Westies are generally healthy dogs with a lifespan of 12-16 years. But they’re predisposed to several conditions that other breeds rarely face, and knowing what to watch for – and when – is the difference between catching something at stage one versus discovering it at stage three.
None of this should scare you. Sami has been through allergy flare-ups, a leg-skipping scare, a tail surgery, and more grooming wipes than I can count. He’s healthy, happy, and still the most opinionated dog I’ve ever met. But breed-aware monitoring is what got us here.
Skin Allergies: The #1 Westie Health Issue
Somewhere between 25-60% of all westies develop skin problems at some point in their lives. Atopic dermatitis – a chronic inflammatory skin condition triggered by environmental allergens – is so common in the breed that it’s sometimes just called “westie skin disease.”
Most westies start showing signs between 6 months and 3 years old. Sami started around one year – licking and biting his paws after running in the grass. I didn’t take it seriously at first. That was a mistake. By the time we got proper allergy testing done (around age two), we were already deep into flare-ups and vet visits.
For the full breakdown of westie skin issues – symptoms, management, and the routine that works for us – see our complete guide to westie skin and allergies.
Pulmonary Fibrosis (Westie Lung Disease)
This is the condition that scares most westie owners when they first hear about it. It’s real, it’s nearly exclusive to westies, but it’s manageable when caught early.
What happens: the lungs gradually scar, reducing oxygen exchange. Early signs are subtle – exercise intolerance that slowly worsens, a dry cough, and faster breathing at rest. It most commonly appears in middle-aged to older westies, typically 6 years and up.
If your westie used to walk 30 minutes without stopping and now needs rest breaks, or if you notice heavier breathing after mild activity, bring it up with your vet. Early detection allows management that preserves quality of life for years. A chest X-ray is the starting point for screening.
For more detail, see our dedicated page on westie lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis.
Craniomandibular Osteopathy (Westie Jaw)
This affects westie puppies between 4-8 months old. The jawbone grows abnormally, causing pain when eating or having the mouth touched. Signs include reluctance to eat, drooling, swelling along the jawline, and crying when yawning.
The good news: it typically resolves on its own by 12 months as bone growth stabilizes. The challenging part: it requires vet monitoring and pain management during the active phase. A puppy who suddenly stops wanting to eat or cries when you touch their jaw needs a vet visit.
Luxating Patella
The kneecap slips out of its normal groove. You’ll notice your westie occasionally skipping on a back leg, holding one leg up for a few steps, or suddenly going lame and then walking normally again seconds later.
A few months ago, Sami started skipping on his back leg. It started when we moved from daily walks on soft forest ground to walking in the marina on hard streets in Greece. We took him to the vet, did x-rays, and the results didn’t show anything obviously wrong. The vet thinks it’s related to nerve sensitivity and possibly early joint changes.
We started him on mobility supplements and I do physiotherapy exercises with him every morning – about 10 reps of each exercise, stretching his legs. I also got him dog steps to stop him jumping on and off the bed, which I should have done years ago. The surprise was that dog boots almost completely stopped the skipping – the vet thinks the rubber absorbs impact from hard ground.
For more on this, see our page on westie luxating patella.
Other Conditions to Know About
Dental disease. Very common in westies and often overlooked. Daily tooth brushing with enzymatic dog toothpaste is the best prevention. I wasn’t consistent with this early on with Sami and I wish I had been.
Ear infections. Almost always connected to underlying allergies. The allergy response inflames the ear canal, which creates conditions for bacterial and yeast infections. If your westie shakes their head frequently or their ears smell yeasty, get them checked.
Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca). Reduced tear production that can lead to eye irritation and infections. More common in older westies. Watch for cloudy eyes, excessive blinking, or thick discharge.
Age-Based Health Screening
4-8 months: Watch for jaw pain, reluctance to eat, jaw swelling (CMO). Vet exam if eating habits change.
6-12 months: Persistent scratching, paw licking, ear infections. Begin allergy evaluation and skin management early.
1-3 years: Skin allergy pattern establishing. Consider allergy testing if flare-ups are frequent. Also watch for limping or skipping gait (luxating patella).
3-6 years: Annual bloodwork. Monitor weight carefully – a healthy westie is 7-10 kg (15-22 lbs). You should feel ribs easily with light pressure but not see them.
6+ years: Screen for pulmonary fibrosis with chest X-ray. Eye exam for cataracts and dry eye. Monitor exercise tolerance closely.
8+ years: Increased thirst or urination warrants diabetes screening. More frequent bloodwork. Senior westie care becomes the priority.
10+ years: Senior wellness panels. Watch for lumps, behavioral changes, appetite shifts. Discuss quality of life with your vet regularly.
We put the complete health screening schedule, plus everything we’ve learned about managing Sami’s specific conditions, in the Complete Westie Care Guide.
Watch: Sami’s Story
Sami’s health update – including back hernias and paw injury recovery:
When Sami had tail surgery:
