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FREEZE-DRIED RAW FEEDING GUIDE

How to feed a West Highland White Terrier

The Westie is a small dog with a big terrier engine — bred in Scotland to hunt rodents, still wired to dig, chase, and patrol. That energy and a bright white double coat mean what you feed matters more than the 15–20 lb frame suggests.

Here is exactly how to feed a West Highland White Terrier on freeze-dried raw: small, precise portions matched to a busy little body, with the nutrition that protects their coat, teeth, knees, and skin.

  • Adult weight15–20 lb
  • SizeSmall
  • EnergyHigh
  • Lifespan13–15 years
  • CoatDouble, harsh white outer coat — regular grooming, moderate shedder
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A healthy West Highland White Terrier
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

What a West Highland White Terrier's body needs

Every West Highland White Terrier trait comes back to one thing: how you feed them. Here's what matters most.

  • Bright white double coat

    Needs: Omega-3 fatty acids

    Whole-food animal and fish fats feed the skin barrier from the inside, supporting a clean, shiny white coat and easing the dryness and itch Westies are prone to.

  • Itchy, allergy-prone skin

    Needs: Low-inflammation, limited-ingredient diet

    Minimally processed single-protein raw skips the starchy fillers and additives that can feed chronic skin flare-ups in this breed.

  • Small-breed dental risk

    Needs: Less filler, real chewing

    Small mouths crowd easily and trap plaque. Dense freeze-dried raw and natural chews give teeth real work, while skipping the sticky carbs that feed tartar.

  • High terrier drive

    Needs: Clean, calorie-dense animal protein

    83% meat, organs and bone fuels lean muscle and steady energy for a dog that wants to dig and chase — without carb spikes and crashes.

  • Compact frame, easy to overfeed

    Needs: Precise, weighed portions

    On a 15–20 lb dog, small measuring errors are big. Calorie-dense raw makes honest portioning simple — feed by weight, not by the begging.

How much to feed a West Highland White Terrier

Quick answer: a healthy adult West Highland White Terrier (15–20 lb) needs about 2.3–3.0 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split across two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry — so it's much less by volume than kibble. Feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.

Ideal adult weightFreeze-dried per dayPer meal (×2)
15 lb 2.3 oz 1.1 oz
16 lb 2.4 oz 1.2 oz
17 lb typical West Highland White Terrier 2.6 oz 1.3 oz
18 lb 2.7 oz 1.4 oz
20 lb 3.0 oz 1.5 oz

Starting points for a moderately active adult (~0.15 oz of freeze-dried per lb of ideal weight). Active dogs need a little more, couch companions a little less — always adjust to body condition, not the bag.

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What to feed a West Highland White Terrier

For a Westie we recommend complete freeze-dried raw as the daily base — real meat, organs and ground bone with no heat-processed filler — or as a topper while you transition. The dense, chewable morsels also give those small-breed teeth something to work on.

Lean single-protein recipes like Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod suit sensitive Westie skin and tummies, while fish-forward Salmon brings extra omega-3 for that bright double coat. Just add water and serve.

Recipes for West Highland White Terriers

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Daily support for West Highland White Terriers

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Treats West Highland White Terriers love

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Feeding a West Highland White Terrier by life stage

  • Puppy: Westie puppies have small stomachs and can drop their blood sugar if meals are too far apart — feed 3–4 small meals a day of a puppy or all-life-stages diet. Watch the lower jaw and chewing in pups 3–8 months, as the breed can develop a painful jaw-bone condition; keep food soft and easy to eat if eating seems uncomfortable, and see your vet.
  • Adult: Feed a measured amount twice a day to a lean, visible waist. Use the chart below as a starting point and adjust to body condition, not the bag — a coat this thick hides weight gain.
  • Senior: Keep protein high to preserve lean muscle and support aging joints, trim calories as activity dips, and lean into omega-3 for skin, coat and comfort. Soft, easy-to-eat raw also helps if dental wear makes chewing harder.

Common West Highland White Terrier concerns — and the diet connection

  • Itchy skin & allergiesWesties are famously prone to skin issues; a whole-food, omega-rich, single-protein diet supports the skin barrier and dials down dietary triggers and inflammation.
  • Dental diseaseCommon in small breeds — a low-filler raw diet plus natural chews means fewer sticky carbohydrates feeding plaque, and real chewing helps keep teeth cleaner between brushings.
  • Patellar luxationThis kneecap issue is eased by keeping a Westie lean and supporting joints with natural glucosamine from real bone and cartilage plus anti-inflammatory omega-3.
  • Dry eyeNot a diet-treated condition, but overall whole-food nutrition rich in omega-3 supports healthy tear film and skin around the eyes as part of general wellbeing.

Diet supports health but doesn't replace veterinary care — ask your vet about any specific condition.

Feeding a West Highland White Terrier: what to know

Westies are small, so portions are small — which means a few extra treats or a heaping scoop adds up fast on a 16-lb dog. Weigh meals rather than eyeballing them, and feed to a lean, visible waist.

Their terrier drive burns real calories on active days and almost none on lazy ones, so adjust amounts to the week your dog is actually having. Feel for the ribs under that thick coat — fur hides a thickening waistline.

West Highland White Terrier feeding questions

How much should I feed my Westie?
A healthy adult Westie (15–20 lb) needs roughly 2.5–3 oz of freeze-dried raw per day, split between two meals. Freeze-dried is calorie-dense and measured dry, so it is far less by volume than kibble — feed to a lean waistline and adjust every few weeks.
What is the best food for a Westie with itchy skin?
A limited-ingredient, single-protein freeze-dried raw diet — Chicken or Wild-Caught Cod — keeps the ingredient list short and avoids the fillers and additives that can trigger flare-ups, while omega-3-rich Salmon supports the skin barrier from the inside.
How do I switch my Westie to raw?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing a little more Land Animal into the old food each day. Because it is rich, start at the lower end of the range and watch the stool and the waistline as you go.
Does raw food help a Westie's teeth?
It helps. A low-filler raw diet means fewer sticky carbohydrates that feed plaque, and dense freeze-dried morsels plus natural chews give small-breed teeth real work — though daily brushing is still the gold standard.
Do Westies need a supplement?
Many benefit from added omega-3 for skin and coat, and joint support is worth considering given the breed's risk of patellar luxation. Our Skin & Coat Omega and Hip & Joint chews pair naturally with a raw diet.

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  • "Knowing exactly how much to feed took all the guesswork out. He's leaner, with more energy on our walks."

    — Jenna & Cooper

  • "My picky rescue finally runs to the bowl — and cleanup in the yard is a fraction of what it was."

    — Priya & Luna
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Portions are starting points for freeze-dried raw and AAFCO complete-and-balanced recipes. Always feed to your individual dog's body condition and ask your vet about specific health needs.