Better known as westie or westy, this breed originated from Scotland stands out for an adorable appearance that attracts the attention of numerous dog lovers, with a medium size, a dense coat of white fur and a sweet expression on his face. His temperament is that of a large dog in a small body, being a very tenacious dog that stays alert and defends his territory, although obviously he is also an excellent companion that responds happily to all the pampering he receives from his family. human.
Are you thinking of taking in a dog with these characteristics? Then you need to be informed, in this AnimalWised article we talk about the most common diseases of the west highland white terrier.
Westie or Scottie jaw
This disease is technically known as craniomandibular osteopathy and usually occurs in puppies, especially those between 3 and 6 months of age. It is a pathology hereditary.
Consists of an abnormal growth of the jawbone, although fortunately disappears by 12 months of age. However, the Westie that suffers from it will require symptomatic treatment based on anti-inflammatories while it lasts, due to the pain it causes in the dog and to ensure that it does not have difficulties when feeding.
Obviously this is a genetic risk associated with the breed, which does not imply that all West Highland White Terrier dogs suffer from it.
Liver diseases
The west highland white terrier tends to accumulate copper deposits, which causes the destruction of hepatocytes. Initially, hepatitis appears asymptomatically, but later, between 3 and 6 years of age, it becomes drastically evident with the signs of aliver failure
It is also a genetic disorder, but its prognosis can be improved if from one year of age the precaution is taken to request a veterinary testto determine copper levels in the liver.
Ear infection
The whest highland white terrier's ears need to be cleaned weekly to prevent otitis from occurring and from getting worse with an infectious as well as an inflammatory component. Find out more about this pathology in our article about Otitis in dogs.
The ears will be cleaned with a gauze moistened in saline or water, although a later drying with another dry gauze will always be necessary. We have to take this detail into account especially after the bath, in this way we will avoid the accumulation of wax and the entry of water.
Conjunctivitis and dermatitis
We must pay close attention to the eyes of this dog to avoid the accumulation of rheum, which means that as soon as we observe any we must remove it properly to prevent any inflammation of the conjunctiva.
To achieve this goal care of the hair of this breed is very important, it is advisable that a canine grooming professional remove any dead hair, although this can be annoying for some dogs and therefore it is recommended to cut the hair instead of pulling it out through the stripping technique.
Needs to be bathed with a maximum frequency of once a month, unless the veterinarian indicates otherwise, since it is a dog with a predisposition to present dermatitis in the form of skin rashes and this can be aggravated with frequent bathing. For your hygiene we will use specific products but we should always choose those that are more neutral and mild.
Preventing he alth problems
Although the genetic diseases we have mentioned are impossible to predict, we can help our dog to enjoy optimal he alth if we provide proper nutrition and physical exercise, in addition to the emotional well-being and stimulation it requires.
We also recommend going to the veterinary every 6 months or a year at most, in this way we can promptly detect any pathology and treat it on time. Following the vaccination schedule and regular deworming of the dog will help us avoid, for example, an allergy to flea bites or a much more severe condition, such as parvovirus.
