Hi, i have 2 westies molly 10mths, jimmy 4yrs. Unfortunately my financial circumstances have changed dramatically. I feed them on pedigree chum tinned and dry and also ceasar. I will no longer be able to afford these products. What can i feed them on a tight budget, without their health suffering? Any advice would be appreciated.
Regards.
Bonny

In my Opinion the cheapest and best way ( in my opinion again) is to go to your local butcher buy chicken carcesses generally about 5p lb mash it up a bit or cut it into pieces and ALWAYS feed RAW. In addition once every now and then some tripe raw from butcher and a very occasional piece of liver browned.

You won't do cheaper than this.

Just for your info my freind has just changes from pedigree chum food and one of her westies stopped chewing his feet within days....

She is on the raw now also.

Pam

Hi, what bad luck, but dont despair. I feed Omega Tasty complete to my adult westies. although the RRP is about £16.99 I buy it for between £11.99 and £13.99 for a 15 kilo sack. Even in my remote area there are lots of different sources, we have a market that sells it cheaply and also a doggy wholesalers who are quite happy to sell just one sack. I feed them about 200 gms a day each, I'll leave you to do the sums, but its not much per week for 2 dogs. I have fed my dogs this food for 15 years, none have ever had skin problems and they all love it and are in excellent condition. I have tried other brands but always go back to Omega, as none others are enjoyed as much or show any significant imrovement in condition. I do use other brands for puppies/nursing mums but for ordinary maintenance Omega is very good. Or as Pam suggests butchers will mince up chicken or lamb breasts for you, very cheaply. Many regularly supply dog/kennel owners so it wont be an unusual request and you can mix this with a good quality mixer.

They also now do a Vat Free version, called Omega maintenance. My friend who has a card for the wholesaler sells it to club members for £9.

I find it interesting that your Westies eat the same as my 20kg (43 pound) Elkhounds!

Still a 15kg bag will last two dogs 37 days!

Oops again, have just re-weighed and realised that zero on my scales was not in the right place. Its nearer 150 gms each. I usually feed by eye rather than weighing. When I had my labrador, once mature she had only a very little more than that. Maybe smaller dogs, proportionally need larger amounts?

I have started feeding a natural diet, if you e mail www.prizechoice.co.uk they will send you out some free samples, they deliver to most parts of the country, my new puppy is on this diet as well and she is only 9 weeks old.