Best Dog Food for West Highland Terriers : 15 Healthy Recipes Reviewed by Budget, Diet and Life Stage

Affectionately known as the Westie, the West Highland White Terrier is a small terrier breed easily identified by his white coat and bubbly personality.

The West Highland White Terrier stands up to 11 inches tall and weighs between 15 and 22 pounds at maturity which makes him a small breed. As such, he has a very fast metabolism which, combined with his high energy level, means that he needs a calorie-dense diet. He also has a higher risk for allergies than many breeds, so you need to be particularly careful about what you feed your Westie.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this article:

What is the Best Westie Dog Food?

Understanding a West Highland White Terrier’s Diet Requirements

Every dog has the same basic nutritional needs. Protein is the most important nutrient, providing a foundation for strong muscles and healthy tissues. It is best from animal sources like meat, poultry, and fish because these are easier for your dog’s body to digest and because they are complete proteins – they contain all 10 essential amino acids your dog’s body can’t produce on its own.

Dogs have no nutritional requirement for carbohydrates in their diet, but these ingredients can provide dietary fiber, energy, and essential nutrients. Look for digestible sources like whole grains or, if your dog is prone to allergies, starchy vegetables, beans, or legumes. Your Westie may also benefit from prebiotic fibers and probiotics for healthy digestion as well as glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support.

Puppy West Highland White Terriers – As a puppy, your West Highland White Terrier needs a minimum of 22% protein and 8% fat. Because he has a very fast metabolism, and because he’ll be growing quickly, you should look for higher protein and fat content for at least the first six months.

Adult West Highland White Terriers – Once your West Highland White Terrier reaches his adult size, you can switch to an adult recipe that provides at least 18% protein and 5% fat. Your Westie’s metabolism will still be very fast and his needs for energy high, however, so look for something closer to the 12% to 18% range for fat with plenty of healthy protein.

Senior West Highland White Terriers – Many dogs start to slow down when they get older but there is no way of knowing exactly when this will happen to your Westie. The best thing to do is keep an eye on his body weight and make adjustments to his diet for each 6 months of age.

Choosing a small-breed recipe formulated for dogs of your Westie’s life stage (puppy, adult, or senior) is the best way to ensure that he gets the right balance of protein and fat in his diet.

Special Dietary Considerations for Westies

Generally speaking, the West Highland White Terrier is a healthy breed but, like all dogs, he is prone to several health problems. Many of the problems known to affect his breed are musculoskeletal issues which is somewhat surprising since these issues tend to affect larger breeds. Westies are also at a higher risk for food allergies.

Here is a quick list of the health problems to which the West Highland White Terrier may be prone:

• Addison’s Disease
• Allergies
• Atopic Dermatitis
• Cataracts
• Craniomandibular Osteopathy
• Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
• Patellar Luxation
• Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Transitional Cell Carcinoma
• White Shaker Dog Syndrome

Let’s take a closer look at some of these health problems.

Addison’s disease is also known as hypoadrenocorticism and it is a somewhat rare condition affecting the adrenal gland. This condition reduces cortisol production which helps your dog deal with stress, so if your West Highland White Terrier has Addison’s disease, he may be more prone to separation anxiety and other issues. White Shaker Dog Syndrome is another disease that is somewhat rare outside the breed – it usually manifests in puppies and causes uncontrollable trembling.

In terms of the musculoskeletal issues to which the Westie is prone, Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease and patellar luxation are the most common. Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is characterized by reduced blood supply to the head of the femur bone which leads to disintegration and muscle atrophy. Patellar luxation occurs when the kneecap slips in and out of place. Both of these conditions can be benefited by joint-supporting nutrients like glucosamine and chondroitin. Maintaining a healthy body weight is also important for managing these conditions.

West Highland White Terriers are also more prone to allergies than many other breeds, both skin allergies and food allergies. Atopic dermatitis is technically an inhalant allergy caused by environmental allergens like pollen, dust, and mold but it presents with skin symptoms. Food allergies can be caused by anything from common grains like corn and wheat to proteins like beef, pork, and chicken. Feeding your Westie a limited ingredient diet made with a novel source of protein and carbohydrate is a good way to reduce the risk for food allergies.

West Highland Terrier Feeding Chart

The amount you feed your West Highland White Terrier will be determined by his age, weight, and activity level. Your dog’s energy needs will be highest when he is a puppy because he needs plenty of calories to fuel his growth and development. You can choose whether to feed him freely by keeping his food bowl full or feed him three or four meals per day. Refer to the feeding recommendations on the package to determine the minimum amount to feed him per day.

