What Health Problems Do West Highland Terriers (Westies) Tend To Have?

Westies are worse off than most other pure breeds.  This may relate to their colour; albino and near-albino animals tend to have more health problems than specimens with lots of melanin (skin pigments).

Some examples of relatively common inherited health problems in Westies:

Skin disorders, such as puritis or seborrhea.  Often triggered by allergens such as grass pollen, dust or mold.  Females are worse affected than males.  Large range of treatments.

Tremors, that in worse cases progress to convulsions: this is actually termed "White Shaker's syndrome" because it tends to happen in white animals.  Usually manifests before the age of 3 years, and reflects dysfunction in the nervous system.  Treated with sedatives.

Dry eye:  the eyes stop self-lubricating, requires frequent eye drop applications to treat.

Autoimmune disorders, such as inadeqate Adrenal gland function.

The breed is also more than averagely susceptible to ear infections, diabetes, skull deformities, hip and joint problems.

Kidney, heart and lung disease also occur relatively frequently.

I was just old that my 5-year old Westie has mildly elevated kidney levels.  She just had blood work done.  What does this mean and is this serious or fatal?
Thank you.
Carol

My 5-year old Westie had blood work done and the vet called me to inform me that she had mildly elevated kidney levels.  What does this mean and how serious or fatal is this?  She is have X-rays of the kidneys and tests performed tomorrow.  I am really upset since she is only 5 years old.
Thanks.
Carol

We just recently had to put our 9 year old Westie down due to Auto-Immune problems.  It started when she was just 2 years old, eating and licking her paws.  She was diagnosed with mild allergies then seborra.  Over the years she began to loose her hair and then only had hair on her head and back.  We battled skin, ear and eye infections. Then,  because her immune system couldn't balance mites that every dog has, it went into demodex manage.   We saw all types of specialist and vets.  In the past year we have spent close to $3000, now that may seem crazy.  But what was the underlying factor was that we had a dog that still had good days were she wanted to play and run, and then on bad days would barely get out of her bed.  Her skin was very red and inflamed, we medicated, bathed, and went to all natural dog food.  For seven years, nothing worked for long periods.  Sadly we had to make a decision based on her quality of life.  I warn anyone who looks at buying the breed or any "low shedding/no shedding" breed.  Take the time to exam the parents and litter mates, look at their paws, under their arms & stomachs even call clients from previous litters for reference.  If you see staining or hair loss...WALK AWAY.  I hope our story helps one person, because our Zoey was a wonderful dog and family member.  We miss her greatly.

I have a west highland white terrier that has small white bumps developing in his groin area. He is 8 years old and has pink skin.  Can you help me

Most westies are healthy, but(as other whit breeds) chronic skin problems and are not infrequent. Other disorders include legg-perthes diesease(hip problems) hernias,liver diesease and craniomandibular opeopathy("Westie jaw), a painful bone deformaty in puppie.
That sound very confusing, but with lots of cheak ups at the vets most westies are healthy!