I just lost my beloved Westie 2 days ago after 13 years. He was my first Westie, and he was a wonderful dog and companion, I would love to have another one, but my dog had very severe skin problems. Virtually from the time he was a puppy his skin was itchy and dry. We were living on Long Island initially, and ended up taking him to a Dermatologist. We later moved to Florida where the problem seemed to get worse. He would have bouts of itching so severe that he scratched all of the hair off his muzzle. We tried every shampoo, every treatment we could think of, vitamins, supplements, etc. He was allergy tested and I was giving him weekly injections. He was referred to a skin specialist here who told me that Westies have terrible skin. I need to know if this is true before I make my decision on whether or not to try another one. PLease help. Thank you

sorry to hear about your loss :(

There are some UK Westie breeders on the board who may be able to answer about how prevalent skin problems are in the breed - hopefully they will be aong soon to answer.

Hi, yes, some westies can have skin problems, but, luckily for me i've never seen it in 11 years, a lot of vets are quick to say if your westie has an itch "its westie skin problems" and start giving steroids etc. when all it could be is your dog is being fed the wrong food, yes, as simple as that, wrong feeding, being bathed too often with the wrong products, they will cause skin problems, also house dust mites, which no one can stop some westies can be allergic to them. That is the reason a lot of westie breeders, especially here in the U.K. are changing diets on to "Barf or part Barf diets", which is raw feeding, all dogs will have a scratch, mine do, but I don't run to the vet, or he would be trying to say they have problems, when I know they don't. Even some bushes in your garden can cause problems, especially if the dog rubs up against the bushes and scratches the skin, before you know it, you will have a scab and the dog will scratch and scratch at it,and it will go infected, I know, ive had that, now have no bushes in my garden. If you are thinking of getting another westie, don't buy from a newspaper advert, go through the breed clubs, or contact the members of this board who have westies, either myself or Pamela R, we do find out where litters are all over the U.K. all it takes is several phone calls. Hope this helps- Irene-Westyholm Westies.

HI Guest,

Sorry for your loss.I can imagine your worry.

I have only had westies for a few years but I do show and have now made a lot of freinds so hear and see quite a bit now. I have studied and had an interest is dog diets for a good 8 years now so for what it is worth:

I have only seen or heard of 3 cases of bad skin in westies and I am on quite a lot of westie groups, one in a very old dog and 2 younger, the younger 2 did get a little better with better low protein diets. control on fleas, chemical free products etc it was with a little hard work. Stripping you dogs skin is also something that helps prevent bad or sore skin as westies being double coated if they are clippered sometimes the new hair struggles to get through and the old hair that is now needing removed is not getting removed.

The skin problem I do think is more common in some lines than others but with good diet and maintainence it can be avoided.

There is also a belief that is you pick a westie with darker skin it will have less problems that the more pinker ones.

Please don't let this put you off as there are a lot of helpful, truthful breeders out there who will help you find a healthy know trouble free line for a new puppy.

Regards

Pamela

I was just having other thoughts what about get a slightly older westie say about 2 maybe retired from SHowing or something. This me ease your fears.

Pam