When a cute and funny husky puppy appears in the house, the last thing its owners think about is how long dogs of this breed live.
Vaccinations, first walks, exhibitions, sports competitions - these are the things that usually worry the owners of young dogs.
But time passes, and sooner or later the moment comes when the owner first notices gray hair on the face of his husky.
And then the owner thinks about how he can prolong the life of the pet?
Life expectancy for boys and girls
On average, the life expectancy of Husky is 12-15 years.
However, how long a pet will live depends to a large extent on the conditions of its keeping, diet, physical activity and many other reasons. Only if all these conditions are met will the husky live to these years.
If the pet is poorly cared for, not given enough walks, does not take care of its health, and at the same time is fed anything, then the dog will hardly be able to live up to 10 years.
IMPORTANT!
With good care and maintenance, the life expectancy of a husky can reach 25 years.
Speaking about who lives longer - boys or girls, it should be noted that males of this breed have a predisposition to diseases of the genitourinary system, which can significantly shorten their life.
It is also believed that older Husky males are more likely than females to develop hypertension, which can also affect their life expectancy.
However, Husky girls, due to improper breeding or under the influence of certain drugs that affect reproductive function, can also develop diseases of the genitourinary system, for example, pyometra, which often leads to very serious complications and even death.
If the owner of a husky does not intend to get offspring from his dog and at the same time wants to prolong its life, he can resort to sterilization or castration.
What determines the life expectancy of a husky?
The lifespan of the Husky breed depends on living conditions. These are very active dogs that feel uncomfortable in cramped apartments. Because of this, their average life expectancy is no more than 15 years.
Husky is a faithful family friend
For your information! Dogs living in private houses in enclosures live up to 25 years, since in such conditions it is easier to provide representatives of this breed with ideal maintenance.
The lifespan of a husky depends on the following factors:
- physical activity of the animal;
- proper diet;
- regular examination by a veterinarian, routine vaccinations;
- room suitable for maintenance.
The attitude of the owner, his love and care also plays a big role.
Physical activity affects your pet's health
How long do dogs live when kept on the street?
Living conditions similar to those to which huskies have been accustomed for centuries help to prolong the life of these dogs.
If for representatives of many other breeds living in a yard or in an enclosure in a private home can negatively affect their health, for huskies this, on the contrary, is the best possible living conditions.
Clean air, the opportunity to move as much as the dog wishes and the natural change of weather have a beneficial effect on their well-being.
A Husky kept outdoors can live up to 20-25 years.
Expert opinion
Kozhevin Semyon Kirillovich
Expert dog handler.
“On average, Siberian huskies live 12-15 years. However, how long a pet can live primarily depends on where it is kept. Dogs living in an apartment and suffering from lack of exercise can live 10-12 years. In rural areas, huskies have a good chance of living to 20 or even 25 years. As for the lifespan depending on the gender of the dog, in most cases, it does not significantly affect how long the pet will live.”
Lifespan
The average lifespan of Siberian Huskies is about 12 years, similar to other medium and large dog breeds. Many individuals live up to 15 years, and some live even longer. Female huskies tend to live slightly longer than male dogs of all breeds, including huskies. However, the difference won't be too big, so don't be surprised if your husky boy outlives his partner, sister, or girlfriend.
Dog age compared to human years
| Husky dog age | Person's age |
| 1 year | 15 years |
| 2 years | 24 years |
| 3 years | 28 years |
| 4 years | 32 years |
| 5 years | 36 years |
| 6 years | 42 years |
| 7 years | 47 years old |
| 8 years | 51 years old |
| 9 years | 56 years old |
| 10 years | 60 years |
| 11 years | 65 years old |
| 12 years | 69 years old |
| 13 years | 74 years old |
| 14 years | 78 years old |
| 15 years | 83 years old |
| 16 years | 87 years old |
How to determine the age of a husky?
Teeth
Most experts determine the age of dogs by the degree of wear and appearance of their teeth. This method is considered quite reliable, however, depending on the conditions in which the husky was kept and what it was fed, it can give an error of up to two years.
What do teeth look like in dogs of different ages:
- 1-2 years. The teeth are snow-white, strong and sharp, and their edges have protrusions shaped like trefoils.
- 2 years. The Husky's teeth are still white and shiny, but the ridges on the edges are starting to wear down.
