Search for Westie health problems and you get a long, unranked list of frightening conditions, most of which your dog will never have.
This ranks them. The figures below come from a study of West Highland White Terriers under routine veterinary care, so they describe what dogs actually present with rather than what is theoretically possible.
The short version
- The most common problems are ordinary ones: teeth, ears, nails and weight.
- Allergic skin disease is the defining breed problem and has its own guide.
- The genuinely breed-specific conditions — Westie lung, CMO, Legg-Calvé-Perthes — are real but uncommon.
- Most of the top five are preventable with routine care.
What Westies actually go to the vet for
| Condition | Share of Westies affected | Preventable? |
|---|---|---|
| Dental disease | 15.7% | Largely — brushing and scaling |
| Ear disease | 10.6% | Often — usually allergy-driven |
| Overgrown nails | 7.2% | Entirely — routine trimming |
| Allergic skin disorder | 6.5% | Managed rather than prevented |
| Overweight | 6.1% | Entirely — diet and exercise |
The full dataset is published in the VetCompass study of West Highland White Terriers in primary veterinary care, which is open access if you want the detail.
The practical message is that four of the top five are things an owner influences directly. Our Westie grooming guide covers nails, ears and coat; teeth are addressed below.
The conditions that are genuinely breed-linked
These are less common but worth recognizing, because early detection changes the outcome for several of them.
| Condition | What it is | Typical age | First signs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atopic dermatitis | Inherited environmental allergy | 6 months–3 years | Licking paws, itchy belly and face |
| Westie lung (pulmonary fibrosis) | Progressive scarring of lung tissue | 8+ years | Dry cough, crackly breathing, tiring on walks |
| Craniomandibular osteopathy | Abnormal jaw bone growth, self-limiting | 3–8 months | Pain opening the mouth, jaw swelling |
| Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease | Degeneration of the femoral head | 4–12 months | Limping on a back leg, muscle wasting |
| Patellar luxation | Kneecap slipping out of position | Any age | Skipping stride, holding a back leg up briefly |
| Diabetes mellitus | Inadequate insulin regulation | 7+ years | Drinking and urinating far more, weight loss |
| Copper-associated hepatitis | Copper accumulation in the liver | Adult | Often silent; found on bloodwork |
| Deafness | Congenital or age-related | Puppy or senior | No response to sound from one side |
Dental disease: the one to take seriously
It tops the list, it is painful, and it is the condition we most often find untreated in dogs arriving at rescue.
Small breeds crowd 42 teeth into a short jaw, which traps plaque. Left alone it becomes gum disease, then tooth loss, then infection that affects the heart and kidneys.
- Brush daily if you can, three times a week at minimum, with dog toothpaste.
- Expect professional cleaning under anesthesia every one to three years.
- Watch for bad breath — it is not normal, it is bacteria.
- Check for dropped food, pawing at the mouth or chewing on one side.
Dental work is usually the first thing we fund for an incoming dog. The veterinary care every rescue Westie receives sets out what that involves.
Westie lung disease
Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is strongly associated with this breed, which is why it is often just called Westie lung.
Lung tissue gradually stiffens and scars. It usually appears in older dogs and progresses slowly, so it is easy to mistake for normal aging at first.
The signs to act on are a persistent dry cough, breathing that sounds crackly, reduced exercise tolerance, and blue-tinged gums after exertion. It cannot be cured, but it can be managed, and early diagnosis buys comfortable time.
What to expect at each life stage
| Life stage | Watch for | Routine care |
|---|---|---|
| Puppy (0–1) | Jaw pain, limping, deafness | Vaccinations, early handling for grooming and teeth |
| Young adult (1–4) | Onset of itching, ear infections | Annual exam, parasite control, weight baseline |
| Adult (4–8) | Skin flares, dental disease, weight gain | Annual exam plus dental assessment; bloodwork from 7 |
| Senior (8–12) | Cough, thirst changes, lumps, stiffness | Twice-yearly exams, annual bloodwork and urinalysis |
| Geriatric (12+) | Mobility, cognition, appetite | Twice-yearly exams, pain scoring, quality-of-life review |
What actually keeps a Westie healthy
- Keep the dog lean. Overweight sits in the top five and worsens joints, breathing and diabetes risk. You should feel ribs easily.
- Brush the teeth. The single highest-value thing most owners are not doing.
- Treat ears as an allergy signal. Recurrent infections are rarely bad luck.
- Keep nails short. Overlong nails change gait and load the joints wrongly.
- Insure early. Before signs appear, not after — pre-existing exclusions are what catch people out in this breed.
- Go twice a year past eight. Most of the serious conditions above are far cheaper to manage when caught early.
Health and the dogs we take in
A large share of the Westies that reach rescue arrive with untreated dental disease, managed-but-neglected skin conditions, or a diagnosis their owner could no longer afford.
None of that makes them bad dogs, and most of it is fixable. Our long-term care and hospice program exists for the ones where it is not, and sponsoring a dog in our care funds the treatment directly.
Frequently asked questions
What health problems are Westies prone to?
The commonest by a distance are dental disease, ear disease, overgrown nails, allergic skin disease and being overweight. Breed-linked conditions such as Westie lung, craniomandibular osteopathy and Legg-Calve-Perthes are real but much rarer.
How long do Westies live?
Commonly 12 to 16 years. Weight control, dental care and early treatment of skin disease make the largest difference to both length and quality of life.
What is Westie lung disease?
Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive scarring of lung tissue strongly associated with the breed. It usually appears after eight and presents as a dry cough and reduced exercise tolerance.
Are Westies expensive to insure?
Often higher than average because of the breed’s skin and respiratory profile. Insuring before any signs appear matters more in this breed than most, since allergic skin disease is commonly excluded once diagnosed.
How often should a Westie see a vet?
Annually to age eight, then twice yearly. Add bloodwork from about seven, and a dental assessment at every visit.
Where to read next
For the skin side in depth, our guide to why Westies itch and what actually helps covers diagnosis, treatments and costs. If you are still deciding on the breed, our honest guide to whether Westies suit your household sets out the running costs alongside the temperament.
If a diagnosis has made keeping your dog impossible, please talk to us early through the surrender and rehoming page. Dogs with medical needs are exactly what this rescue is for, and the Westies currently available for adoption lists what each one needs.