Hi There

We are the owner of a Westie his name is Angus and was born 24.8.92 so he is 11 + now but has been diagnosed has having fibroses of the lungs I understand that this is a common problem with westies and that no cure is available

Angus is not suffering and he is such a beautiful wee boy we wpould like to prolong his life as long as possible (that is as long as he is not in any distress

At present he is under care from our vet

Has any one else got any more info on treating thyis problem

Would really appreciate your views

Thanks

Alistair Fisher

Can anyone help?

Hi Alistair,

I have westies but not got any experience of this but will ask a few westie friends of mine and come back to you if I can find any information.

Pam

Here are some links. You may have came across them already but thought I would post anyway.

http://www.westieclubamerica.com/health/pulmonaryfibrosis.html

http://www.westieclubamerica.com/health/ipf.html

http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dpulmonary.html This site seems quite good with

questions and answers.

Pam

Admin: post moved

Hi,

I am so sorry to hear about angus and brings it all back to me, I lost my staffie back in the July to fibrosis of the lungs he was only 2 years and 10 months old when we had to make the hardest descision and do the kindest thing for him, in April of this year he developed a bad cough like kennal cough was not to worried jake had always had a cough when excited but vet treated for various things nothing cured it, decided to have an endoscopy done in July of this year to be advised he had a lung disease but did nit know which one, referred to a wonderful team in Kenilworth who deal with this and he diagnosed Fibrosis of which we could do nothing no cure, nothing to prolong his life with comfort so 2 days later we had to have him put to sleep, however Mr Martin the consultant advised me that if we did not do it asap he would have suffered and perhaps only lasted a few days longer.

I really beat myself up about making this descision but I can see now that it was all for the best as he really did suffer of the last week, very little oxygen was in his blood his tounge and whites of eyes were blue which is not a good sign, he gasped for every breath.

However on the 12th of August 2003 which would have been his 3rd birthday I had a dream of in a field full of wild flowers but there was this barrier stopping us from getting to each other, I consider that to be his way of telling me he is ok and in no pain. The descision was really made up for us because nothing could have been done. We spent of £1,500 in test etc but if any amount of money could have changed the outcome then I would have given my right arm for him to be hear today.

Good Luck

Please keep us informed.

So sorry Niki..

Hugs Pam

Alistair,

I had to speak to my freind Lesley today before passing on her details, I was sure this is what her dog died of. if you want to mail me I can give you her addy, she is more than happy to talk you through some of the treatments for and against. Her westie strangely was also called Angus, he sadly passed away at the beginning of the year with this conditon.

Her and her husband both know quite a bit about the condition. Her husband is also a anesthesiologist of 30 years and has a greater understanding of it.

BFN Pam

preidie@yahoo.com