Once your West Highland White Terrier is fully grown, you can switch him to an adult recipe and start feeding him three meals per day. Some dogs can get by with two meals, but keep in mind that this is a high-energy breed with a very fast metabolism. You might go down to two meals a day when your Westie becomes a senior, but you should follow the feeding recommendations on the dog food package to make sure your dog is getting the right balance of nutrients.

The Best Dog Food for West Highland White Terriers: Our Top 15 Picks

Our 2023 Picks: West Highland Terrier Dog Food Recommendations:
Rank	Dog Food	Price	Rating
Overall Best	Nature’s Variety Instinct LID Small-Breed Grain-Free Turkey Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$4.99/lb	A+
Most Affordable	American Journey LID Grain-Free Salmon & Potato Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$1.87/lb	A+
Most Popular	Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$1.78/lb	A+
Super Premium	NomNomNow Fresh Food Delivery Buy Online Customer Reviews	Varies	A+
Allergies	FirstMate Small Bites Chicken Meal with Blueberries Formula LID Dry Food Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.96/lb	A
Sensitive Stomachs	Blue Buffalo Basics LID Grain-Free Salmon & Potato Small Breed Recipe Buy Online Customer Reviews	$2.72/lb	A

Now that you understand your West Highland White Terrier’s nutritional needs, you can start shopping. Remember, the best dog food for West Highland White Terriers will be made from all-natural ingredients including high-quality animal proteins and fats with digestible carbohydrates and beneficial supplements for digestion and joint support. Here are our top 15 picks:

Nature’s Variety Instinct LID Small-Breed Grain-Free Turkey Recipe

Overall Best Food for West Highland White Terriers: The best dog food for West Highland White Terriers will be made with high-quality, wholesome ingredients with a low risk for triggering food allergies. This Nature’s Variety Instinct LID Small-Breed Grain-Free Turkey Recipe is an excellent example because it is made with a limited number of high-quality ingredients including a single source of animal protein, digestible grain-free carbohydrates, and healthy fats. It features real turkey as the main source of protein and a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support as well as freeze-dried turkey for a boost of nutrition and flavor. Overall, it provides 34.5% protein and 14.5% fat.

Pros: Limited number of main ingredients, grain-free, single source of animal protein, rich in healthy fats, high in protein, natural source of joint-supporting nutrients, small-breed specific

Cons: Expensive to feed as a staple diet, main source of fat is plant-based (canola oil)

American Journey LID Grain-Free Salmon & Potato Recipe

Most Affordable Food: If you want to give your Westie a high-quality diet without emptying your bank account, try this American Journey LID Grain-Free Salmon & Potato Recipe. Though it may not be formulated specifically for small breeds, it contains 25% protein and 12% fat which is a decent ratio. This recipe contains a limited number of main ingredients including grain-free carbohydrates and fresh salmon which provides protein as well as omega fatty acids. This recipe is supplemented with vitamins and with chelated minerals which have been chemically bound to protein molecules to increase their bioavailability.

Pros: Limited number of main ingredients, grain-free carbohydrates, protein-rich salmon as the main ingredient, balance of omega fatty acids, chelated minerals

Cons: Main source of fat is plant-based (canola oil), contains some plant protein (pea protein)

Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe

Most Popular Food: When you’re not sure which recipe to choose for your West Highland White Terrier, why not follow the lead of other dedicated dog owners? This Taste of the Wild Appalachian Valley Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe is a great choice because it is grain-free and made from high-quality natural ingredients. It features venison as the main ingredient with other supplemental proteins like lamb, duck, and ocean fish. With 32% protein and 18% fat, this recipe provides for your dog’s high needs for protein and energy but it is still highly digestible with 4% crude fiber and the addition of probiotic supplements.

Pros: Several novel protein sources, digestible grain-free carbohydrates, rich in protein and fat, fresh fruits and veggies for nutrients, chelated minerals, probiotic supplements

Cons: Main source of fat is plant-based (canola oil), contains some plant protein (pea protein)

NomNomNow Fresh Food Delivery

Super Premium Food: If you want to feed your West Highland White Terrier the best of the best, try NomNomNow Fresh Food Delivery Service. Like a food delivery service for people, this company prepares custom meals and delivers them right to your doorstep on a monthly basis. Every recipe is made from high-quality ingredients and prepared fresh, never frozen. Simply fill out a short profile about your pet and choose your desired recipe then wait for your order to arrive. The service is fairly expensive but, because Westies don’t eat a large volume of food each day, it may be affordable.

