West Highland Terrier health problems

Which health conditions can affect West Highland Terriers?

Please remember that while the following health concerns are frequently seen in West Highland Terriers, each dog is a unique individual. So, your canine companion isn’t necessarily going to suffer from any of the health conditions commonly experienced by Westies. But, if you’re considering pet insurance, you could read our guide to insuring your West Highland Terrier for more information.  

Always speak to your vet if you’re concerned about your dog’s health.   

Don’t forget to visit our dog first aid guides to discover the basics of canine first aid.

Craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO) a.k.a “Westie jaw”

Also known as ‘Westie jaw’ or ‘lion jaw’, CMO is an inherited disease that causes a dog’s lower jawbone to become thicker and wider than normal. CMO is usually seen in puppies of around 3-8 months old. As a result of this disease, dogs may experience symptoms like being unable to close their mouth properly, pain when chewing, and swelling around their jaw.

Vets can usually diagnose Westie jaw through x-rays and blood tests (to rule out other causes). Currently, the only treatment for CMO is pain management. However, it’s thought that some dogs could grow out of CMO by the time they reach 1-2 years of age, providing they don’t suffer from a severe form of the disease.

Skin allergies and infections (Atopy) in West Highland Terriers

Atopic dermatitis, also known as ‘atopy’, describes a range of skin allergies frequently seen in dogs that can sometimes lead to skin infections.

For West Highland Terriers, the most common type of dermatitis they tend to experience is ‘skin fold dermatitis’ or ‘intertrigo’ – which usually occurs between the wrinkles of their face. The folds of an West Highland Terrier’s face provide the ideal environment for bacteria to grow, which can lead to a foul smell, pain, and itchiness, along with redness and inflammation. To treat skin fold dermatitis, a vet is likely to recommend cleaning your West Highland Terrier’s face folds regularly, as well as prescribing anti-microbial shampoo and/or anti-inflammatory medication.

While skin fold dermatitis is one of the most frequently seen types of skin condition in West Highland Terriers, atopic dermatitis is common in this breed, too. Dogs with atopic dermatitis are likely to scratch, chew, and/or lick the parts of their body that are itchy, inflamed, or irritated, which could include their:

• Face
• Ears
• Armpits (axillae)
• Tummy (abdomen)
• Paws

Vets can diagnose atopic dermatitis by evaluating your West Highland Terrier’s medical history and symptoms, alongside performing a thorough assessment of your dog’s skin.

Just like human allergies, such as hayfever, that require ongoing treatment to manage symptoms, canine atopic dermatitis will probably need to be treated throughout your dog’s life, too.

It can take some trial and error to work out which treatments (or combination of treatments) will work best to ease your dog’s symptoms – for example, medication and/or soothing shampoos. Though, thankfully, the majority of atopic dermatitis cases can be managed effectively to make sure your West Highland Terrier is able to enjoy life to the full.

Patellar luxation in West Highland Terriers

Despite its complicated name, patellar luxation (or sometimes called a luxating patellar), is the veterinary description for a dog’s knee cap slipping out of place’.

There are four grades of severity for patellar luxation. A grade one patellar luxation describes a kneecap that almost instantly pops back into place – whereas grade four is when a kneecap can’t fit back into place (which is rare).

Symptoms of a patellar luxation include a ‘skipping’ lameness and/or ‘bow-legged’ appearance.

Treatments for patellar luxation depend on the grade, though treating low-grade patellar luxation could involve anti-inflammatory medication, adjusting exercise routines, and physiotherapy. High-grade patellar luxation in dogs usually requires surgery.

Dry eye

Tears are essential for keeping your Westie’s eyes healthy. Dry eye is caused by a lack of tear production and can develop in one eye or both eyes.

While many different illnesses (including diabetes and hypothyroidism) might cause this condition, dry eye is also known to lead to other conditions (like conjunctivitis, eye ulcers, and eye loss).

Symptoms of dry eye in Westies can include:

• A thick, yellow discharge
• Red, itchy, or inflamed eyes
• Repeated rubbing or pawing at their eyes or face
• Signs of being in pain, e.g. uncharacteristic irritability
• Eyes that are cloudy or lack shine

To treat dry eye in your Westie, a vet could prescribe treatments such as eye drops to replace their tears, medicated eye ointment, or surgery.’ 

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is thought to be a genetic condition and is seen in breeds like the West Highland Terrier, who inherit it from their parents.

Since idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a slowly progressing condition, symptoms might appear gradually as a dog ages. Symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Westies can include exercise intolerance (difficulty staying active), excessive panting, and coughing (in the latter stages of the condition).

To diagnose idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, vets will assess clinical history, perform a physical examination that involves listening to a dog’s lungs for crackling sounds, and taking x-rays. Sometimes, however, other tests may be required, e.g. lung biopsies (taking samples of lung tissue).

Treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in Westies usually involves some trial and error in determining the right type and dosage of medication.

Ear infections

Due to the shape of their ears, some dog breeds tend to be more prone to ear infections than others – including the West Highland Terrier.

There are many potential causes of ear infections in West Highland Terriers, including:

• Excess wax, hair, or moisture in the ear
• Allergies
• Foreign objects, e.g. grass seeds
• Ear mites
• A bacterial infection, e.g. otitis externa

An ear infection is both irritating and painful for your dog. So, if you notice any of the following symptoms in your West Highland Terrier, it’s important to contact a vet for advice:

• Head shaking
• Scratching (e.g. rubbing their face along the ground)
• Redness and inflammation
• Heat and/or swelling
• Discharge and/or a foul smell from the ear
• Pain (they may not let you touch their ear)
• Head tilt and/or loss of balance

To treat your West Highland Terrier’s ear infection, a vet will begin by finding out what’s caused it. Along with examining your West Highland Terrier’s ear, a vet might perform tests to determine whether a specific type of bacteria is causing your dog’s ear infection.

Once your vet understands the cause of your West Highland Terrier’s ear infection, they can advise as to the best course of treatment, which could include:

• Ear drops
• Ear cleaning
• Anti-inflammatory and pain relief medication
• Antibiotics
• Dealing with the underlying cause, e.g. surgery to remove a grass seed