. Farmina N&D Ocean

If youre looking for a diet to help your dog gain weight, the Farmina N&D Ocean food might be a good option. This dog food contains 30% protein from cod and herring, and its a moderate-fat recipe, although its a great source of omega fatty acids. This food is free of common protein allergens, and its a good source of wholesome and nutrient dense grains that support healthy energy levels.

This is a low-glycemic food, which means that it wont cause blood sugar spikes. This may make it appropriate for dogs with diabetes and other blood sugar problems, although you should discuss this with your vet first. The vitamins in this food are specially coated so the food retains maximum nutritional value after cooking. This food does retail for a premium price.

Pros

• 30% protein content
• Moderate fat content
• Great source of omega fatty acids
• Free of common protein allergens
• Supports healthy energy levels and is a low-glycemic food

6. Purina One True Instinct High Protein

Purina One True Instinct High Protein food is another great dog food to help your Husky gain weight. This food has a 32% protein content, but a moderate fat content at 17%, which may make it suitable for dogs requiring moderate fat diets. It has 358 kcal per cup, and it has protein from beef, chicken, and salmon. Due to containing chicken, this food may not be suitable for dogs with sensitivities to chicken, though.

Its a good source of glucosamine to support your dogs joint health. It contains kibbles and meaty bits that enhance the palatability of the food. This food helps support your dogs immune system, healthy energy levels, and metabolism.

Pros

• 32% protein content
• Moderate fat content
• Multiple protein sources
• Good source of glucosamine
• Meaty bits enhance palatability
• Supports immune and metabolic health

7. Victor Purpose Nutra Pro

Victor Purpose Nutra Pro is a nutrient-dense food option that is formulated for puppies and pregnant and nursing female dogs, but it can also be used to support weight gain. It has 38% protein from chicken, fish, and beef, and its a moderate-fat food.

It contains gluten-free grains that help support healthy energy levels in active dogs. The VPRO Blend in this food supports healthy digestion and immune system function. Its a good source of omega fatty acids, and its fortified with vitamins and minerals for overall health.

This food does contain blood meal, which is a good source of iron, but this may also lead to a darkening of your dogs stools and discoloration around the mouth in light-colored dogs.

Pros

• Formulated for puppies and pregnant and nursing dogs
• 38% protein content
• Moderate fat content
• Gluten-free grains support healthy energy levels
• VPRO Blend supports digestion and immunity
• Good source of omega fatty acids and iron

Cons

• Contains chicken
• May cause discoloration around the mouth and darkening of stools

8. Inukshuk 32/32

If youre looking for a high calorie, high fat food for your dog, Inukshuk 32/32 is a great option. This food contains a whopping 720 kcal per cup, and it offers 32% protein and fat content. Because this is a concentrated food formula, it may reduce the amount of waste your dog produces.

Its a good source of prebiotics and chelated minerals, which support digestive health, and omega fatty acids to support skin, coat, and joint health. It does contain chicken as its primary protein, so its not suitable for dogs with sensitivities to chicken. This is a budget-friendly formula for how long a bag of food should last most dogs. Because this is such a rich food, it may cause digestive upset in some dogs.

Pros

• 720 kcal per cup
• 32% protein and fat content is ideal for working dogs
• Concentrated formula reduces waste production
• Supports digestive health
• Good source of omega fatty acids
• Budget-friendly option

Cons

• Contains chicken
• May cause digestive upset in some dogs

9. Purina Pro Plan Performance 30/20

Purina Pro Plan Performance 30/20 is a good option for dogs needing a little less protein than some of the other weight gain foods offer. This is a calorie dense food at 518 kcal per cup, making it one of the most dense foods we reviewed. This density means that your dog will likely produce less waste on this food.

The primary protein is turkey, but this food does contain poultry by-product meal, so you may need to reach out to the manufacturer to ask for specifics if your dog has a sensitivity to chicken. It also contains quail and duck, which are often good protein sources for dogs with food sensitivities.

Its a good source of omega fatty acids and vitamin A, which all support joint, skin, and coat health, as well as amino acids that support muscle development and repair after exercise. It promotes digestive health and immune system function. This is a premium priced food.

Pros

• 30% protein content
• 518 kcal per cup
• Nutrient dense formula may reduce waste production
• Contains multiple protein sources
• Good source of omega fatty acids and vitamin A
• Supports muscle health and repair

Cons

• May contain chicken
• Premium price

10. JustFoodForDogs Turkey & Whole Wheat Macaroni Recipe

If youre looking for a great wet food option to help your Husky gain weight, JustFoodForDogs Turkey & Whole Wheat Macaroni Recipe is a great option. This food contains 32% protein on a dry matter basis but is low in fat at only 13% on a dry matter basis. It is a calorie dense food at 49 kcal per ounce, or 882 kcal per pack.

It contains healthy grains that support energy levels, thanks to whole wheat macaroni. It also contains a variety of nutrients from ingredients like carrots, cranberries, and zucchini. Its a good source of omega fatty acids from fish oil. This food only contains turkey proteins, and it is free of beef and chicken proteins. This is a premium priced diet option, especially if feeding a large or underweight dog.

Pros

• 32% protein on a dry matter basis
• Low in fat
• Calorie dense
• Free of common protein allergens
• Good source of omega fatty acids

11. Country Vet Naturals 30/20 Active Athlete

Country Vet Naturals 30/20 Active Athlete is a good dry food option for helping your Husky to gain weight. It contains 30% protein and moderate fat at 20%. It contains 430 kcal per cup, making this a relatively calorie dense food. It contains probiotics to support digestive health, and it is a good source of omega fatty acids. Its also a good source of vitamins B12, D3, and E, which support immune function and energy levels.

This food does use chicken as its primary protein source, but it is one of the more budget-friendly options for feeding an underweight dog. Some people have reported their picky dogs refusing to eat this food.

Pros

• 30% protein content
• Moderate fat content
• Good source of omega fatty acids and probiotics
• Supports immune function and healthy energy levels
• Budget-friendly option

Cons

• Contains chicken
• May not be suitable for picky dogs

Buyers Guide: How to Select the Best Dog Food for Huskies to Gain Weight

What Supports Weight Gain?

When it comes to helping your Husky gain weight, its important to understand what nutrients will help your dog gain and maintain its body weight. Of course, this is assuming that there is no underlying medical reason for your dog to be underweight, which your vet can determine for you.

Protein, fat, and calories are all going to be an important part of helping your dog gain weight. Your vet or a veterinary nutritionist can help you determine what your dogs baseline caloric needs are, which serves as a guide to help you determine how many calories your dog needs daily to lose, maintain, or gain weight.

Fat is a calorie dense nutrient, which means that it can help your dog gain weight. However, very few dogs need a high fat diet since this can lead to medical problems. Protein is the most important nutrient for helping your dog gain weight. Protein supports healthy metabolic activity and recovery from exercise, as well as developing and maintaining muscle mass.

Final Thoughts

If your dog needs a little extra support to get to a healthy body weight, then you can rely on the foods in these reviews to help guide you to select the best option for your dogs needs.

The best overall dog food to support your Huskys weight gain is The Farmers Dog Fresh Dog Food, which is a good source of protein and is suitable for dogs needing extra help bulking up without unhealthy fillers. For tighter budgets, the top pick is the Iams Proactive Health Active recipe, which contains slightly less protein but only moderate fat. For higher budgets, a great option is the Orijen Six Fish food, which is a great source of omega fatty acids and is high in protein.

For puppies, the best food for weight gain is Eukanuba Premium Performance Puppy food, which supports healthy growth and development.

Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock