The West Highland Terrier is a breed of dog beloved by many. If you’re lucky enough to be a pet parent to one of these pups, you know just how quirky they can be. You also know just how important it is to feed them the right food.

When looking for dog food that’s suitable for your best friend, the options are endless. Fortunately, we can help you find a brand that you can trust as you pour it into your pup’s bowl. Here, we compiled our favorite dog foods for Westies. Take a look at the reviews, and decide whether one will be perfect for your pup.

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The 7 Best Dog Foods for West Highland White Terriers

1. Ollie Chicken With Carrots Fresh Dog Food Subscription — Best Overall

The best overall dog food for West Highland White Terriers is Ollie Chicken With Carrots Fresh Dog Food Subscription. While chicken is the primary and first ingredient in this fresh dog food, that doesn’t mean it’s the only good thing inside the package. You’ll also find blueberries, carrots, spinach, and other healthy ingredients aimed at promoting your dog’s health. There’s even fish oil and cod liver oil to help provide your dog with the omega-3 fatty acids that they need. Considering this is fresh food, you’ll also love the enthusiasm that your dog shows when it’s time for a meal.

The only possible issue with this recipe is the fish oil. While it’s great for your pup’s health, if they have a fish allergy, you’ll need to find something else.

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2. American Journey Active Life Formula Dog Food — Budget Buy

The best dog food for West Highland White Terriers for the money is the American Journey Active Life Formula Dog Food. This salmon, brown rice, and vegetable recipe is perfect for pups with active lifestyles. Salmon is the primary ingredient and is used to provide your dog with the protein boost they need. We also love the perfect blend of vitamins and nutrients to promote healthier dogs.

The antioxidant-rich foods, such as sweet potatoes and carrots, along with the easily digestible fibers, can help promote a better immune system and better digestion. You’ll also be pleased with the lower calorie content of this food if you have a dog struggling with weight issues.

The only issue with the American Journey Active Life Formula is that some dogs aren’t fans of the taste. To help with this issue, you can try mixing in a food topper until they get used to the salmon formula.

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3. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Dog Food is great when it comes to weight control for your Westie. You’ll find that it only has 324 kcal per cup and features deboned chicken as its main ingredient and main source of protein. This food features omega-fatty acids to promote better mobility and healthier coats. Like all Blue Buffalo foods, this kibble includes LifeSource Bits, which are added vitamins and nutrients to promote better immune health in dogs.

The price of Blue Buffalo can be an issue for some pet parents, as it is quite expensive. We also noticed that the kibble pieces are quite small and could cause your dog to eat quickly if you aren’t monitoring their portions.

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4. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Food

Starting a puppy out right is essential for their health and development. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Food is a great way of providing such a beginning to the new dog in your life. This food is packed with healthy protein, deriving much from the food’s primary ingredient, deboned chicken. You’ll also find taurine, omega fatty acids, and other nutrients that your growing pup depends on.

An issue with Blue Buffalo’s puppy food is that dogs with allergies may have a few issues with it. While it is high in protein due to the deboned chicken and fish meal, both of these ingredients can unfortunately cause problems in some dogs. You’ll need to monitor your pup closely after they eat.

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5. Merrick Lil’ Plates Small Breed Dog Food Grain Free Real Chicken and Sweet Potato Recipe

Merrick Lil’ Plates Small Breed Dog Food Grain Free Real Chicken and Sweet Potato Recipe is primarily made from poultry, including deboned chicken. There are no grains, corn, wheat, or soy, making it grain- and gluten-free. If your dog has allergies or sensitivities to these ingredients, this recipe is the perfect way to ensure that they receive the nutrition that they need without additional worries. Probiotics are included to help promote digestion, along with chondroitin and glucosamine for healthy joints and hips. This food also contains a large number of high-quality ingredients geared toward keeping your pet happy and healthy, including sweet potatoes, blueberries, apples, and salmon oil.

Dogs new to this food may have a difficult time switching to it due to the smell or gastrointestinal issues, so be sure to do the transition slowly and carefully. Also, the small kibble pieces might be too tiny for some bigger Westies.

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6. Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice Formula All Life Stages Dry Dog Food

Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice Formula All Life Stages Dry Dog Food is designed to work for dogs of all life stages. This makes it a safe option for a small breed like a Westie. The first ingredient in this food is chicken. This provides your dog with the required protein, and there are also tasty whole-grain brown rice and superfoods like blueberries, kale, and coconut. This food has probiotics to help promote better digestion in dogs.

While this food doesn’t have the protein level of some others on this list, it is still a viable option due to the other ingredients that provide additional nutrients.

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7. Royal Canin West Highland White Terrier Dry Dog Food

Royal Canin West Highland White Terrier Dry Dog Food is made specifically for Westies once they’re at least 10 months old or older. This formula features EPA and DHA to help not only your dog’s skin but also their cognitive abilities. You’ll find isolated amino acids inside thanks to the researchers at Royal Canin. Your Westie should also love the shape of this food, as it was designed specifically to make it easier for this breed to eat.

The issue with this food is straightforward: the low protein content. This is due to the main ingredient being brewer’s rice, which is often considered a filler. You should keep this in mind if you prefer your dog to be on a high-protein diet.

Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Dog Food for Westies

Now that we’ve looked at the best dog foods for Westies, let’s learn more about the qualifying factors.

Breed-Specific Needs

Every breed is different. With a Westie being considered a small to medium dog, you’ll need to take your pup’s specific needs into account when buying their food. The last thing that you want is to give your dog food that is overly high in calories and leads to them becoming overweight. It is also important to know the sensitivities that your pup may have, including those typically prominent in the breed. For a Westie, leaning toward all-natural ingredients is a great idea. This breed can also show issues with gluten and have trouble eating foods of certain sizes and shapes.

Ingredients

When it comes to ingredients, every pet owner wants only the best for their dog. Unfortunately, not every brand offers that. When you’re looking at the ingredients on a bag of dog food, check the protein. All dogs need a trusted source of protein in their food. USDA-certified and responsibly sourced ingredients are also ideal for your pet.

You should check all nutritional information on the packaging. Knowing the guaranteed analysis, protein content, fat content, and calorie count will help you determine whether the food is geared toward your Westie’s needs or not.

Conclusion

For the best overall dog food for Westies, we chose Ollie Chicken Dish With Carrots due to its trusted ingredients and added nutrients. Our best budget pick is American Journey Active Life. This food is not only affordable but also packed with the nutrients that your dog needs. Our third choice is Blue Buffalo Life Protection. While it may be costly, it is packed with all the goodness that your pup will love.

We hope that you have found the right food for your West Highland White Terrier among these reviews!

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Featured Image Credit: Olga Anivenm, Shutterstock