Pros: Meals customized to your dog’s needs, delivered fresh on a monthly basis, high-quality natural ingredients, never frozen, automatic deliveries for convenience, several recipe options

Cons: Fairly expensive to maintain, some delivery restrictions, no weekly or bi-weekly deliveries

FirstMate Small Bites Chicken Meal with Blueberries Formula LID Dry Food

Best Food for West Highland White Terriers with Allergies: If your West Highland White Terrier has food allergies, you need a recipe made with a limited number of ingredients including a digestible source of protein like this FirstMate Small Bites Chicken Meal with Blueberries Formula LID Dry Food. This formula is made with 84% protein and fat ingredients with 16% vegetables and 0% grains to ensure high-quality, digestible nutrition. It features chicken meal as the main ingredient and a concentrated source of protein with nutrient-rich chicken fat for energy. IT also contains a number of grain-free carbohydrates as well as nutritional supplements for balance.

Pros: Made with limited ingredients, high-quality source of animal protein, digestible grain-free carbohydrates, rich in healthy fats, chelated minerals

Cons: No prebiotics or probiotics, some dogs are sensitive to chicken ingredients

Blue Buffalo Basics LID Grain-Free Salmon & Potato Small Breed Recipe

Best Food for West Highland White Terriers with Sensitive Stomachs: Even if your Westie doesn’t have food allergies, he may still have a sensitive stomach which requires a highly digestible dog food free from artificial additives. This Blue Buffalo Basics LID Grain-Free Salmon & Potato Small Breed Recipe is a good option because it features a single source of animal protein with digestible grain-free carbohydrates as well as prebiotics and probiotics for healthy digestion. This recipe is also supplemented with glucosamine for joint support, healthy fats for energy, and chelated minerals to ensure optimal nutritional balance.

Pros: Limited number of main ingredients, single source of animal protein, digestible grain-free carbohydrates, prebiotics and probiotics, chelated minerals, plenty of healthy fats

Cons: Main source of fat is plant-based (canola oil), contains some plant protein (pea protein)

3 more Top Rated (5 Star) West Highland White Terrier Adult Foods

Natural Balance LID Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Small Breed Bites Recipe

To reduce the risk of triggering food allergies in your Westie, consider a limited ingredient adult dog food like this Natural Balance LID Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Small Breed Bites Recipe. Featuring both lamb meal and fresh lamb, this recipe contains digestible carbohydrates, healthy fats, and a blend of beneficial supplements to ensure quality nutrition. There are also a number of other limited ingredient diets to choose from, so select the right option for your dog.

Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Small Breed Dog Food

Made with a limited number of main ingredients, this Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Small Breed Dog Food would be a great choice for your West Highland White Terrier. This formula features an ideal balance of protein, fat, and calories for small breeds and it is free from grains and artificial additives, so you can rest easy knowing it will be easy for your dog to digest. Plus, it is supplemented with prebiotic fibers and probiotics.

Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Small Breed Salmon & Lentils Recipe Dry Food

Though it may be expensive, this Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Small Breed Salmon & Lentils Recipe Dry Food is worth every penny. Not only does it contain 84% protein ingredients, but it is naturally grain-free and low in carbohydrates. This recipe features deboned salmon and turkey meal as the top two ingredients with supplemental proteins like menhaden fish meal and lamb meal. It is rich in healthy fats for concentrated energy and supplemented with probiotics for digestion.

3 More Top Rated (5 Star) West Highland White Terrier Puppy Foods

Blue Buffalo Freedom Small Breed Puppy Grain-Free Chicken Recipe

To get your West Highland White Terrier puppy off on the right foot, try a grain-free, protein-rich recipe like this Blue Buffalo Freedom Small Breed Puppy Grain-Free Chicken Recipe. Made with deboned chicken as the main ingredient, this recipe is a good source of glucosamine and it is supplemented with DHA for brain development. It provides a blend of omega fatty acids and is completely free from artificial additives and low-quality fillers.

Lotus Oven-Baked Small Bites Chicken Puppy Recipe

For high-quality nutrition and natural flavor, try this Lotus Oven-Baked Small Bites Chicken Puppy Recipe. This recipe is oven-baked to preserve the nutritional integrity of the raw ingredients, but it still comes in small, easy to eat bites. This formula features fresh chicken as well as chicken meal and chicken organs for a protein-, fat-, and nutrient-rich diet for your West Highland White Terrier puppy.

Canidae PURE Petite LID Lamb Formula Small Breed Puppy Recipe

If you’re looking for a limited ingredient diet to start your Westie puppy off with, try this Canidae PURE Petite LID Lamb Formula Small Breed Puppy Recipe. This recipe features just 8 main ingredients including protein-rich lamb, grain-free lentils and peas, and plenty of healthy fats. Plus, the kibbles are sized appropriately for puppies and dusted with a freeze-dried lamb coating for a boost of nutrition.

2 More Picks for Senior Westie Foods

Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Senior Recipe

Formulated with the ideal blend of protein, fat, and calories for your senior Westie, this Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Senior Recipe is a great choice. Made with deboned chicken as the first ingredient, this recipe also contains fresh fruits and veggies as natural sources for key nutrients. Plus, it contains L-carnitine to support your dog’s metabolism in his old age.

Simply Nourish Chicken & Brown Rice Small Breed Senior Recipe

If you want an affordable senior dog food that still offers decent quality, try this Simply Nourish Chicken & Brown Rice Small Breed Senior Recipe. Made with protein-rich chicken, it is a natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin. It also contains whole-grain carbohydrates for easy digestibility as well as dried fruits and vegetables for nutritional support. All in all, it provides 23% protein and 14% fat.

Our FAQ and West Highland White Terrier Feeding Guide

In addition to choosing a high-quality diet for your West Highland White Terrier, you also need to think about how you’re going to store and feed the food. Food storage is important because dog food starts to lose some of its nutritional value as soon as the bag is opened. Keep in mind, however, that the inside of the bag is treated to help preserve the food so the best thing you can do is place the entire bag in an airtight container and store it in a cool, dry place.

When it comes to choosing the right dog bowl for your West Highland White Terrier, keep in mind that each meal will likely be less than 1 cup of food. Because you only need a small bowl, you can afford to choose high-quality materials like stainless-steel or ceramic. These materials are durable, easy to clean, and they won’t scratch easily and harbor dangerous bacteria. No matter what kind of bowl you choose for your Westie, make sure you clean it often.

And now, here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about feeding a West Highland White Terrier:

How much food should I feed my West Highland White Terrier?

Generally speaking, your West Highland White Terrier will be eating between ½ and 1 ½ cups of high-quality dog food per day. Again, his actual needs will vary depending on his age, weight, and activity level. You’ll need to check the feeding recommendations on the package because every dog food is different in terms of calorie content. The best thing to do is feed your Westie a small-breed formula designed for dogs of his life stage and follow the feeding recommendations.

How many times a day should I feed my Westie?

The number of meals you feed your Westie is very important – he has a fast metabolism that needs a steady influx of energy throughout the day. Puppies should be fed three or four meals a day and most adult Westies do well on three meals. Remember, the feeding recommendations on the package are for the entire day, so you’ll need to divide that amount by the desired number of meals.

What kind of food do Westies eat?

To keep your West Highland White Terrier’s energy up, he needs a protein-rich and calorie-dense diet. For some dogs, wet dog food is the best option because it is higher in protein and more concentrated in calories than dry food, for the most part. Keep in mind, however, that small-breed dogs have a higher incidence of dental problems, so a dry food might be a better choice because it helps scrape plaque and tartar off your dog’s teeth. If you want the best of both worlds, you can always mix a high-quality kibble with a raw, fresh, frozen, or dehydrated dog food for the nutritional benefits.

What vegetables are good in a West Highland White Terrier food?

Though protein and fat are the most important nutrients in a dog’s diet, vegetables provide a valuable source of dietary fiber and a natural source of key vitamins and minerals. Look for fresh vegetables in your dog’s food to provide these benefits. Here are some of the best vegetables for dogs:

• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Cucumber
• Green beans
• Peas
• Pumpkin
• Spinach
• Sweet potato
• Zucchini

In addition to looking for fresh or dried vegetables in your West Highland White Terrier’s diet, you can also feed him small amounts of fresh vegetables as a healthy treat. Just make sure to wash the vegetables well (choose organic, if you can afford it), and feed only small amounts at a time.

Do West Highland White Terriers need grain-free dog food?

There is a great deal of controversy surrounding the long-term safety of grain-free diets for dogs, so you need to use your own judgment here. Keep in mind, however, that West Highland White Terriers have a higher risk for food allergies than other breeds so feeding a grain-free diet might reduce the risk for triggering those allergies. You may also want to consider a limited ingredient diet in this case.

Westie Dog Food – A Final Word

These dogs belong to the terrier group, so they have a natural propensity for chasing small animals, including cats and other household pets. This breed is highly intelligent and trainable, though his high energy levels can sometimes be a challenge to contain. If you’re looking for a friendly and playful family pet, however, the West Highland White Terrier is a great option.

Now that you know that your West Highland White Terrier’s nutritional needs look like, you’re ready to start shopping for the best West Highland White Terrier dog food! Remember, it should be made with all-natural, high-quality ingredients to ensure proper nutrition and digestibility. Focus on premium animal proteins and healthy animal fats with digestible carbohydrates. And don’t forget about beneficial supplements like prebiotic fibers, probiotics, joint-supporting nutrients, and more.

If you’re still not sure where to start in choosing the best West Highland White Terrier dog food, try one of our top 15 picks reviewed above!