Best Dog Food For Huskies To Gain Weight 2024 (Top Picks)

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For a happy and full life, a husky’s health is paramount. However, some Huskies may face unique challenges like maintaining a healthy weight. While these intelligent and athletic dogs are known for their stamina and lean physique, certain dogs may require special attention to gain weight and achieve optimal body condition.

Today, we’ll talk about some of the best dog food for huskies to gain weight and how you can make the best choice in dog food for your pup. 

Best Dog Foods for Huskies to Gain Weight

#1 Best Dog Food for Huskies to Gain Weight

👉 Nom Nom

Nom Nom is an exceptional dog food delivery service that prioritizes quality and nutrition. Their meticulous cooking process involves gently preparing meats and veggies individually to retain essential nutrients and enhance digestibility. 

Nom Nom will determine the ideal metabolism and caloric requirements based on your dog’s age, weight, and activity level. I also like that they take into consideration any health concerns you may have for your dog, like being underweight. Each recipe contains key nutrients like fish oil and zinc gluconate, which prove to be highly beneficial for huskies. 

Moreover, Nom Nom has recently formed a partnership with PetSmart, enabling you to personally visit select PetSmart stores and choose from a range of beef, turkey, chicken, or pork recipes. These can be used as full meals, or you can simply use them as food toppers to the diet your dog is already on in order to increase their calorie intake.

The recipes are also made to be highly appetizing for dogs. If your dog is a picky eater, switching to Nom Nom or including Nom Nom in their meals can really help increase their calorie intake! Nom Nom is one of the best dog foods for picky huskies.

✅ Pros:

• High-quality, human-grade ingredients 
• High protein content 
• Easily digestible ingredients

❌ Cons:

• Expensive

#2 Best Dog Food for Huskies to Gain Weight

👉 Ollie

Another amazing option for dog food is fresh dog food like Ollie. Fresh dog food is minimally processed, which helps retain the nutritional integrity of the ingredients. High-heat processing methods used in commercial kibble production can degrade the nutrient content of the food. By avoiding excessive processing, fresh dog food can preserve more of the natural enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. Instead of high heat and excessive processing, Ollie cooks their recipes in USDA kitchens at low temperatures according to USDA facility standards. 

Furthermore, all of the ingredients used are human-grade and sourced from reputable food suppliers, local farms, and other human food purveyors that meet USDA standards. You never have to worry about where your dog’s food is coming from! 

Learn more in our Ollie dog food review.

✅ Pros:

• Customized meal plans to help your husky gain weight
• Uses high quality real wholefood ingredients
• Convenient subscription service 

❌ Cons:

• Pricey!

Best Dry Dog Food for Huskies to Gain Weight

👉 Taste of the Wild High Prairie

This dog food is a favorite of mine largely because of the company’s focus on using real high-quality meat and providing a high protein content. This recipe specifically boasts 32% crude protein! It is made up of water buffalo, bison, venison, and beef. It also contains 18% crude fat, which can be beneficial for dogs who need some additional help putting or keeping on weight. I also like that even though it contains zinc sulfate, which isn’t the most digestible form of zinc, it does contain zinc proteinate, which is known to be highly digestible and beneficial for huskies. 

✅ Pros:

• Real meat 
• High in protein and fat 
• Contains zinc proteinate 

❌ Cons:

• Zinc sulfate is listed as an ingredient that can be difficult to digest for some dogs 

Best Wet/Canned Dog Food for Huskies to Gain Weight

👉 Canidae Pure Puppy Canned Food

This canned puppy food has a crude protein content of 9% and a crude fat content of 6.5%. Compared to other canned food options for adult dogs, these percentages are quite a bit higher, especially in regard to fat. It also contains 500 kcal in each can, which is higher than many comparable canned foods. For dogs who need some additional protein and fat content, as well as a diet higher in calories, puppy food can be a really beneficial option.

 I also love that it is a limited-ingredient recipe that focuses on using real food. The first ingredient is chicken, followed by chicken broth, eggs, peas, and salmon oil. I especially love that it includes salmon oil since it is a great source of omega-3. This food can be served as an entire meal, or it can be added to your dog’s regular diet in order to add some calories and fat as well as help entice your dog to eat! 

