Best treats for Westies with skin allergies

Skin allergies in Westies are very common, and chicken is one of the more frequent triggers — so you're already ahead of a lot of owners just by having identified that. The best treats are high in protein, low in additives, and sized right for the dog. Most popular treats are nutritionally poor despite the marketing; single-ingredient dried meat or fish skin treats are almost always the better call. To point you toward the right thing: what are you mainly using treats for — training, general rewards, dental health, or something else? And has your vet identified any other ingredients to avoid besides chicken?

That's helpful. Grain sensitivity on top of chicken means you want to steer clear of most commercial treat brands — they bulk out with cereals and the protein source is often ambiguous. For a fussy 9kg Westie, something with a strong natural smell usually wins. Fish-based single-ingredient treats tend to tick every box here: no chicken, no grain, high protein, and dogs that turn their nose up at other things almost always go for fish. Are there any fish she's had before and reacted to, or is fish completely untested territory for her?

Salmon oil tolerance is a good sign — it suggests fish protein shouldn't be an issue. My recommendation would be Icelandic+ Cod Skin Rolls. They're single-ingredient dried cod skin, nothing added. No chicken, no grain, no fillers. They're naturally high in protein and omega-3s, which is actually useful for a dog with skin issues. The rolls come in a size you can snap into smaller pieces for training, which works well for a small dog. They have a strong fish smell that fussy eaters respond to, and the texture gives a bit of chew without being hard on smaller teeth. They're widely available on Amazon UK and the ingredient list is exactly one item: cod skin. That's what you want.

For a 9kg dog, one to two rolls a day is a sensible ceiling — broken into smaller pieces if you're using them for training. Treats should make up no more than 10% of daily calorie intake, and because these are quite rich, less is more at first while her system adjusts to a new protein source. Start with a small amount for the first few days just to confirm she tolerates cod well, then use them freely within that daily limit.

Good luck with them — most dogs take to cod skin immediately, especially fussy ones. If her skin stays settled and she enjoys them, you've found a reliable staple. Worth keeping the ingredient list in mind as a benchmark: one ingredient, named protein source, nothing else. That rule holds for any treat you consider in future.