How long Do Siberian Huskies Live

The husky is a highly sought-after canine breed due to its athleticism, intelligence, and stunning appearance. The longevity of a husky differs greatly from that of other dogs of similar weight, making them a one-of-a-kind member of the pack.

A husky’s longevity is determined by a variety of characteristics, including adult size, food, lifestyle, environment, and the health of their parents. Let’s take a deeper look at the husky lifetime down below.

How long do Siberian huskies live

Huskies have a life expectancy of 12-15 years. They’re a healthy breed for their size, with most medium to large dogs living for 10 to 12 years. In either scenario, we want to spend as much time as possible with our best friends. And as dog owners, we can help to extend our pets’ lives as much as possible.

Although some Siberian Huskies live to be 16, the typical lifespan is 12 to 15 years. Females live slightly longer than men in all breeds, even huskies.

Kody, a Siberian husky, lived in Philadelphia and lived to be 16 years old. Prior to his death in 2011, he was covered in local newspapers. There have been claims of Siberian Huskies living to be 18 or 19 years old on the Internet; however it is impossible to verify dog ages. The Guinness Book of World Records and other reliable sources no longer have a record of the oldest husky.

While a husky owner cannot control everything, you can help your best buddy live a healthy life by ensuring they eat a balanced diet, receive plenty of exercise, and get frequent vet visits. Choosing a good breeder is essential when adopting a purebred dog.

Siberian husky Life Stages

Siberian huskies have six unique life stages, from newborn to senior. Each stage has its own set of problems, and it’s vital to know what to expect from each one:

• The first few weeks of a puppy’s existence are spent sleeping and completely reliant on their mother because they are born blind and deaf.
• Huskies explore their environment and encounter new people and animals between the ages of four and twelve weeks, therefore it is critical that they have pleasant experiences that will help them develop into healthy and well-adjusted canines.
• Huskies tap into their independence around six months of age and confront their owners for authority; therefore good discipline and training are needed to remedy their juvenile behavior.
• Huskies achieve sexual maturity and continue to behaving rebelliously during the adolescent era between seven months and two years, therefore they will require more training and punishing to resolve underlying behavioural peculiarities.
• Huskies attain adulthood after two years, when they should have reached their maximum growth and settled into their duties as members of the family pack; females also begin reproducing at this age.
• Huskies enter the twilight of their lives after the eighth year of their lives, which lasts until death five or six years later; during this period, huskies may begin to have health difficulties as they lose vitality.

How to extend the life of a husky

The most important factors in your husky dog’s lifetime are genetics and lifestyle. Here are the elements that influence husky life expectancy, as well as the steps you can take to ensure your best buddy has the best start in life.

Breeding

Choose a responsible breeder who selects dogs based on their health and temperament, does genetic health testing on all the dogs they produce, and socializes their husky babies from an early age will help lessen the possibility of your dog inheriting difficulties.

Although genetic testing cannot rule out all diseases that may affect your dog, it can test for the most frequent concerns that plague the Husky breed.

Diet

Diet influences husky life expectancy in the same way that it influences your health. Huskies should consume a well-balanced diet rich in nutritious whole foods like as meat, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

While the controversy over whether kibble, wet, raw, or homemade cooked dog food is healthier for our pets continues, there isn’t enough scientific data to support one type of food over the others. As dog owners, we can only do our best.

The most crucial feature of a dog meal is a recognizable protein source as the first component, along with other entire foods in the ingredient deck. When shopping for dog food, avoid grain-free recipes, which are being investigated by the FDA for potentially increasing the risk of heart disease in dogs. Pulses, such as beans, peas, and lentils, are the top suspect, so avoid them until the FDA learns more about the risks.

Check to see if the dog food you’re buying satisfies the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) guidelines for a complete and balanced diet. If you’re creating your dog’s food from scratch, consult with a veterinary nutritionist to ensure he’s getting all the nutrients he needs. While we don’t know if dry, wet, raw, or homemade food affects the lifespan of our pets, we do know that obesity can reduce the lifespan of a husky or any other dog breed by up to two and a half years. Maintain a healthy weight for your dog throughout their life by monitoring their food intake. If you believe your dog needs to lose weight, consult with your veterinarian.

Exercise

Huskies were bred to be worker dogs, hauling sleds across the Arctic over vast distances. This is an energetic dog breed that requires a lot of activity.

Make sure your husky gets plenty of exercise every day. This will not only improve their quality of life but may also extend their life expectancy. Gentle exercise can help dogs with arthritis and other movement problems. And the more mobile your dog is, the longer they will live.

If you live in a cold region, you can take your husky to sled dog training to keep them busy and explore their working dog instincts over the winter.

Maintaining an Active Lifestyle

Overweight dogs have a 2 to 3 year shorter life expectancy than healthy-weight dogs. Siberian huskies have been bred for millennia to be capable of carrying heavy loads across long distances.

