The West Highland White Terrier, often shortened to Westie, is an excellent companion and show dog originally from Europe. It is still relatively uncommon in some places. In general, Westies are fairly healthy and do not have many serious inherited diseases, but one problem owners often worry about is skin disease. In most cases, the causes fall into two main groups: parasites or fungi. Different causes require different treatment.
Westie Skin Disease
It is hard to avoid the possibility of skin disease completely. In Westies, the two most common causes are various parasites and fungal infection. Both need to be handled in time, because once the condition becomes more serious, treatment becomes much more troublesome.
Among parasites, fleas and lice are the most common. They may be seen moving on the surface of the skin, on the inside of the thighs, under the armpits, beneath the neck, or deep in the coat. Their eggs are pale, while the little black particles seen in the coat are often their droppings. Mange mites often live under the skin and may cause small red bumps on the abdomen, inner thighs, or other body areas, as well as redness around the lips and hair loss. Ear mites cause brown discharge in the ears, and itching may make the dog scratch the ear flaps until they break. Fungal skin disease usually appears as localized hair loss, broken hair, red skin patches, eczema-like lesions, blisters, or even more severe purulent inflammation. These problems are often found on the abdomen or the inside of the thighs.
Treatment of Westie Skin Disease
When skin disease is caused by parasites, treatment focuses on rapid and effective parasite control. Common parasite sprays, spot-on treatments, and ointments available on the market can all help. If the problem is caused by fungus, the essential answer is antifungal treatment. Before the condition spreads too far, it is best to take the dog to a veterinary hospital in time, because prompt treatment usually leads to full recovery.
Although the Westie is a relatively uncommon pet dog, its skin problems are actually much like those of other dogs: most cases come down to fungi or parasites. Once the true cause is identified and treated correctly, recovery is usually possible. Because the Westie is a small breed, treatment is often somewhat easier than in a large dog, so owners do not need to panic as long as they act in time.