Best dog food for westies: fuel for energetic terriers

Orijen Adult Dog Food

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Merrick Adult Small Breed Formula

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Video: West Highland terrier puppy feeding

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Recipe

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**Below, you`ll find our expert`s breed-specific advice, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Chewy.

Westie Nutrition Facts: Calorie Requirements

**Please note: these estimates are based on an average weight for this breed. Every dog is different. Please talk to your vet before making changes to your dog`s diet.

Westies are fairly small. Adults typically weigh in at 13-22 pounds. But they’re also energetic, which means that you’ll need to customize their caloric intake to match their activity level. For Westies that are less active, you’ll need to feed about 450 calories per day. For those that are moderately active, daily caloric intake will need to be closer to 560.

If your Westie tends to be very active, you’ll need to feed him/her somewhere between 615 and 1200 calories per day. The specific-amount, in this case, will be dependent upon how strenuous the daily activity tends to be.

You can find more excellent information on the proper care and feeding of a Westie in this article, published by petcarerx.com.

Here’s some more great info about Westies from the experts…

Youtube is an excellent source of information on basically any topic—including dogs!

Here’s a Youtube video I found (created by Dogs 101) about Westies that provides some interesting information about the breed’s background—as well as some awesome advice on training and raising them. If you’re thinking about getting a Westie, or have already done so and are looking for additional information, then I would definitely recommend that you check it out.

Common Health Problems for Westies

While Westies tend to be sturdy dogs, they are susceptible to a number of health conditions and problems. Here are some of the most common and notable from among them that Westie owners should look out for.

Allergies

Westies, being terriers, tend to suffer from allergies—especially when it comes to their skin. Feeding your dog a hypoallergenic dog food that contains only a few basic ingredients can really help with this.

Epidermal Dysplasia

This disease, sometimes called Westie Armadillo Syndrome, is actually an inherited skin disease that can become pretty serious for the animal if left unchecked. It generally manifests itself between 3 and 12 months of age, and is characterized by inflamed and itchy skin that starts on the head, feet, and belly. This ‘itchy skin’, however, soon spreads over the entire body. The infected Westie might even lose its hair if the condition isn’t controlled.

This disease is incurable—but it can be managed with medication and a proper diet. Aggressive antimicrobial therapy is usually the only way to combat the symptoms of this very unfortunate skin condition. For more information on this specific ailment, take a look at this article.

Addison’s Disease

This disease is caused by a deficient production of glucocorticoids and/or mineralocorticoids within your pet’s body. Symptoms may include low blood pressure, depression, weakness, dehydration, vomiting, heart toxicity, weight loss, bloody feces, and/or pain in the abdomen.

Feeding your dog a diet that’s rich in human-grade, whole ingredients (such as those found in high-quality dog foods) can be a big help in dealing with this condition. Avoiding cheap dog foods is also important, as they almost never contain wholesome, healthy components.

Rotating high-quality dog foods is another good idea, as it helps to fill nutritional gaps that might be affecting the overall health and well-being of your pet.

Other Possible Health Problems

Here are some other health and medical problems that can manifest themselves in this small, energetic dog breed.

Westie mothers will usually begin weaning the puppies on her own about 5 to 8 weeks after birth. This is a time of crucial social development for the breed. This is when the puppies learn to socialize with other dogs, so it’s important that the Westie pup not be separated from its mother or litter until these skills have been acquired. For this reason, it’s generally recommended that you wait until the puppy is over 8 weeks old to bring it home.

Puppies of this breed will usually weigh 4-5 pounds by the time they’re 6 weeks old. Moderately active pups in this weight range will generally need about 245 calories per day for proper nutrition. This will ensure that they’re receiving enough energy from their food for playing, learning, and exploring.

Most Westie owners switch their dog from puppy food to adult dog food at about the one-year mark—though some make the switch-over at around 10 months if it seems better for the dog (especially if the dog’s growth has become slower).

Our Recommendation for Westies

Video: Bottle feeding a 2 days old West Highland terrier puppy (Moonlight Haze Bird Creek)

We’ve done a lot of research to answer this question, and have decided (hands down) that our top pick Westie dog food is definitely Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food, Small Breed Health Turkey & Chicken Recipe.

It’s 100% natural, contains enough calcium, glucosamine, and chondroitin to maintain positive bone health (which is especially important for smaller dogs like this), and is also grain-free. It’s made with high-quality ingredients like chicken and turkey, and contains fruits and vegetables that will support your dog’s overall health and well-being.

It’s also fortified with probiotics, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals- all of which are essential to the Westie’s needs—and contains ingredients like fish and flax to bolster skin and coat health.

For owners who want to raise their West Highland White Terriers on a diet that’ll provide digestibility, optimal nutrition, and a diverse range of animal-based protein, this definitely seems to be a choice that’s consistently popular and well-reviewed.

Why We Recommend It in a Nutshell

Choosing the right dog food for your dog is extremely important—so don’t fall into the habit of buying that ‘cheap stuff’ that you see at the local chain-retail stores. Cheap dog food often contains ingredients that are nutritionally deficient. They also tend to contain a lot of ‘filler’ material—which is basically intended to ‘take up space’ and is usually devoid of any real, measurable nutritional value.

We enthusiastically recommend Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food, Small Breed for any Westies that are getting ready to make the transition to adult dog food. Packed with wholesome ingredients and fortified with antioxidants, we don’t feel that there are many choices better than this for an energetic, sociable breed like the Westie.

**Disclaimer: Our dog food reviews are based mostly on (1) our expertise and that of the experts with whom we consult and (2) the information provided by the manufacturers. We do test many dog foods (with our dog`s help), but we can`t test them all. As such, please remember the above recommendations are our opinions, and you should consult your vet before making changes to your dog`s diet.

Video: My Cute Dog West Highland Terrier Westie Daisy Playing and Stalking Her Lamb Toy

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