Breed guide

West Highland White Terrier

Iconic white terrier. Happy, confident, chronically allergic. Skin management defines daily care for most Westies.

AKC Rank

#42

Size

small (15-22 lbs)

Life Expectancy

13-15 yrs

Activity

moderate

Feeding a West Highland White Terrier

Small terrier. ~500-700 kcal/day. Skin allergies are the defining health concern — diet directly impacts skin.

Key nutrients

•omega-3
•limited ingredients
•biotin

Watch out for

•common allergens (chicken, beef, wheat)

Portion notes: Two meals daily. Diet directly affects skin — prioritize quality.

Fresh food picks for West Highland White Terriers

Our recommended fresh-food subscriptions for small dogs.

fresh food

The Farmer's Dog

Fresh, human-grade food portioned for your dog

•Human-grade fresh food
•Portioned per dog
•Vet-developed recipes
•50% off first box

See The Farmer's Dog →

fresh food

Ollie

Fresh food with both cooked and baked recipes

•Fresh and baked recipes
•Turkey, beef, lamb, chicken proteins
•Custom portions
•60% off first box

See Ollie →

fresh food

Nom Nom

Restaurant-quality fresh food with microbiome testing

•Pre-portioned pouches
•Vet-formulated
•Microbiome testing available
•50% off first order

See Nom Nom →

fresh food

Spot & Tango

Fresh or UnKibble — whole-food nutrition, your choice

•Fresh or UnKibble options
•Human-grade ingredients
•Shelf-stable storage option
•50% off first order

See Spot & Tango →

First-year cost

What a West Highland White Terrier actually costs year one

Breed-specific estimate based on size, health concerns, and grooming needs. Excludes purchase/adoption fees (highly variable).

First-year total

$2,600-$5,930

Ongoing years run $1,960-$4,520 (no gear + training one-times).

Food (year one)

Fresh food subscription

$900-$1,500

Gear (one-time)

Crate, bed, harness, bowls, toys

$240-$360

Vet care

Wellness + breed-specific

$660-$1,400

Grooming

high grooming needs

$400-$1,200

Training

Puppy class + supplies

$150-$500

Supplements

Breed-matched, optional

$0-$420

Other first-year

Vaccines, neuter, DNA test

$250-$550

Pet insurance (estimate)

Not included above — shown for planning. Breed-risk adjusted.

$592-$1,036/yr

Estimates based on US market averages for small dogs. Your costs will vary with lifestyle and region.

Supplements for West Highland White Terriers

Matched to this breed's common health concerns. All NASC-sealed.

supplements

Zesty Paws Allergy & Immune

Seasonal allergy + immune support chews

•NASC Quality Seal
•Seasonal allergy support
•Salmon oil for skin
•Chewable, dogs love them

See Zesty Paws Allergy & Immune →

Supplements support — they don't treat or cure disease. Talk to your vet for anything clinical.

Health concerns to watch

atopic dermatitis

skin allergies

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease

patellar luxation

craniomandibular osteopathy

pulmonary fibrosis

Westies are among the MOST allergy-prone breeds. Skin management is lifelong.

White coat needs regular grooming; staining around eyes is common.

Pulmonary fibrosis (Westie lung disease) is breed-specific; watch for chronic cough.

Is your West Highland White Terrier scratching?

West Highland White Terriers are prone to skin and allergy issues. Take our 2-minute itch triage quiz.

Start the quiz →