Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis – commonly called westie lung disease – is a condition where the lungs gradually scar, reducing their ability to exchange oxygen. It’s nearly exclusive to west highland white terriers, and it’s the breed-specific condition that worries most westie owners when they first hear about it.
Here’s what you need to know: it’s real, it’s serious, but catching it early makes a significant difference in how it progresses and how long your westie maintains a good quality of life.
What Actually Happens
In a healthy lung, the tissue that lines the air sacs is thin and flexible, allowing oxygen to pass easily into the bloodstream. In pulmonary fibrosis, this tissue gradually thickens and scars. The scarred tissue is stiff and doesn’t stretch when the lungs expand, which means less oxygen gets through with each breath.
This is a progressive condition. It doesn’t reverse. But the rate of progression varies enormously between individual dogs, and early management can preserve comfortable function for years.
Early Signs to Watch For
The earliest symptoms are easy to miss because they look like normal aging. That’s exactly why you need to know what to watch for.
Exercise intolerance that gradually worsens. Your westie used to walk 30 minutes without stopping. Now they need a rest break at 20 minutes. Then 15. The key word is gradual – it’s not a sudden collapse, it’s a slow decline that’s easy to rationalize as “getting older.”
A dry, persistent cough. Not the occasional cough after drinking water too fast. A recurring dry cough that doesn’t seem connected to anything specific, especially during or after activity.
Faster breathing at rest. Count your westie’s breaths while they’re sleeping. A normal resting respiratory rate for a dog is 15-30 breaths per minute. If you consistently see numbers above 30 at rest, that’s worth mentioning to your vet.
Reluctance to exercise. A westie who used to pull toward the door at walk time and now seems indifferent or reluctant. Again, easy to dismiss as aging or laziness, but it can be a sign of reduced lung capacity.
When It Typically Appears
Most commonly in middle-aged to older westies, typically 6 years and up. Some cases appear earlier. There’s a genetic component – if your westie’s parents or siblings had it, the risk is higher.
Diagnosis
A chest X-ray is the starting point. In affected dogs, the X-ray shows characteristic patterns of lung scarring. Your vet may also want to run blood tests to check oxygen levels, and in some cases a CT scan provides a more detailed picture.
I’d recommend asking your vet about a baseline chest X-ray when your westie turns 6, even if they show no symptoms. Having a “normal” X-ray on file makes it much easier to spot changes on future X-rays.
Management
There’s no cure. Management focuses on slowing progression and maintaining comfort:
Weight management. Extra weight means the lungs work harder. A lean westie with pulmonary fibrosis has an easier time breathing than an overweight one. This is the single most controllable factor. See our westie weight guide for target ranges.
Adjusted exercise. Shorter walks, more frequent rest breaks, avoiding hot weather exercise (heat increases respiratory demand). The goal is to keep your westie active at a level their lungs can handle, not to stop exercise entirely.
Medications. Your vet may prescribe bronchodilators to help open the airways, anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce lung inflammation, or in more advanced cases, supplemental oxygen for particularly bad periods. Treatment plans are individualized.
Environment. Minimize dust, smoke, and airborne irritants at home. Air purifiers with HEPA filters help. Avoid cleaning products with strong fumes.
Prognosis
This varies widely. Some westies live comfortably for years after diagnosis with proper management. Others progress faster. The dogs who do best are those diagnosed early, kept at a healthy weight, and managed with an ongoing relationship with a vet who knows the condition.
The important thing is not to panic when you hear about this condition, but to be informed enough to catch it early if it happens. Regular vet checkups after age 6, awareness of the early signs, and a baseline chest X-ray give your westie the best chance.
For the complete age-based screening schedule, see our westie health problems overview. The Complete Westie Care Guide includes the full health monitoring routine I use with Sami.