- 4 years. The teeth become grayish and less shiny. The protrusions on their edges are almost invisible by this age.
- 5 years. The color of the teeth changes to yellowish, and the edges of the fangs become dull.
- 6-8 years old. Husky incisors take on a concave shape, and by this age the fangs already look very blunt. There may also be a predisposition to accelerated formation of tartar.
- 8-10 years. The canines are completely blunted and appear shorter than at a younger age. The hooks take on the shape of ovals, and the shade of the teeth becomes yellow or brownish.
- 12 years or more. The teeth gradually loosen, making it more difficult for the husky to chew solid food. Some teeth may even fall out, which often leads to a bad bite in the dog.
In addition to determining age by teeth, there are other methods. True, they are less accurate, so they can be used to determine not even the age itself, but the age category of the animal.
Wool
Young huskies have thick, dense hair, and the coat itself looks well-groomed and neat.
In an older dog of this breed, the hairs become coarse, but at the same time brittle. The fur begins to get dirty faster and looks uneven and sometimes ragged.
Eyes
In older Huskies they look cloudy and set deeper. At the same time, the dog may develop eye diseases, for example, glaucoma or cataracts.
Physical activity
Huskies are usually very active until old age. But there comes a time when even their irrepressible activity begins to decline. An older husky moves less than in his youth, he rests more often and is not as willing to take part in family games as before.
NOTE!
In older huskies, due to insufficient physical activity, muscle tone may weaken; in addition, older pets are more prone to obesity than younger dogs.
Main causes of premature death
Huskies can be susceptible to a number of specific diseases that can significantly reduce their life expectancy.
For example, such as degenerative myelopathy, which leads over time to paralysis of the limbs, or epileptic seizures, which, starting at the age of 7 months to 3 years, progress over time and become more frequent and prolonged.
There is no cure for these ailments, and therefore, when they reach an extreme stage, the animal often has to be euthanized to save it from suffering.
Males of this breed have a predisposition to diseases of the genitourinary system, including malignant tumors.
Liver shunts that occur in Huskies, leading to disruption of the blood supply to the liver, can also be fatal.
However, given the inquisitive and overly active nature of huskies, their premature death is not always due to illness. It is often caused by various accidents when a dog, for example, gets hit by a car because he was chasing a cat or dies after eating a poisoned rodent.
CAREFULLY!
The tendency to hunt small animals can also cause a dog to become infected with a serious infectious disease, the carriers of which are often rodents.
To avoid this, in addition to a harness and leash, your pet should purchase a muzzle for walking.
Huskies can suffer due to their insatiable curiosity and penchant for mischief. It happens that, being left alone all day, a dog spoils things out of boredom and sometimes swallows pieces of fabric or, for example, wood. This does not always lead to serious consequences, but sometimes such pranks end in blockage or perforation of the stomach or intestines.
This is why it is so important to reduce the likelihood of an accident. To do this, you need to carefully monitor your pet, train him, and if he is left alone all day, you need to provide him with a sufficient number of safe treats and toys. And everything that could pose a danger to the husky or be swallowed by it should, if possible, be removed to a place inaccessible to the dog.
If you keep a dog in your private home, then you need to make sure that the area is surrounded by a reliable fence, the height of which is at least 1.8 meters.
During repairs, it is necessary to keep varnishes and paints away from your pet and keep him away from painted and not yet dried surfaces. When treating the garden from pests or rodent baiting, it is better to keep the dog in the house for some time.
Stages of life
Siberian Huskies typically reach adulthood at 12 months. At the age of 1 to 7 years, the husky turns into an adult healthy dog. You may need to change your dog's diet as he gets older because he won't be as active as he used to be. Because the aging process is different for all dogs, you will have to pay attention to your pet's specific needs to determine exactly when to start making lifestyle changes.
Accidents are the leading cause of death for all breeds, and Siberian Huskies can put themselves at risk due to their tendency to constantly run. If you have a husky, do not allow it to run around without a leash in an open area. Keep your pet on a leash when walking or running outside.
Offer your pet an alternative to run in an enclosed area, such as a dedicated dog park or backyard on your own property.
How to extend the life of a pet?
In order for a pet to live as long as possible, the owner must take care to provide it with proper care and feeding.
Physical activity is of great importance for huskies, therefore, these dogs need to either participate in races, or engage in any other sports discipline, for example, agility, or simply walk a lot and attend training classes.
