id like some info on westies and bulldogs please

Hi there, Be patient, Westie Lover will see your posting soon, and will be able to give you loads of advice.

What particular info would you like. there is a slight difference between the 2 breeds.

pamela

Hi, I hope this isn't a wind up!! Westies are game little white terriers about 11" high, who delight in digging up your garden. They were originally bred to hunt out and kill vermin, which they are all very good at! They are charming and loyal companions, but not always instantly obedient, they are very clever little dogs, but part of their charm is that they can be a little stubborn, so if you want instant obedience 100% of the time - dont get a Westie!! They are very active and stay playful all their lives. As they are bred to use their teeth -which should be surprisingly large for the size of dog - youngsters are keen to try them out on you and you do have to be firm (and very loving too of course) with them them and show correct leadership when they are small. Once they realise they are not the ruler of the household, they are very affcetionate and loving. They are generally very long lived, 14-16 years is not uncommon. Once adult (14 -18 months) they are very tough and hardy , and will happily run all day and are quite capable of long walks, but puppies up to 12 months must have their exersise strictly moderated, until their bones are fully formed. Adults dont have to have long daily walks and would be quite happy with a good ball game in a the garden a few days in the week.

The main health problems associated with Westies are suceptibility to allergies (often grass and pollen, sometimes diet) and skin problems which may or may not be hereditary. There is also Legge Perthes, which although not officially classed as hereditary, I think most breeders agee that it almost certainly is, though it would not neccessarily be seen in the puppies parents. This problem affects the femral head of the thigh bone (the ball) where it fits into the socket, over exersise and running up and downstairs as puppies is said to bring it on as well as the hereditary fcator. You have probably seen small dogs running on 3 legs, holding one hind leg up (often Jack Russels), that is Perthes. Also their is CMO, or Lion jaw, where the bottom jaw/hinge joint "doesn't know" when to stop growing, this can often be cured by mediaction.

They do not moult, but lose hairs daily like we do, and if you are thinking of getting one you must be sure you have 15 minutes or so EVERY day, free, to groom it thoroughly as the hair will matt in the tender places between the legs and under the tummy, very easily. As they dont moult, they need to have their coat shortened and thinned 3 or 4 times a year. You can learn to do it yourself or its off to the grooming salon ( about £20) for a trim, so although westies are generally fairly inexpensive to keep, this is an added and essential cost.

Its is also very important with Westies to use an monthly drop-on flea treatment from the vet ( NOT the supermarket!) its so important to keep Westies flea free as they are more likley to develop flea-allergy dermatitis than some other breeds. The only way IMO is to make sure they never get one, by preventing them at all costs. If you are thinking of buying one, expect to pay £400-£500 from a specialist breeder (one who has a very few dogs, of only one or maybe two breeds) not from a place that sells many different breeds. Puppies cheaper than this may be ok, but if the breeders are not very experienced pet owners they possibly dont know about any hereditary diseases in their bitch or the stud dog lines, they may not be able to help with health/behaviour queries once you have the puppy, or if they are puppy farmers, they simply take your money and shut the door. Dont ever let anyone deliver you a puppy, no matter what they say their reasons are for doing so, they dont want you to see their other dogs or where the puppies were raised. Every reputable breeder insures the puppies for you free of charge on the day you buy it, if they dont offer this, dont buy there. A reputable breeer will aslo question you within an inch of your life, to satisfy themselves that you will be a good owner. Hope this helps.

Wow WL !!!

Well you've certainly educated me....... :)

Hi Westie, what treatment do you recommend for itchy westies? My parents have an elderly westie that intermittently gets itchy, mostly on her chest and abdomen and usually in the spring/summer. She doesn't have hair loss or a rash, but rubs her belly and inner thighs raw if she isn't treated at the beginning of an itchy phase. The vet gives her a short course of oral steroids which clears it up until the next time. She has always been treated for fleas the way you suggest, and her food has been changed several times. I meant to ask you this before, but seeing your post reminded me.

Hi Sharon, to be honest, if a short course of steroids does the trick and its not too many times a year I would stick with the steroids. It can take an age ( and a lot of money to specialists and second opinions) to find out what is causing it, and then you may find its an allergy to something thats impossible to avoid, like grass or pollen. I'd rather not have a dog on steriods permanently but if its just now and again- three or four times during "the season", I would continue with your vets treatment, They do work like magic, and occasional use, as far as I am aware is unlikely to be detremental to the dog. Just watch she doesn't put on too much weight. :-)

Hi Westie, thanks. It may well be grass or pollen as this only seems to happen in the spring and summer. Scamp usually only needs a 5 day course of steroids twice or occassoinally three times a year, and she's not fat. Is it OK if I forward your reply to Mum? She will be much more reassured that way than if I just tell her .... you know what they say about prophets in thier own land :-)

By all means pass it on, and now you have said its only twice a year or so, I would definately continue with the vets treatment if it were my dog. :-)

Thanks westie :-)

I suppose they have ruled out harvest mite Sharon, thats the things that have got my Dandie in any of the years that we didn't treat for fleas, they never seemed to bother the Cockers though.

Hi Isabel, and thanks. The vet hasn't looked for harvest mite as far as I know, but Scamp gets Frontlined every 6 weeks or so in spring and summer. I'll check if frontline works for harvest mite, and if it doesn't I'll pass on the suggestion.

If you mean the spot on Sharon then no it doesn't you would have to use stronghold.Gillian

Thats interesting Gillian. I can't say I have paid close attention because although the harvest mite cause her a bit of a paw nibble they don't seem to have caused any nasty reactions or too much bother generally I had therefore just assumed that Frontline had stopped them as it seemed to me I only noticed her having a nibble in the years that I have not had any fleas to treat (in which case I don't treat them with anything) When I have noticed her being bothered with them I have confirmed it by spotting the tiny orange spots and sprayed just her feet with Nuvan Top and that always seemed to keep them at bay. I am not sure if you can buy Nuvan Top anymore.
PS Nothing so far in the flea or mite dept this year.

The only reason I know this is I have a dog which is allergic to harvest mite and has a bad reaction if she picks any up My vet advised me to switch to Stronghold during the months when Harvest mite are prevelent.Otherwise I spray with frontline now.Gillian

Hi Westielover, was wondering if you had any tips on how to get rid of the brown staining around the mouth? My little girl westie developed it at 2 yrs, she is now three. I've heard that limestone free chalk is good, is this true?

Hi Katdog, Irene is the best one to answer this one, she has lots of tricks up her sleeve!! I have heard -dont know if its true - that if you give your dog bottled water to drink - low sodium one, that the stains disappear over time. Chalk will disguise it a bit. I find that it stems from two little sections of hair, either side, that grow from a near a place on the lower lip that has a sort of fold, I just snip those off and it stops the stain "spreading". Irene where are you?

This is also a guess as so far I have not had problems with my 2 Westies but I was told and have always done this as a precaution .

Use Orgainic apple cider vinigear. a drop in their water and also when wash there feet and chin.

Use distilled water insteas of tap. ( heard this alot)

Someone I know with a Westie with probs uses it.

I have to say after my 2 feed I give their wee face a wash or wipe with a baby wipes an make sure they are dry again.

Who really knows..

pam

Thanks Gillian - have now passed that tip on to Mum.

Thanx for those tips, will give them a go. I'll let you know if there is an improvement.