Bedlington Terrier puppy food & copper toxicosis

Puppy nutrition is 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 more significant than most people realise. That's especially true for Bedlington Terriers, where diet isn't just about growth and energy — it can genuinely be a health-critical decision from the very start. So tell me: how old is your pup, what are they currently eating, and have you already had a chat with your vet about copper levels?

Right, so your worry is completely well-placed — and the fact you're looking into this at 6 months is genuinely good timing. Bedlington Terriers carry a genetic mutation that means they can't excrete copper properly, so it accumulates in the liver over time. Most standard puppy foods, including supermarket own-brands, don't flag copper content clearly, and some use copper-rich ingredients like liver or organ meat in quantities that would be fine for most breeds but problematic for a Bedlington. The threshold that vets typically flag for this breed is anything over about 8mg of copper per kg of dry matter — many mainstream foods sit above that. Has she had any liver function checks yet, or is this all precautionary at this stage?

That's exactly the right approach — copper accumulation is silent for years before symptoms appear, so prevention is the whole game here. I'd strongly recommend switching her to Canagan Small Breed Puppy dry food. It's a grain-free, high-meat recipe built around free-run chicken, and critically it has a naturally low copper profile — it doesn't use organ meats or high-copper supplements in the way many cheaper foods do. The copper content sits well within the safer range for breeds like Bedlingtons. It's also complete and balanced for puppies, so you're not compromising on her growth needs. At 6 months she's still in an active developmental phase and needs good protein and fat levels — Canagan delivers that without the copper loading. One thing I would add: please do book a baseline liver panel with your vet soon. Not because anything is wrong, but because having a baseline at 6 months gives you something to compare against as she gets older. It's genuinely useful data for this breed.

Canagan is widely available — you'll find it on Amazon UK, and it's also stocked by most independent pet shops. For a Bedlington at 6 months you're probably looking at around 100–130g per day depending on her current weight, but the bag has a feeding guide and it's worth using that as your starting point and adjusting based on her body condition. She should have a visible waist and you should be able to feel her ribs without pressing hard. Transition her slowly over about a week — mix increasing amounts of Canagan with the old food to avoid any digestive upset. And once you're settled on it, do get that vet appointment booked. Peace of mind is worth a lot with this breed.

You're in a really good position — you've caught this early, you're asking the right questions, and Canagan is a food you can feel confident about long-term. Keep an eye on her coat condition and energy levels as you transition; Bedlingtons usually do really well on high-quality protein. Good luck with her — she's lucky to have someone thinking this carefully about her health from the start.