The Siberian Husky is a medium-sized working breed dog that originated in Northeast Asia. They have a thickly furred double coat, erect triangular ears, and distinctive markings. They have high energy and intellect, and a natural instinct to roam and explore. Their blue or multi-colored eyes and striking facial masks only add to their beauty. Siberians can have blue eyes, brown eyes, eyes that are a little of both, or one of each color.

It is easy to see why many are drawn to the Siberian’s wolf-like beauty, but be aware that this athletic, intelligent dog can be independent and challenging for first-time dog owners. They are playful, loving, and social dogs who have all the qualities of wonderful family companions.

NHV Pet Experts put together the best tips for caring for these beautiful creatures. Do keep in mind every pup is unique, with varying temperaments, and different unique needs.

Socialize. Huskies are very social animals, and bringing them around other pets and animals at a young age will help develop friendly comfort levels with various sights, sounds, smells, and situations. This helps to avoid fearful, anxious, or aggressive behavior in the future when encountering these situations.

Exercise. Huskies were originally bred as working dogs with boundless amounts of energy. They can exhibit destructive behavior without adequate exercise to burn off all of their excitement. Your Husky would love to be your hiking, running, or jogging companion. Do keep in mind that they have a thick, double coat and are best suited for a cooler climate. So avoid exercising in hotter weather, and ensure that they do not overheat and stay cool during the warmer months.

Grooming. Huskies have thick fur that needs a little bit of extra TLC! The top layer of your Huskie’s double coat acts as a shield against UV rays, dirt, debris, and excessive moisture. Beneath this lies the undercoat, which is much softer and provides insulation. Their coat to shed more frequently in the spring and fall, and can be maintained by brushing once a week. NHV Coco Furcare Spray will be an excellent daily grooming aid for your husky dog.

Feed. Give a high-quality, protein-rich balanced diet that will fuel these high-energy, active dogs. Huskies tend to self-regulate their food and tend to burn a lot of calories throughout the day, so it is important to ensure they are receiving a nutritious diet. This dates back to their days of sled racing, where they lived in conditions where food was more difficult to come by.

Train. Huskies are naturally intelligent and headstrong pack animals who will be tempted to challenge your leadership- so it is important to establish yourself as the one in charge! Firm training involves managing their high prey drive instincts, obedience, crate, and leash training with consistency. They can be stubborn, strong-willed, and independent (which is why many say they can be a challenge to train!)

Regular vet visits. Ensure your pooch goes for a regular head-to-tail physical exam at least twice a year, along with recommended vaccines and dental checkups. Blood and urine tests can give your vet the scoop on your pet’s kidney and liver health, thyroid hormone levels, and more.

The beauty, grace, and power of the Siberian husky do not make them immune to disease – though they are relatively healthy compared to other breeds. Some illnesses are detectable at birth, while others develop as your Husky ages.

Common health problems in a Husky and natural supplements that can help

1. Like other mid-to-large dogs, one of the most common health concerns for Huskies is hip dysplasia – an abnormal formation of the hip socket, that in some cases can cause uncomfortable arthritis of the joints.

Turmeric is an herbal extract that helps support the treatment of luxating patellas and hip dysplasia. It is useful for symptoms of arthritis as well, as it contains discomfort reducing and anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, it is also beneficial for the body’s vital organs like the lungs, liver, kidneys, and heart.

Old Timer is blend of herbs that help reduce discomfort caused by joint-related disorders in pets and promotes hip and joint health overall. It aids better movement and helps reduce soreness.

2. Zinc-responsive dermatosis occurs most often in the Alaskan breeds like the Siberian Husky and the Alaskan Malamute. Like you, your dogs also need sufficient supply of zinc in their body, whether that is through diet or the body is not absorbing it properly. If not, Siberian Huskies may suffer from hair loss, redness, and irritation on their elbows, feet, mouth, eyes, ears, and paw pads.

Hair loss can occur for many different reasons, such as nutritional deficiencies, allergies, impairment of the immune system, infections, stress, and more. The NHV Pro Hair n’ Fur Bundle contains many different beneficial properties, and they can work synergistically together to help balance health issues that may be causing hair loss. Once the skin issues have cleared up, the Multi Essentials in the kit can be continued to fill nutritional voids, relieve the symptoms of zinc deficiency, and aid with digestion.

3. Hind leg weakness in larger breed dogs. The causes can be many and progressive weakness and incoordination of the rear limbs are often early signs of Degenerative Myelopathy in dogs.

Yucca extract helps support muscular health and helps with the weakness or sudden drooping from the back end that these dogs can show. Turmeric helps support the spine and the circulatory system. PetOmega 3 is a fish oil blend that is rich in anti-oxidants and excellent for the nervous system.

4. Huskies aren’t particularly more prone to respiratory conditions, but lately at NHV we have noticed quite a few huskies come to us with these concerns.

Bronchitis affects the smaller airways in a dog’s respiratory system and causes narrowing due to inflammation and swelling of the bronchi after exposure to infections, environmental allergens, parasites, asthma, or a genetic predisposition. Larger, deep-chested dogs such as the Siberian Husky are more susceptible to this condition. This can cause coughing, difficulty breathing, and respiratory distress. 

NHV Resp-Aid provides natural support for respiratory disorders, coughs, and bronchial infections in dogs. It has a natural anti-inflammatory action to fight infection and support healthy breathing. Helps relieve congestion and reduces discomfort in breathing.

Super huskies on NHV supplements

Meet Granite a 13 year old Siberian husky and his Mama @aspenladd a UFC Champion. Granite may be senior doggo battling congestion for the last many years, slight signs of degenerative myelopathy too… but he can’t slow down when he’s got a super fighter mama to support and a pack to guide on hikes every day. NHV supplements have been a part of his regimen these past 5 weeks and (paws crossed) he has had no bad days since! We send this lovely pack our best wishes and lots of cuddly husky hugs. Keep fighting and winning, naturally!

He has a slew of issues but is still extremely active and enjoys the heck out of life. Hikes with my 2 other dogs and me between 6-10 miles a day and love it. He has several issues we’ve been dealing with since he was 8ish.

Grizwald is a special boy. He has battled chronic rhinitis – inflammation and decreased airflow to the nasal passage- which leads to sneezing, and nasal discharge. He loves to take his Resp-Aid and Felimm. Grizzy has been dealing with this issue for over a year, so we will keep in touch with his momma to see how he is doing. We might need to add the NHV Stimmune to his regimen to help with the recurring infection.

My husky has chronic rhinitis which he was treated for over a year on antibiotics and nothing helped him at all. He is extremely congested and we can’t find anything that works. He also recently was diagnosed with zinc deficiency and has sores on his nose and chin. @grizzywolf

Looking for natural herbs to support your Husky’s health? Ask an NHV Pet Expert what supplements can help your husky the most.

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