The food that we feed to our pets has significant consequences for their happiness and well-being. Siberian huskies, Alaskan malamutes and other sled dogs can be fussy eaters. They are often sensitive to some of the ingredients found in pet foods, particularly the many of the cheaper, more widely-available brands. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of dog foods available today, some of which seem to suit huskies and other sled dogs particularly well.
The choice of diets and feeding plans available, together with the sensitive digestion systems of many huskies and sled dogs, can make finding a suitable diet solution seem like a daunting task.
Don't worry! Feeding your husky, malamute or sled dog can quickly become very simple. The key points to remember are;
Generally speaking, most husky and sled dog owners feed either Kibble or Raw Diets, or a combination of the two.
Kibble is a ready made food that provide all the basic nutrients your dogs needs.
Feeding Kibble is often the simplest, least time consuming option. It also involves less mess, storage space etc.
Another alternative is to feed a
Raw Diet. Some owners suggest that raw diets significantly improve the overall health of their dogs.
There is no doubt a raw diet provides more variety for your dog, and many of the foods involved, such as raw meaty bones, provide entertainment as dogs chew away on them happily for hours.
Feeding a Raw Diet requires some initial research into the nutritional needs of your dog, and sourcing food suppliers takes time and patience.
You will probably also need to acquire an additional fridge and/or freezer in order to store
food, and may want to designate an area in your kitchen or utility room specifically for meal preparation as much raw meat is involved.
Although feeding a Raw Diet may seem a daunting and complicated prospect, in reality, once you have done a bit of initial research, it does become very easy to manage and is very often cheaper than feeding kibble.
Indeed, for many owners the sourcing and preparation of raw food is an interesting and satisfying task, particularly once they see their dog's enthusiastic reaction to the foods on offer.
Many husky and sled dog owners feed both Raw and Complete foods at different times, depending on circumstance, availability and time constraints.
This is perfectly acceptable, although it is not recommended that you feed both types of food at the same meal. Kibble and raw foods are digested at different rates. Feeding both raw food and kibble at the same meal may increase the stress on the digestive system, and health problems - specifically an increased risk of bloat (gastric torsion) may occur.
For this reason, it is best to separate raw foods and kibble into different meals. Some owners choose to feed kibble in the morning and raw food later in the day, or they may feed raw food for the most part and kibble if travelling with their huskies or attending rallies or shows.
Huskies and sled dogs generally require a lot less food than other breeds of dog. Sled dogs evolved in harsh and unforgiving northern environments where food was scarce, and as a result their bodies adapted to process food very efficiently. Huskies and sled dogs can extract a relatively high percentage of the available energy and nutrients from their food compared to other breeds. It is often the case that the feeding instructions provided by food manufacturers will suggest more food than is necessary for a husky or sled dog, as instructions are not generally breed-specific. This is something to bear in mind when feeding complete dog foods such as kibble or wet food, and is discussed in more detail here
Feeding your husky or sled dog too soon before or after exercise is to be avoided. It can not only be uncomfortable for your husky to exercise on a full stomach, but feeding too close to physical exertion has been linked to one of the most serious and life-threatening medical emergencies sled dogs can incur; 'bloat' or gastric torsion. It is recommended that you wait AT LEAST 30 minutes (longer if at all possible) after exercise before feeding. This gives the dog's body a chance to settle down and cool off before having to deal with the digestive process. You should also wait AT LEAST 2 hours after a meal before you exercise your husky or sled dog, longer if possible, especially if you are exercising the dog vigorously (i.e. if you are 'working' your husky on a rig or scooter).
With regrard to Raw Feeding and natural diets, the two most well-known authors on the subject are
Dr. Ian Billinghurst, author of Give Your Dog a Bone: The Practical Commonsense Way to Feed Dogs For a Long Healthy Life,
If you are thinking about feeding your husky or sled dog on a raw diet, you will want to read at least one of the above mentioned books.
Also, for more information, try reading Natural Nutrition For Dogs & Cats
