What are the best treats for Westies? We love our Westies and we love to shower them with affection. And sometimes that means a reward in the form of a food treat. Your Westie loves it – the little tail is wagging and he is jumping up excitedly trying to get at the tasty snack.
What food should we be giving our Westies as a treat? You want to make sure your little fur-friend lives a long, happy, healthy life. You don’t want to make them ill by giving them food treats that are bad for them.
You might want to give your Westie food treats just because, or you may wish to reward your Westie Terrier with treats whenever he or she obeys you, cooperates with your training, or otherwise behaves well.
That can rack up the calories quickly. Therefore, it is crucial to be conscious of the calories in the goodies you give your pet. You don’t want to overfeed him, giving him excess calories, which might make him overweight.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of healthy, mainly low calorie, treats you can offer to your Westie in moderation. Treats shouldn’t account for more than 10% of your dog’s total daily calorie intake and you do need to be mindful of that when handing out snacks to your adorable pup.
We’ve also included mention of some foods that are toxic to dogs and must be avoided. Things like chocolate should be kept to yourself and no matter how much you enjoy chocolate and how good it tastes, it is not suitable for your Westie.
Can Westies have Fruits as Treats?
Yes, your Westie can be given fruit as a treat, but not all fruit is suitable for Westies. Fruits like bananas, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries are some of the fruits your dog might like as a treat. And, as a bonus for you, those particular fruits require very little preparation.
Most fruits can be given to your Westie provided the seeds, pip, skin, rind, core and any leaves and stems are removed. Fruits like bananas, apples, cantaloupes, oranges, pears, pineapples, and watermelons must all have skins and rinds, plus seeds and pips removed before your dog can eat them.
You must not give to your Westie grapes or cherries. Both these fruits contain substances that are toxic to your dog. You should also avoid tinned fruit with syrup because of the high sugar content. And if you consider avocados and unripe tomatoes fruit, steer clear of both of those, too.
So, more about the fruits that are okay to give your Westie as treats.
Bananas
Bananas are a nutritious, low-calorie treat for Westies when given in moderation. Potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, fiber, magnesium, and manganese are all present in bananas in good amounts.
They have reduced salt and cholesterol levels.
Apple
While a whole apple would be too much for a Westie, apple slices and pieces are healthy for dogs.
Apples as treats are excellent snacks that are rich in nutrients and fiber. Just make sure you cut the apple up before giving it to your dog so he doesn’t eat any skin, core or seeds.
Watermelon
Many Westies adore watermelon as a delicious, hydrating, and healthy food. Watermelon flesh can be offered as a treat. But it’s vital to remove the peel and seeds first since they can result in intestinal blockage. Just to repeat, the seeds need removing. That can be fiddly work, but it is essential.
Watermelon is rich in potassium, vitamins A, B6, and C. As watermelon is 92% water, it’s also a fantastic fruit to help keep your dog hydrated when the weather is hot.
Blueberries, Raspberries and Strawberries
Berries are a great snack for Westies. Antioxidants, like those found in blueberries, aid in the battle against free radicals. Additionally, research indicates that including antioxidants in a dog’s food lessens the consequences of brain aging, which is excellent if you have an older Westie Terrier.
You can give frozen and fresh blueberries to your Westie. Make sure to give your westie this fruit in moderation, as with any treats. Since blueberries are small, there is no need to cut them into pieces. However, there are still some possible dangers, particularly for smaller dogs like Westie pups, such as choking. The same applies to raspberries and strawberries, although some larger strawberries should be cut up. Always remove any cores and stems first.
Oranges
Veterinarians say that all dogs, including Westies, can eat oranges occasionally without any problems, but they caution against giving them any citrus with a strong scent. Oranges are a great source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.
The juicy flesh of oranges can also make a tasty treat for your dog in moderation. You must remove any peel and seeds and only give your Westie the orange’s flesh.
Other Fruits
Your Westie can also enjoy apricots, cucumber (technically considered a fruit), mango, peach, pear, pineapple and plums. Just be sure to remove all skin, rinds, pips, seeds and cores first.
Can I Give Biscuits to My Westie as a Treat?
Many dog owners want to know if it’s okay to give their dogs biscuits. While biscuits are typically safe for dogs to eat, some human biscuits can contain ingredients that are unsafe for dogs.
Chocolate, raisins and macadamia nuts are all bad for dogs and any biscuits containing those ingredients would be unsafe for your Westie to eat. And many commercially available biscuits contain xylitol as a sweetener. Xylitol is considered toxic for dogs, and any products containing xylitol should not be given to your Westie.
