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 Husky’s 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. We’ve 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 pet’s individual case.

A Glance at Our Top Picks (2024 Update)

The 11 Best Dog Foods for Huskies to Gain Weight

1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food – Best Overall

When you’re serious about getting your husky to put on some weight, you’re not going to find a better option than The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food. They’ve 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, they’ll 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 it’s an extremely easy service to sign up for and use. However, while there’s a lot to love about The Farmer’s Dog, it’s undoubtedly one of the more expensive options out there. But for everything you get, we think it’s well worth every penny and it’s easily the best overall dog food for huskies to gain weight.

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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 isn’t a good option for dogs with a sensitivity to chicken.

It’s 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 it’s a good source of essential minerals that support bone and joint health.

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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.

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4. Eukanuba Premium Performance Puppy – Best for Puppies

If you’ve 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.

• Also Read: Eukanuba Dog Food Review: Pros, Cons & Recalls

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5. Farmina N&D Ocean

If you’re 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 it’s a moderate-fat recipe, although it’s a great source of omega fatty acids. This food is free of common protein allergens, and it’s a good source of wholesome and nutrient dense grains that support healthy energy levels.

This is a low-glycemic food, which means that it won’t 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.

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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.

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

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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 it’s 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. It’s a good source of omega fatty acids, and it’s 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 dog’s stools and discoloration around the mouth in light-colored dogs.

• Also Read: Victor Dog Food Review: Pros, Cons, Recalls & FAQ

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8. Inukshuk 32/32

If you’re 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.

It’s 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 it’s 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.

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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.

It’s 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.

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10. JustFoodForDogs Turkey & Whole Wheat Macaroni Recipe

If you’re 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. It’s 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.

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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. It’s 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.

Buyer’s 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, it’s 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 dog’s 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 dog’s needs.

The best overall dog food to support your Husky’s weight gain is The Farmer’s 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.

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Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock