There are some vitamins and food supplements that seem to suit huskies and other sled dogs particularly well.
These tend to be products which either contain or mimic elements of their 'natural' diets; i.e. the kinds of foods available in cold Arctic regions, and the vitamins and minerals present in such foods.
Of these, among the most important would seem to be fish oils, kelp or seaweed, vitamin C and zinc.
Many owners add fish oil to their dogs' diets. A 'Northern Diet' would be naturally rich in fish oils, and huskies and sled dogs seem to benefit greatly from their addition.
In particular, fish oils can make a vast improvement to your dog's coat. Many owners who show their dogs supplement their diets with fish oils - often salmon oil - and will testify to the vast increase in softness and shine in the coat after a couple of weeks.
It has recently been suggested that high levels of omega 3 may be especially important in the formation of various tissues, particularly optical tissues, during gestation and early months of the sled dog's life.
Fish oils are available in capsule or liquid form. Most sled dogs are quite happy to eat the capsules as if they were 'treats'. For fussy individuals, you can easily mix fish oils in with food at meal times.
If you are going to mix fish oils in with other food, it is much easier to buy the liquid in bottles rather than to try and empty individual capsules into food.
Fish oils should be of high quality and from fish sourced from cold, deep waters.
Bottled fish oil has the advantage that it can be easily dispensed and mixed with food, so if your dogs don't like to eat fish oil capsules, this may be the best way to buy it.
You could try Alaskan Bear Treats Wild-Alaskan Salmon Oil,
Nutri-Vet Probiotics with Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil
Fish oil capsules provide a really simple way to give your husky fish oils. There is really no mess or measuring doses involved, and the dogs quickly get the hang of eating them; our dogs love them, and line up in front of me waiting to 'give me a paw' in exchange for their daily treat!
Try Animal Essentials Fish Oil Plus Omega 3 Supplement
Flaxseed oil is another good source of Omega 3, which can be taken instead of, or along-side, fish oil supplements.
We would tend to lean towards fish oils if a choice between the two had to be made, simply because they are a more 'natural' element in the diets of northern breeds.
While we give fish oils on a more frequent basis, we do give our dogs flaxseed oil perhaps a teaspoon once or twice a week.
As with fish oils, flaxseed oils should be cold pressed and of high quality.
Zinc naturally occurs in very high quantities in the 'Northern Diet', in fish, crustaceans, seaweeds etc.
Zinc Deficiency is a common ailment of Sled Dogs today, as complete pet foods often do not contain the levels of zinc they require.
Zinc Deficiency manifests as Zinc Responsive Dermatiosis (ZRD) in many dogs.
This is a skin condition that primarily affects areas of the face and head, particularly the muzzle, ears and around the eyes where hair loss occurs and red, scaly patches of skin develop.
ZRD can usually be cured very quickly and easily by including a zinc supplement in the dog's diet.
Some husky owners simply purchase chelated zinc supplements for their dogs.
These are widely available from health food suppliers, usually in 15mg tablets, of which owners would generally give an adult Siberian husky one per day.
(As always, do check with your vet before giving your pet any medication!).
Another alternative is to include kelp in your dog's diet.
This is a very effective way to provide additional zinc, as well as a host of other beneficial nutrients.
Half to one teaspoon a couple of times a week should be enough for most adult Siberians, and is an effective preventative measure in most cases, acting to 'top-up' zinc levels in the dog's diet before problems occur, or to prevent relapse.
HONEY is something some owners give their sled dogs on occasion, and in particular it is felt that Manuka Honey can be beneficial to health.
Every week or so we give our dogs a meal of natural yogurt, mashed up fruits and a spoonful of manuka honey, which they seem to enjoy.
Kelp and other green food products are recommended by advocates of BARF and Raw Food Diets, as they are said to provide a range of nutrients that are not only useful in themselves, but also support and enable the absorption of a wide range of vitamins and minerals in the wider diet.
Perhaps most significantly, kelp provides zinc in a form that is easily absorbed into the dog's system.
We also give our dogs an additional kelp or seaweed supplement. They get this every couple of days, especially in the colder months when they are exercising more.
The dogs we know to be prone to low zinc levels get a regular dose of kelp all year round.
Solid Gold Seameal Powder
Pet Kelp Natural Multi-vitamin
For more information on natural feeding and supplements for dogs, read Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats