Are you wondering how long do huskies live after falling in love with these adorable, high-energy dogs and their striking deep blue eyes?
Well, the average lifespan of a husky ranges between 12 to 15 years, with females outliving males slightly across all breeds.
Keep on reading below to learn about the various lifestages of the Siberian husky and how to improve its quality of life.
How Long Do Huskies Live?
For a medium-sized dog breed, huskies lead very long (and hopefully joy-filled) lives
For instance, unlike the similarly-sized labrador, which lives to see 12 years, huskies (especially female ones) can live as long as 15 years. On the other hand, small dog breeds, like the chihuahua, have a slower aging process, so they tend to make it to 20 years.
To boot, most huskies are expected to see this ripe old age since they lead a healthy lifestyle and love playing outdoors—they were bred as working dogs in any case.
However, to ensure this relatively healthy dog breed reaches its full potential, owners should pay special attention to their development during the first 18 months of their lives.
For all that, certain conditions can still shorten their lifespan, such as chasing cars or swimming in dangerous waters, reckless behavior that is more common among males.
Siberian Husky Life Stages
Siberian huskies go through six distinct life stages: from neonatal to senior, every stage has its challenges, and it’s important to understand what to expect from each one:
- Neonatal stage: includes the first few weeks of a puppy’s life, during which they mostly sleep and rely entirely on their mother since they are born blind and deaf;
- Socialization stage: between four and 12 weeks of their life, huskies explore their surroundings and meet new people and other animals, so it’s necessary they have positive experiences that will help them develop into healthy and well-adjusted dogs;
- Juvenile stage: after getting accustomed to their environment until six months of age, huskies tap into their independence and challenge their owners for dominance, so proper discipline and training are essential to correct their juvenile behavior;
- Adolescent stage: during the adolescent period between seven months and 2 years, huskies reach sexual maturity and continue behaving rebelliously, so they will require further training and disciplining to resolve latent behavioral quirks;
- Adult stage: huskies enter adulthood after the two-year mark, at which point they should have reached their maximum growth and settled into their roles as members of the family pack; also, females start reproducing at this point of their life;
- Senior stage: after the eighth year of their life, huskies start entering the twilight of their lives, which lasts until their death five or six years later; during this period, huskies may start experiencing health problems as they lose their vitality.
Note that regardless of where they are in life, huskies will always enjoy a good game of fetch, cuddling on the couch, and vocally expressing the love they have for their humans.
Most Common Older Husky Problems
While an overall healthy breed, huskies do suffer from certain health issues, many of which have an increased chance to occur the older your doggo gets:
- Hereditary cataracts—a genetic disorder that affects the dog’s vision (eye lenses become cloudy) and gets progressively worse over time;
- Progressive retinal atrophy—a serious eye condition that can lead to blindness, and it occurs when the cells in the retina break down, causing progressive vision loss;
- Glaucoma—a severe disease that can cause blindness, and it happens as a result of a fluid build-up in the eye, which damages the optic nerve;
- Hip dysplasia—a condition that causes pain and lameness in the hips and is the result of the joints not forming properly, which leads to bones rubbing against each other;
- Cancer—the latest research shows dogs are susceptible to certain types of cancer in their golden years, like lymphoma, bone cancer, and testicular cancer (if not neutered);
- Epilepsy—a common and treatable neurological disorder seen in dogs, which causes seizures that last from several seconds to a few minutes;
- Hypertension—also known as high blood pressure, this affliction is common among dogs of all breeds and, if left untreated, may lead to various health problems;
- Behavioral issues—older huskies may experience cognitive decline, which may lead to behavioral changes, such as noticeable anxiety, confusion, or aggression.
Ultimately, every dog is unique and will age differently; therefore, while some pooches may develop these conditions, others may never suffer from any illness.
In any case, regular vet visits, or at least online check-ups, during your husky’s last years are crucial to ensuring it enjoys a long and worry-free life.
Extending Your Siberian Husky Lifespan
With a few good practices, we can all help our furry friends live long and happy lives:
- Regular vet visits—routinely visit your veterinarian to screen potential health problems early on and get them treated before they become serious;
- Parasite control—make sure your husky is on a regular deworming schedule and that you’re using topical flea and tick preventive products as well;
- Spaying and neutering—studies regularly show that spayed and neutered dogs tend to lead longer and healthier lives;
- Steady exercise—while important for all dog breeds, high-energy dogs like huskies benefit greatly from regular exercise and play sessions;
- Good diet and nutrition—this one is quite obvious since everyone knows that high-quality food boosts the overall well-being of our pets;
- A loving home—a calm and stable environment is a must, so owners must cuddle and play with their dogs as much as they train and discipline them.
These tips might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how much your doggo’s life can be improved by diligently and consistently following them on a regular basis.
Key Takeaways
So, how long do huskies live? Well, while not quite as long as some small dog breeds, huskies make it to 15 years of age at best, provided they are in good health. At the end of the day, proper nutrition, exercise, and veterinary visits are the key to such longevity!
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