Raw Feeding Guidelines
Raw diets are complex, more so than feeding kibble, although if you get it right, it’s well worth investing the time. This is not a complete reference, but an overview to give you the foundations of a raw diet.
The approximate overall ratio is:
- 80% meat, sinew, ligaments, fat,
- 10% edible bone,
- 5% liver,
- 5% organ meat.
Important points:
- Meats are high in phosphorus, whilst bones are high in calcium. When the meat is fed 80% and bone at 10%, you have pretty much the exact ratios of calcium required by a dog: whole prey, fish, eggs, and tripe help to complete a balanced ratio.
- Organ meats should not exceed 10% of the husky’s diet, and 5% of that should be liver. Feed the liver once a week and try to find an organic free-range fed source whenever possible.
- Freeze pork and salmon 2 weeks before feeding – this will kill parasites in the meat.
- Feed trachea, trim, poultry feet as they are an excellent natural source of chondroitin and glucosamine that help build and support healthy joints in your dog.
- Always feed only raw bones as cooked bones will splinter and pierce the stomach or the intestines.
- Always be on the safe side and supervise all bone chewing activities in case you have to intervene.
Adding Supplements To The Raw Diet
Should you add supplements to a husky raw diet? This is a much-debated subject. It stands to reason that if done correctly, raw diets shouldn’t need supplementation. The calories, vitamins and minerals are coming from whole food sources (the best kind). Other experts argue that there are so many variables in dogs, that it’s not possible to gauge how much nutrition is being absorbed accurately. Still, then the same could be said for kibble, where less nutrition will be absorbed.
The main most popular supplements are Calcium, Fish Oils, Plant Oils, Vitamin E, sources of Iodine, and Green Blends of alpha-alpha, spirulina, or other green foods.
Note: Keep in mind that while too little of a specific vitamin or mineral is bad, too much can be even worse. It’s important not to supplement without first consulting with a professional. However, fish oil will always be of benefit to your dog, with no hidden dangers.
How Much Raw Food To Feed Your Dog
Most huskies eat around two to three percent of their ideal adult weight per day.
Rough calculations:
- 30kg (66 lb) dog at 2% would eat 600gr (22 oz) of food, and at 3% it would eat 900gr (32 oz) of food.
- 20kg (44lb) dog at 2% would eat 400gr (14 oz) of food, and at 3% it would eat 600gr (22 oz) of food.
- 10kg (22 lb) dog at 2% would eat 200gr (7 oz) of food, and at 3% it would eat 300gr (11 oz) of food.
Huskies over 6 months of age split into 2 feedings per day.
For puppies 4 to 6 months old, split into 3 meals per day.
If you are feeding a puppy under 4 months old, split into 4 or more meals per day.
I have a female siberian husky and she is just over 2yrs of age. She is a fussy eater and l have split feedings to 2 times a day. She was an outside dog and fed 1 time day. Due to no one being at home till the kids got home. Previous owner told me she didn’t eat much then. She does have the runs. What can l do to stop that to where she has solid bowel movements.
Hi I have 2 husky puppy’s 2&1/2 months old my bitch is fine on harringtons puppy complete but my dog has the shits everytime he eats?!?!?! I gave him scrambled eggs and cooked chicken and his poo was solid and he was regular! But our vet said we can’t feed him that all the time
Please husky owners help us out
My husky is not eating pedigree with chicken please suggest me to what to do and I want to make my husky bushy but it’s not eating any type of food please help me for this
I feed my 2 malamute and 2 huskies raw frozen chicken portions with sprouts carrots and cauliflower frozen for breakfast and tripe frozen with ox heart frozen and lungs frozen with there frozen veg chopped up .mine love there raw frozen chopped and veg and carrots for treats
What about scientific studies proving domestic dogs have amylase – an ezyme needed to digest starchy foods such as rice?
If you are feeding raw then the liver is fed raw. If you are feeding a cooked diet then the liver can be cooked. Supplements are called for if, even after introducing abundant natural sources of zinc into the diet, the dog is still showing symptoms of being Zinc Deficient. A list of natural sources of zinc can be found in this article https://www.snowdog.guru/correcting-zinc-deficiency-in-huskies/
When you wrote aout liver, are you referring to raw liver?
I cook my malamute liver a lot, not sure if he would even eat raw.
Also what is the best sources for zinc? Should I use supplements?