A human biscuit that does not contain any unsafe ingredients can be given to your dog as an occasional treat, but in general, human biscuits have too much sugar and can contain wheat flour, milk and butter, all of which can be tough on your Westie’s digestive system.
It would be best to stick to dog-friendly biscuits. Plenty of dog biscuits are available ranging in flavours from peanut butter to chicken. You could even make your own. The tougher texture of dog biscuits are also great for your Westie’s chewing and teeth (and might just stop him gnawing on the furniture!).
Read our full guide to Westies and Biscuits.
Can a Westie have Lean Meat?
As a tasty treat for your Westie puppy, meat can be served alone or added to rice or suitably prepared vegetables (more on veggies below). Leaner cuts are preferable since dogs have trouble digesting fatty meat.
Most vets recommend you avoid giving your Westie Terrier raw meat and instead cook the meat without any butter, oil, salt or herbs and spices. Before giving cooked meat to your dog, trim off any fat and remove any bones.
Lean meat options include pieces of beef or pork with the words “loin” or “round” in their names, ground beef, bison, chicken, or turkey. Look for meat labelled as at least 90% lean. Chicken and turkey must have the skin removed because of its high fat content.
Can a Westie Terrier have Vegetables as Treats?
You can feed your Westie many of the vegetables you would find on your own plate. While you may feed these vegetables to dogs raw, steaming is a terrific way to cook them without losing too many nutrients. And can make them more appetizing and easier to eat for picky dogs.
Raw vegetables contain plenty of fiber, which is good, but too much can cause abdominal pain and bloating so give raw vegetables in moderation.
Avoid corn on the cob as it is indigestible for dogs.
Broccoli
Very small amounts of broccoli are safe for Westies to consume. It has a low fat content and is high in fiber and vitamin C.
Broccoli florets, on the other hand, contain isothiocyanates, which in some dogs can cause mild to possibly severe stomach discomfort. In addition, broccoli stems have a history of causing an esophageal obstruction.
Peas
Westie Highland Terriers can occasionally find green peas, sugar snap peas or snow peas in their bowl as a reward. In addition to being high in fiber and protein, peas also include several vitamins and minerals. Frozen or fresh peas can be given to your dog. However, canned peas with extra sodium should be avoided.
Celery
Westies can eat celery with no problems. In addition to vitamins A, B, and C, this crunchy green snack offers nutrients required to support a healthy heart and even fight cancer. Celery is also thought to freshen canine breath.
Green Beans
Green beans of any kind, whether chopped, steamed, raw, or tinned, are good for dogs to consume occasionally. In addition to being high in fiber and essential vitamins and minerals, green beans are also low in calories. If you’re giving your Westie canned green beans as a treat, choose those with little or no salt.
Brussels Sprouts
Westies can consume Brussels sprouts in small amounts. The minerals and antioxidants in Brussels sprouts are healthy for both people and canines. However, because they might produce a lot of gas, don’t give them to your Westie buddy in excess.
Carrots
Being high in fiber and beta-carotene, carrots make a great low-calorie snack for your Westie. Additionally, many dog foods contain this orange vegetable, which is very pleasant to crunch on and excellent for your Westie Terrier’s teeth.
Other Vegetables
Your Westie may also enjoy spinach, sweet potato and bell peppers. Just remove stalks and seeds and steam hard vegetables, such as sweet potatoes, before giving them to your dog.
Can Westie Highland Terriers have Peanut Butter?
Your Westie pup can consume unsalted peanut butter in moderation as a reward. But it should be without any additional sugar or sweeteners.
Niacin, vitamin E, vitamin B, protein, healthy fats, and other nutrients can all be found in peanut butter.
However, it is crucial to ensure that the peanut butter given is free of xylitol, which is extremely harmful to dogs.
Final Word
No matter what treat you select, it’s best to ensure treats don’t account for more than 10% of your Westie’s daily calories.
Even though none of the items on this list are known to be problematic for Westies, if you notice any symptoms of allergies or digestive discomfort, you should stop offering that food and talk to your veterinarian.
More On Eating…
- How Much Food Should a Westie Eat? And How Often?
- What Can Westies Not Eat? Common Foods To Avoid
- What Foods Are Westies Allergic To? (Westie Dog Allergies)
- Can Dry Dog Food Give Your Westie Itchy Skin?
- How Big do Westies Get? How Much Do Westies Weigh?
- Can Dogs Eat Porridge With Milk? And Should They?
- What Human Biscuits Can Dogs Eat? (Risks & Benefits)
- Why Do Dogs Eat Rocks? Is Your Westie Eating Rocks?