✅ Pros:

• Real ingredients
• High in protein, fat, and calories
• Motivates dogs to eat 

❌ Cons:

• It contains contains zinc sulfate, which for some dogs, isn’t easily digestible

Nutritional Requirements for Huskies To Gain Weight

Let’s talk about why some huskies might be a little too skinny and their nutritional requirements.

Much like us humans, as huskies get older, their metabolism tends to slow down. In these situations, huskies may not need to eat as much as they did in their younger days. Older dogs can also sometimes have a hard time keeping the weight on.

In these cases, skinny huskies may require more calories or more calorie-dense food. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that huskies tend to have sensitive stomachs. Some foods that can help with their digestive system include easy-to-digest foods that have higher-quality proteins and fibers. Probiotics and prebiotics can also promote healthy gut flora. However, in terms of sensitive stomachs, this can vary depending on the dog. For more info, see the best dog food for huskies with a sensitive stomach.

Further reading:

• Why is my husky so small?
• How much should huskies eat?
• What do huskies eat?

Dog Food To Avoid

Now that we’ve gone over husky nutritional requirements and some great options to choose from for your husky who needs a few extra pounds let’s go over some of the red flags within the world of dog food. 

Red flag number one is when the label includes protein sources like “meat meal” or “animal by-products.” This is a purposefully vague description that only leaves us wondering what this mystery meat is and why they aren’t willing to list it. 

Another red flag is when ingredients like corn, wheat, and soy are in the food and are some of the first ingredients listed. These are unnecessary filler ingredients with little to no nutritional value for our dogs. These dog foods that have excessive amounts of carbohydrates can lead to unhealthy weight gain. And while this may seem like a good thing for a dog needing to gain weight, it can ultimately lead to more health problems down the road. 

Ultimately, the best dog food for huskies is food made from quality wholefood ingredients, not highly processed filler ingredients with nasty chemical additives

Transitioning a Husky’s Food 

Transitioning your dog’s food when they are a picky eater and don’t eat enough, or when they are underweight, should be a gradual process. Once you’ve decided on a new food to switch to, you’ll want to start by mixing just a small portion of the new food with the old. Most people opt for somewhere around 10 to 25% new, but it could be as low as 95% old and only 5% new. 

Observe your dog’s response and gradually increase the proportion of the new food over several days. If your dog shows reluctance, consider adding warm water or low-sodium chicken broth to enhance the flavor. Aim to increase the ratio of the new food by 10-25% every 2-3 days. Monitor your dog for any adverse reactions and consult with your veterinarian if needed. Be patient and persistent throughout the process, as some dogs may take longer to adapt. 

Other tips include:

• One thing you can do to help move the process along is to limit treats and table scraps to encourage your dog’s appetite for their main meals.
• But on the other hand, you could also try breaking up a few of your dog’s favorite treats and mixing them in with their food to try and entice them to eat.
• However, be sure not to use too many treats, though, as we don’t want them just picking out the treats and spitting out the food they don’t like or aren’t used to! 
• Another tool you could implement would be to start using treat toys or treat puzzles to make eating more fun and exciting.
• Additionally, continue with a consistent feeding schedule and monitor your dog’s weight to ensure they are maintaining a healthy weight. 

Our Recommendation

Finding the right dog food for huskies in need of weight gain is crucial for their overall health and well-being. With their unique nutritional requirements, it is essential to select a high-quality dog food that offers a balanced blend of protein, healthy fats, and nutrient-rich ingredients. 

Additionally, incorporating supplements like omega-3 fatty acids can further support weight gain in huskies. Remember to consult with your veterinarian to determine the specific dietary needs of your husky and to monitor their progress. By providing them with the best dog food tailored to their needs, you can help your husky achieve a healthy weight. 

We believe Nom Nom is the best dog food for huskies to gain weight.

Do you have an older husky? See the best dog food for senior huskies.

Further reading: Best supplements for huskies

FAQ