One of the healthiest breeds to survive the extreme cold of Siberia is the Husky. Working dogs that were first raised by the Chukchi in Siberia’s frozen tundra, these Huskies are renowned for their stamina and ability to pull sleighs over long distances in bitterly cold weather.
How Long Do Siberian Huskies Live For?
The average lifespan of a Siberian Husky is twelve to fifteen years. They can live much longer if you take care of their health and basic needs. Our dogs are like family to us, and we want they could stay with us forever.
When it comes to their dogs’ lifespan, dog owners really make a difference. Dog owners can extend their pets’ lives by providing them with healthy food, stimulating activities, and frequent veterinary checkups.
Factors affecting the lifespan of a Siberian Husky
Some factors have a great impact on the lifespan of a Siberian Husky, these factors are explained below:
Breeding
Responsible Breeder
When you are looking for dogs, make sure you contact the responsible breeder as it plays a significant role in the life of the dog. The responsible breeder is the one who only breeds healthy dogs and starts socializing them at an early age. This helps reduce the chances of inheriting diseases from their unhealthy parents and live long and healthy life.
Over-breeding
One of the main reasons that reduces the life span of dogs is overbreeding. Huskies are one of the most popular breeds of dogs and are ranked 16th number in popular dog breeds in America. Because they are popular, people demand them and then they are at the risk of overbreeding. Overbreeding happens when breeders start breeding different breeds to keep up with demands.
This also leads to inbreeding in which breeders start mating dogs at a faster pace and this causes the breeding of less healthy dogs and then further breeding of these unhealthy dogs continues. This results in dogs that inherit different diseases from their parents and the life expectancy of that breed decreases.
Healthy Diet
You can prevent many diseases and keep your dog healthy by feeding him good food; this is one of the best ways to help your dog lead a healthy life. You need to give your dog food that is perfectly balanced, full of supplements and fulfills your dog’s nutritional deficiencies.
While feeding him, remember that there is a certain limit to how much dry food you can give your dog in a day. Feeding him more than he needs will result in obesity, making your Siberian Husky slow and prone to many other diseases.
This large breed is prone to hip dysplasia, so you don’t want it to suffer. Also, buy the best dry food for your dog, and keep his food from cheap stores; it causes many kidney and liver disorders.
How much food you should give your dog daily depends on metabolism, size, and age. If you have a large dog, like a Husky, give him two to three big or four small meals daily.
Give them no human food that can upset their stomach, like nuts or citrus fruits. Foods comprising coffee and chocolates may also be harmful to their health. Seizures and vomiting may result from them.
Exercise
As most dog breeds have very high energy levels, Husky also inherit this quality from their big version, Siberian Huskies. They want to play with you all the time and want your attention. Sometimes they become couch potatoes. They will be in their world and will not move an inch, resting.
Some of the activities that will help in keeping your Husky busy are suggested here:
- Fetch
- Ball
- Dock Diving
- Herding
- Obedience training
- Tricks teaching
- Agility Training
Health Issues
There are some serious health issues that you should be aware of and may reduce the life span of your Siberian Husky are described below:
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a health problem that almost every breed suffers from and in this, the ball of the hip socket doesn’t fit into the joint correctly.
Elbow Dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia is a hereditary condition that impacts the elbow joint, similar to hip dysplasia. It may result in joint pain and disability.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
A progressive eye disease that causes the loss of the retina’s photoreceptors and, ultimately, blindness.
Glaucoma
An eye disease can lead to temporary or permanent vision loss and high eye pressure.
Regular Checkups
Take your Husky to a vet for regular checkups. This will help in diagnosing any health issue before it is too late.
So, How Long Do Siberian Huskies Live For?
Huskies are generally a healthier breed than many other dog breeds, as seen by their 12- to 15-year lifespan. Make sure you ask the breeder for care instructions before adopting. Your dog’s lifespan can be extended with a healthy diet and frequent exercise. You should also take your dog to the vet on a regular basis so that he can identify any potential health issues before they become serious.
