Mid-sized to large canines like Siberian huskies don’t live as long as smaller ones.
However, huskies live longer than giant-sized dogs like Great Danes or Irish Wolfhounds, which usually pass away by the time they are ten.
Certainly, you can contribute as a fur parent in helping your huskies live longer.
So, if you’re curious about your beloved Siberian Husky’s life span, check out all the juicy details here.
How Long Do Huskies Live
Siberian huskies live between 12-14 years. Things husky owners can do to make sure their dogs live for as long as they can are to take the dogs for annual check-ups, perform preventative parasite care, neuter them, and regularly exercise them. It’s also crucial to give them the right food amount and to brush them often.
What You Can Do To Help Your Husky Live Longer
Do Daily Check-Ups
Dogs, including Siberian huskies, can be pretty stoic when it comes to pain.
Their ancestors in the wild had to hide their symptoms of sickness or injury so they would not attract the attention of any passing predator.
This means that huskies can be very sick before they start illness signs. Many illnesses can be treated if caught in the early stages.
How do you determine these early stages if the dog acts normally?
Give the dog a daily check-up. This can be as easy as petting the dog all over every day.
Petting strengthens the bond between you and your husky.
You also get to feel for any parasites, lumps, scratches, bald spots, or anything else that may feel wrong.
Getting to Know Your Husky’s Normal
Spend as much time as you can with your husky.
This not only makes the dog feel good and can make you feel good, but it helps you know how your husky normally behaves.
Get to know how he or she normally eats, sleeps, plays, walks, poops, and pees. Learn how often they normally scratch or drink.
Any deviation in these norms is a sign that there’s something wrong with your husky’s health. Once they change, it’s time to call the vet.
Not all changes in a dog are due to physical reasons, but why take the chance?
About twice a year, usually during spring and autumn, a husky sheds its undercoat. The husky will shed huge balls of fur rather suddenly.
This can be alarming for new husky owners, but it’s perfectly normal.
Brushing for about twenty minutes a day at this time helps the process go quicker.
Annual Check-Ups with a Veterinarian
All dogs need to be seen by a veterinarian at least once a year. This is also a good time for vaccinations and legally required rabies shots.
Checking blood and stool can detect problems with parasites or other conditions which can be treated before the dog is harmed.
Your vet can also track its weight. Huskies sometimes put on weight so gradually you may not notice.
Fat huskies are prone to many health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis.
While at the vet’s office, pick up a year’s supply of heartworm preventative medication and flea and tick preventative medication.
Preventing parasites not only helps prolong the life of your husky but makes it healthier for your whole household.
Exercise and Healthy Diet
Dogs love to eat and huskies are no exceptions. They are like people in that they will eat anything – even if it’s bad for them.
Make sure they eat healthy food. Do not leave dog food out all of the time or your husky will get very fat.
Bad food for dogs that can poison them include sugarless gum, chocolate, onions, almonds, raisins, grapes, apple seeds, spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, and coffee.
Keep these foods away from dogs. Keep human food treats to a minimum, especially anything rich in calories and grease.
Regular exercise not only keeps the dog at a good weight but also keeps the body limber and the muscles working. Work out with your dog and you get health benefits, too.
Playing with your husky and giving a good walk each day helps tire the husky out and keeps him or her from getting into dangerous mischief.
Provide a Safe Home
Huskies oftentimes get into loads of trouble when they’re alone. Be sure to keep anything poisonous like cleaners, prescription medication, pesticides or antifreeze, locked away.
Put anything you do not want your husky to chew, like shoes, off of the floor and out of reach.
Check toys and rawhide chews to see if they have been torn into small bits. The husky could choke on them, so throw them out and get new toys or chews.
Cat toys are choking hazards for huskies.
If you’re into a smoking habit, please consider to quit. Dogs can suffer health issues from passive tobacco smoke.
Huskies in homes of smokers suffer from more breathing problems, eye infections, allergies, and lung cancer than huskies who live in homes of non-smokers.
Consider Neutering or Spaying
According to a study by the University of Georgia, neutered or spayed dogs live an average of 17 months longer than dogs that are not sterilized.
They looked at 40,000 dog deaths and why they died. Although the study did not list what breeds were in the study, we can assume just by the huge number that some huskies were involved, as they have been a popular breed for many years.
Neutered and spayed dogs died of ailments common to very old dogs – cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Dogs left entire, on the other hand, died younger and often from trauma or infectious diseases.
Dogs left entire get into more trouble because they roam and fight other dogs looking for mates. They’re often hit by vehicles as they wander.
They also come into contact with stray dogs which can carry infectious diseases.
Frequently Asked Questions About How Long Do Huskies Live
Can a Husky Live to be Twenty?
Very, very occasionally, a husky may live to be 20. This is highly unusual. Usually, a husky lives to be twelve to fourteen years old.
Do Huskies Die Easily?
Each dog is different. As a whole, huskies are healthier than a lot of purebred breeds. Compared to their purebred peers, mixed-breed canines, including mixed-breed huskies, tend to live longer. Just why is unknown.
What Usually Causes Huskies To Die?
Responsible husky breeders screen out dogs that pass on hereditary diseases. Not all breeders are responsible, though. Old huskies are prone to getting cancer, just as all old dogs are prone to getting cancer and autoimmune diseases.
The Least You Need to Know
Huskies live an average of thirteen years, very occasionally reaching twenty.
Important things you can do to make sure your husky reaches that age is to give daily check-ups, have regular vet checks, keep the dog at a healthy weight, exercise regularly, and keep a safe home for the dog to live in.
Huskies that are neutered or spayed have a tendency to live longer than those who didn’t get these procedures.