What your westie eats directly affects their skin. The wrong food triggers inflammatory responses that show up as itchy skin, hot spots, and ear infections. The right food strengthens the skin barrier and reduces flare-ups. If your westie has skin issues and you haven’t addressed diet, start here before spending more money on medicated shampoos. … Read more
Westie armadillo syndrome – formally called epidermal dysplasia – is a skin condition that occurs exclusively in west highland white terriers. The skin thickens, darkens, becomes greasy and scaly, and develops a rough, almost armored texture. It’s one of the more severe skin conditions in the breed, and it’s driven by an overgrowth of Malassezia … Read more
If your westie is licking or chewing their paws persistently – especially at night when everything is quiet – that’s not a quirk or a bad habit. It’s the earliest and most reliable sign of an allergy flare-up. This was exactly how Sami’s allergies started. Around one year old, he began licking and biting his … Read more
Westies are predisposed to yeast infections caused by Malassezia, a fungus that lives on the skin of all dogs. In most breeds, it stays in balance and causes no problems. In westies, it overgrows more easily, especially when the skin is already irritated by allergies. The result is itchy, smelly, dark, oily skin that doesn’t … Read more
Crusty scabs on a westie are almost always connected to an underlying allergy or infection – not a random skin injury. The scabs form because your westie has been scratching, licking, or chewing irritated skin until it breaks, and then the broken skin crusts over as it tries to heal while still being irritated. It’s … Read more
Home management handles about 80% of westie skin care. The other 20% needs a vet. Knowing which is which – and having a solid daily routine for the 80% – is what keeps your westie comfortable between flare-ups and reduces how often you need the vet for the rest. I’ve tried a lot of things … Read more
Westies are genetically predisposed to atopic dermatitis – a chronic inflammatory skin condition triggered by environmental allergens. This isn’t a flaw in your particular dog. It’s a breed-wide reality that affects the majority of westies to some degree. Sami started showing signs around one year old. Licking and biting his paws, especially after running in … Read more