You should not contemplate having a husky if you are not physically fit and prepared to dedicate an hour or more each day to working out with it.

Infection Control

Because heartworms can kill your dog, a heartworm prophylactic such as Heartgard is important.

Neutering and Spaying

There are various studies that support the idea of spaying your female husky, as spayed females live longer lives.

Regular vet check

Regular veterinarian visits ensure that your dog is up to date on immunizations and preventative meds. This protects your dog from painful and preventable diseases such as rabies, distemper, heartworm, Bordetella, parvovirus, and hepatitis.

Your veterinarian can also assist you in monitoring your husky for indicators of the most frequent health issues afflicting the breed. Early detection and treatment of health problems can significantly increase the life expectancy of huskies.

How long do husky males live

Huskies have a life expectancy of 12-15 years. They’re a healthy breed for their size, with most medium to large dogs living for 10 to 12 years. In either scenario, we want to spend as much time as possible with our best friends. And as dog owners, we can help to extend our pets’ lives as much as possible.

How long Alaskan husky lives?

Alaskan Huskies have a life expectancy of 10-15 years. Nonetheless, numerous factors can alter a dog’s typical life expectancy, including their nutrition, exercise routine, living environment, and whether they have any prior health concerns.

How long do German shepherd husky mix live

Shepskies have a relatively long lifespan for dogs of their size, and you can expect them to live for around 10 to 14 years. While they tend to be healthier than their purebred parents, there are a few common health conditions to look out for if you’re considering adopting one of these dogs.

How long do husky lab mixes live

Husky labs are medium-sized dogs that weigh 40 to 60 pounds, stand 20 to 25 inches tall, and live for 11 to 13 years on average.

How much for a Siberian husky?

A new Siberian husky should cost around $1000 to purchase. Dogs from pet stores are less expensive. Adopting a healthy breed from a local shelter can help you save money. Routine veterinary care might cost up to $600 per year on average.

Common health problems in huskies

As previously said, the husky is a healthy dog breed. Majority of conditions to which huskies are prone, have an impact on their quality of life rather than their life span.

1. Cancer is the most common cause of death in elderly dogs. Every breed, including the Siberian husky, has its unique set of genetic illnesses, such as cataracts, clotting disorders, epilepsy, and high blood pressure. This breed is predisposed to degenerative myelopathy, skin infections, and hypothyroidism.
2. Hip dysplasia is one of the most common health problems in huskies. While hip dysplasia is not a cause of death, it might reduce husky life expectancy due to lameness. A lame dog is unable to live an active life, reducing its life expectancy.
3. Before breeding male and female huskies, breeders should have their hip joints evaluated by the AKC. Before you buy a husky puppy, ask breeders if they perform this health test. Then, use omega-3 fish oil and natural pain reliever vitamins to help your husky’s long-term joint health.
4. Huskies can have a range of ocular difficulties in addition to hip problems. While none of these health problems are fatal, they can reduce your pet’s quality of life and cause them to be less active because they will be less confident roaming around. The following are the most prevalent husky eye problems:
5. Juvenile cataracts: This condition causes the lens of your husky’s eye to appear opaque. It makes it more difficult for your dog to see because less light reaches their retina.
6. Corneal dystrophy: Similar to cataracts, this condition causes the corneas of a dog to become opaque, resulting in impaired eyesight.
7. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): This genetic illness, which is more frequent in male huskies, causes your dog’s vision to gradually decline, eventually leading to blindness.
8. Glaucoma: Your dog may lose vision suddenly or gradually as a result of a rise in ocular pressure caused by this condition.
9. Epilepsy is a common and treatable neurological illness that causes seizures that last from a few seconds to a few minutes in dogs.
10. Hypertension, often known as high blood pressure, is a condition that affects dogs of all breeds and, if left untreated, can lead to a variety of health issues.
11. Behavioral issues as huskies age, they may undergo cognitive decline, which can result in behavioral changes such as anxiety, disorientation, or hostility.

All breeding huskies should be evaluated by an ophthalmologist, according to the AKC. During routine exams, your vet should examine your husky dog’s eyes. If your best friend has vision difficulties, you can collaborate with a veterinary ophthalmologist to seek specialized care.

Summary

Huskies are normally healthy puppies that live 12-15 years. This is longer than many breeds, but as dog owners, we understand that every minute spent with your best buddy is priceless.

You can give your husky the greatest start possible by engaging with a responsible breeder that has their dogs screened for health before breeding. Once you’ve brought your husky puppy home, you can help them live a happy and healthy life by feeding them high-quality dog food, exercising them regularly, and never skipping a vet exam. A fish oil supplement can also help to protect this active dog’s joints. All of these measures can help huskies live longer lives.