Last Updated on August 12, 2021 by admin
When we bring an adorable puppy home, it seems that they grow up in the blink of an eye. At some point, you may be wondering, how long will my Husky live for?
Well, the good news is that your Husky has quite a good life expectancy for a medium-sized dog.
Therefore, when you buy a dog of any breed, you need to take into consideration that it is a lifetime commitment, because if you care for them properly then they will be with you for quite a long time.
The Husky Lifespan
Huskies experience most of their physical growth in the first year or two of their lives.
They generally attain their full adult height by 12 months of age and take a further 12 months to ‘fill out’ to their final adult weight.
They will take a little longer to mature mentally!
The age that a dog lives depends on its breed. Smaller breeds tend to live longer, and large breeds have a shorter life expectancy.
As a medium-sized breed, your Husky will have a good chance of living 12 to 15 years provided that you take proper care of them, to give them the best chance at a long and healthy life.
What Factors Affect The Life Expectancy Of A Husky?
The number one thing that you can do to give your Husky the best shot at a long life is by helping them to maintain a healthy weight.
The two factors that will affect your Husky’s weight are 1) diet, and 2) exercise.
Husky Diet and Lifespan
The best way to keep your Husky in tip-top condition and therefore prolong its life as long as possible is to ensure that they maintain a healthy weight for their breed.
The optimal weight for a male adult Husky is 44 to 59 pounds. The taller the dog at the shoulder, the more that they should weigh.
The optimal weight for a female Husky is 35 to 50 pounds. Again, the taller the dog at the shoulder, the more they should weigh.
In order to keep your Husky at their correct weight, feeding them the right amount of good quality and nutrient-rich dog food is crucial. You can check out a feeding chart for Siberian Huskies here.
Husky Exercise and Life Expectancy
Another way to ensure that your Husky is living its best (and longest!) life is to provide them with vigorous daily exercise. The Husky is a working dog, bred to pull heavy cargo-laden sleds across the snow.
Read more about: What Type Of Huskies Are There?
Therefore, a short walk around the block a few times a day is just not going to cut it when it comes to keeping your Husky in top condition. They need hard, vigorous exercise, including running, every day. This not only keeps their weight down, but it is essential for their mental health too.
You can get some ideas on how to exercise your Husky in order to keep them fit, and to keep boredom at bay, here.
Warning To Novice Husky Owners!
A bored and frustrated Husky can be a danger to itself and other animals.
There is a very real risk that if you do not give your Husky this physical outlet, they will escape their yard (they are excellent escape-artists), and get into trouble by chasing and harming other animals. Then you may find yourself in the terrible position of having to have your dog put down.
So giving them plenty of exercise will help prevent this from occurring.
Husky Health Conditions
Unfortunately, like all purebred dogs, Huskies are prone to various health issues. Whilst these issues may not be life-threatening, they can impact the health of your Husky over their lifespan, not to mention their quality of life.
Eye Conditions
There are certain eye conditions that Huskies are prone to. One is juvenile cataracts, where cloudy tissue grows over the eye which reduces the dog’s ability to see. Surgery is required to remove cataracts, and like with any surgery there can be associated risks to the dog’s health. Other eye conditions that affect this breed are problems with the retina and cornea.
Thyroid Conditions
Hypothyroidism is a condition that affects Huskies. The thyroid regulates metabolism. When the thyroid does not produce enough hormone, Huskies can become lethargic. This condition affects the metabolism, so once again, weight gain can occur.
Your vet can do blood tests on your dog to see if their thyroid is functioning normally or not. If your Husky does have hypothyroidism then your dog will be on medications for the rest of their life.
Hip Dysplasia
This is a genetic deformity of the hip socket that may require surgery. It can also lead to arthritis in later life. This can impact a Husky’s ability to run, which in turn can lead to weight gain, which in turn can reduce their life expectancy.
When choosing a Husky puppy, it is important that you talk to the breeder about the health history of the parents, given that this is an inherited problem.
In Summary:
- Like most medium-sized dog breeds, Huskies will live for an average of 12 to 15 years;
- Optimal Husky life expectancy can be achieved via a healthy diet, to keep them at their optimal weight, and vigorous exercise, which keeps their weight in a healthy range;
- Exercise is also very important for a Husky’s mental health. A Husky that does not get adequate exercise can become dangerous, and poses a risk to itself and other animals;
- There are various health problems associated with Huskies that may impact their lifespan. These include conditions that affect the eyes, the thyroid, and the hips;
- Many Husky health issues are genetic, meaning that they have inherited being prone to them by their parent/s;
- Working with breeders and vets to ensure a healthy puppy is selected is your best chance of avoiding health complications in later life that may reduce your Husky’s quality of life and life expectancy.
