Budget puppy food vs premium for Whippets

The budget-food-plus-supplement question is one I love, because it sounds logical on paper but often doesn't work out the way people expect — especially for a lean, fast-growing breed like a Whippet. Puppy nutrition is genuinely one of the most important investments you'll make; the right food in the first year sets the foundation for long-term health, and the differences between puppy foods are far more significant than most people realise. So before I give you my honest take on whether topping up a cheaper food with omega-3s makes sense for your pup, tell me: how old is your Whippet, what are they currently eating, and roughly what are you spending per month on food right now?

Right, that's really helpful — and honestly, the person who told you to look at the food first was giving you good advice. Here's the thing with Wagg: it's not a harmful food, but it's built around cereals and derivatives, which means the protein quality is lower and the natural fat profile — including omega-3s — is minimal. When you add a salmon oil capsule on top, you're patching one gap, but you're not fixing the protein quality, the bioavailability, or the overall nutrient density. For a Whippet specifically, this matters more than for a lot of breeds. They have almost no body fat as a buffer, so they're heavily dependent on dietary fat for energy and coat condition. They also grow fast and lean, so skeletal and muscle development in these early months is critical. Can I ask — is she on the small side for her age, and how's her coat looking at the moment?

That coat and weight picture is pretty classic for a Whippet not getting enough high-quality fat and protein from their diet — and it tells me the supplement-on-top approach probably won't move the needle enough on its own. My clear recommendation for you is Orijen Puppy. It's a Canadian brand, widely available on Amazon UK, and it's genuinely one of the best-evidenced dry puppy foods you can buy. The protein is 85% from fresh or raw animal ingredients — chicken, turkey, fish — so the omega-3s are already embedded in the food in their natural form, which your dog's body uses far more efficiently than oil drizzled on top of a cereal-based kibble. The caloric density is also higher than Wagg, which for a slim Whippet is a real practical benefit — she'll likely need slightly less volume but will be better nourished. A 2kg bag runs around £25–28 on Amazon, and because the feeding portions are smaller than budget foods, it tends to last longer than people expect. At your £35 ceiling, you'll be comfortable. I'd ditch the separate omega supplement entirely — it becomes redundant — and just focus on transitioning her onto Orijen slowly over about 10 days to avoid any stomach upset.

Yes — mention it at her next check-in, not because there's any risk, but because the vet flagged her weight, so it's useful context. If she puts on a healthy amount of condition over the next 6–8 weeks, that's good information for them to have. During the transition, go 25% new food mixed with 75% old for the first 3 days, then 50/50 for another 3 days, then 75/25, then fully over. Whippets can have sensitive digestions so don't rush it. The main things to watch for are loose stools — that usually just means you've gone too fast — and any itching or skin reaction, which is rare with Orijen but worth noting. Within 4–6 weeks on the new food, you should see a genuine difference in coat shine and probably a bit more substance to her frame. That's the food working, not the supplement.