Also, the owner of a husky must monitor the health of the animal - get vaccinations on time and treat the dog against internal and external parasites, and also, if the pet gets sick or has an accident, immediately seek veterinary help.
NOTE!
If the pet is already 7-8 years old, the husky owner must take the dog to the clinic annually for a preventive examination.
Contents in the apartment
If you are determined to keep your dog happy and healthy, only then can this breed be kept in an apartment. But there are several nuances to keeping such a dog.
The Siberian Husky is a very active dog that needs a lot of daily exercise. If you are thinking about getting a Siberian Husky, you need to decide where and how you can train your dog. It’s good if there is a park nearby that will be quite convenient to spend several hours a day there with your four-legged friend.
Check if there are any interesting dog-friendly walking trails near the high-rise building where your apartment is located, you need to check them all.
Maybe there will be an opportunity to walk with him around the block or along the city streets. Either of these options will work for your dog to get the exercise he needs. Living in such conditions will increase the life of a husky in an apartment.
Before you bring a husky into your apartment, answer the following questions:
- will my pet have enough space to stretch out and roam;
- Do I have shelving, tables and other furniture that will be resistant to impact, chewing and spit;
- Do I have the time and patience to put the house in order after the dog plays, after the dog scatters something around the apartment, spills it or accidentally breaks it;
- can I isolate my husky in the room if he misbehaves or when guests or small children come over;
- Is it hot in my apartment, because huskies prefer cooler and well-ventilated rooms.
Proper nutrition
Huskies are undemanding when it comes to food - you can feed them both ready-made food and natural food. At the same time, it is very important that the pet’s diet when feeding natural food contains a sufficient amount of meat and meat products.
You must add oatmeal, rice or buckwheat porridge, raw or boiled vegetables (carrots, cabbage, zucchini, pumpkin) and fermented milk products (natural yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese) to them. In addition, when feeding naturally, it is necessary to periodically add vitamins to the food.
If a husky eats ready-made food, then it must be fed with food of at least premium quality, suitable for age, size and physical activity.
Quality maintenance and care
Husky coat care consists of infrequent brushing (2 times a week) and bathing 2-3 times a year. You should wash your dog only with special shampoos suitable for your pet.
Eyes and ears must be inspected every day and cleaned when dirty. To clean the eyes, use a cotton pad on which a special product is applied. The ears are cleaned with a cotton swab, on which liquid is also applied to clean them.
Husky nails are trimmed using a nail clipper if necessary. But, usually, dogs of this breed wear them down well themselves during walks.
To clean the teeth, it is recommended to give your pet special treats or soft cartilage.
Caring for an older dog
Everyday care for an older husky remains almost the same as when he was young. The main thing that a dog owner should monitor is the health of the pet.
To do this, you need to regularly take him for preventive examinations to the veterinary clinic and carefully monitor that the aging husky does not overeat and gets enough exercise.
In no case should you neglect daily eye examinations, because this is the only way to notice a change in their shade or cloudiness, which may indicate the onset of the disease.
IMPORTANT!
It is necessary to keep chronic diseases under control - often such ailments return with age and are much more severe than in youth.
Taming a dog
Sometimes you will have to leave your Husky in the apartment when you go to work, for example, to the store or to a party with friends. It is necessary to properly train your dog in order to try to protect your dog and your apartment from all sorts of troubles.
You need to try to explain to your pet that you can’t behave badly in the house, turn things over or chew them! Such training will play an important role and will be the only effective solution for keeping a dog in an apartment. A basic list of things to think about before leaving your dog home alone:
- does the dog have clean water to drink?
- do you need food?
- does he have a toy?
- is there enough air in the apartment;
- not too hot or cold;
- what if your puppy needs to go to the toilet.
You can start with shorter trips from home to see how your Husky behaves. Or you can always ask a loved one or friend to come and check on your pet while you are away.
Keeping your dog active, caring and grooming will help ensure your pet has a long, healthy life.
Read about the life of a husky in a house below.
When a cute and funny husky puppy appears in the house, the last thing its owners think about is how long dogs of this breed live.
Vaccinations, first walks, exhibitions, sports competitions - these are the things that usually worry the owners of young dogs.
But time passes, and sooner or later the moment comes when the owner first notices gray hair on the face of his husky.
And then the owner thinks about how he can prolong the life of the pet?
