My mom has been harassing me every day because Koda won't eat 3 whole meals a day and she keeps trying to make me make him eat but he won't eat. Sometimes he eats a little but she says it's not enough. She also is saying he is way too skinny but I think it might be from him losing all of his fur because it's
getting super hot outside. Is he too skinny? Is he supposed to eat that much? I read somewhere that huskies don't eat that much but i'm not sure. Please help!!









He's in a very playful mood right now I apologize for blurry photos

From what source is your mom basing her opinion on how much Koda should be eating?

Not sure, she's never had a big dog before and neither have I but she thinks it's not normal for him to not eat 3 times a day or at least a whole bowl of food a day. I assume he'd eat if he was hungry though..?

Well, I hope I don't start something between you and your mum but .......

Most American dogs are (sometimes grossly) overweight.  Add to that the fact that Huskies look underweight - even when they're at their good weight -  and way too many people are 'complaining' about having an underweight dog.

One assumption here - I presume that you've had him to the vet for most of his shots and miscellaneous 'work' and your vet hasn't mentioned any potential problems with weight.  Further down, I've included a weight chart that many vets have in their offices ... and most Huskies that I've had / seen look like picture associated with a 3 or 5 (three might be too thin but then we're talking about a Husky here)

Again, add to that, Huskies (at least my Huskies) tend to eat less when it warms up (and we're at 91f now) because they tend to not get out and run like they would when it's cooler.  I have two dogs crashed at the feet of my stool and one who stays in her crate.  

Again, add to that the fact that Huskies typically eat (sometimes a lot) less than most other dogs their size.  Mine get two cups of food a day where my Labs were getting upwards of 3-4 cups a day.

Your assumption is right, all things being equal - it's hot, he's not getting the exercise he was; huskies don't eat as much - when he gets hungry, he'll eat.  In a one dog household, where he doesn't have to compete with other dogs for food, I'd free feed him unless he starts eating everything in sight.  He knows what his body needs, he knows when he's hungry.

The alternative is to feed him twice a day - mine get a cup in the morning and another in the evening, because I do have a food aggressive female - the chances are good that he'll be more hungry than if you free feed; you'll also be more able to tell how much he is actually eating -vs- free feeding.

Your pictures, especially the second one, shows me a Husky who looks to be of a good weight - maybe a little puppyish skinny as if he's still growing (just looked back, he's about 5 months old which means he's reaching the 'lanky teen age stage' - he looks good (( now tell mom to stop giving him extra! )) )

One final note, enticing him to eat - whether that's you or you mum - is only going to achieve one of two things, he stops eating his dog food because he's getting 'the good stuff' -or- he'll eat his normal food and the treats and end up overweight.

kodathehusky wrote:

Not sure, she's never had a big dog before and neither have I but she thinks it's not normal for him to not eat 3 times a day or at least a whole bowl of food a day. I assume he'd eat if he was hungry though..?

As an example, our 57lb male only eats 2 cups of food per day (yes, only 2 cups per day).  One in the morning and one at night. They do get a small treat now and then throughout the day, but, more than 2 cups per day and he gains weight.

You could weigh your dog monthly and, as long as he's gaining weight during this growth phase (without getting fat), you're feeding him the correct amount.

If you hadn't thought of it, to weigh him, you need a bathroom scale.  You weigh yourself and then weigh yourself while holding the dog.  Subtract the two and you will have your dog's weight.

From what I can see, Koda looks fine.  I'm also part of the group that believes a dog should be more thin than fat.

Also, generally speaking, dogs will ALWAYS be hungry. But just because they're hungry does not mean you should feed them more. That is why I suggest weighing him. You can do it weekly if you want at first, but we weighed ours about every month.

I free feed three of my dogs my gsd is not free fed but he is almost 100lbs get 1 16oz cup (like the solo cups) in the am and 1 in the pm. Spider is almost 70lbs looks underweight but vet says looks good and splinter my little terrier share 1 cup per day. And when its way hot spider doesnt always eat and sometimes she gorges once it cools off but overall she eat less then half of what the shepherd gets. If i follow the directions on the bag for her weight she doesnt eat about half of it.
Koda looks like spider did at that age not too thin but not on the heavy side eather. He will start to fill in in about 18 months

If I remember correctly, Koda is still a teenager? Huskies go through a phase where they look positively gangly, don't really get there adult profile until 15-24 months (or more.) Think 15 year old boy - all legs and arms, no fat. This is normal.

My 80 ish pound male gets fed twice daily 2/3 cup each time and a tiny snack before bed. My 53 pound male gets a 1/2 cup twice daily. (It is a nutrient dense food but most huskies on most foods are eating 1/5 - 2 cups per day.) Feeding 3 times a day is appropriate only for puppies, usually going to 2x daily somewhere around 6 months.

Show your mom this thread.

Thank you everybody! I was planning to show her this thread.

The reason she was concerned is because he was very chubby not long ago. I thought he got so skinny because of losing his fur, and I know huskies can go some time without eating.
He didn't eat a bite of food for about 3 days, and my mom thought it was because he didn't like the new food (he stopped eating once she bought a different kind of food) so yesterday she bought a different new food and the second she gave it to him he ate 2 whole bowls of it. I'm not sure if he's picky or what, but that's how it ended up going. He started eating again.

Almost without exception puppies are 'husky' (argh, sorry) and as they grow up they no longer need to wait for momma to return so they lose that chubbiness.  

I'd be careful about giving him too much to eat at one time, bloat can be a problem, especially if he eats a lot and then goes into a 'normal' hyper active mode.

I realize this might be a problem, all things parental considered, but it'll be better for him and you if you can feed him twice (maybe three times, you'll know) a day.

It's not unusual for an adult Husky, which yours isn't yet, to occasionally go off their feed for two to three days at a time. It's something we all learn to expect and live with - though it can get frustrating wondering whether they're sick of just 'taking a break from eating.'

Thank you!