Frequent diseases west highland white terrier

When you breed seriously you have to look for the most suitable subjects for breeding based on two fundamental characteristics HEALTH and NEARNESS TO THE STANDARD, so I want to write an article (plucking from official texts and making a summary) to tell you what are the frequent pathologies in this breed and which I try to avoid. Genetics you know is not an exact science and mother nature does her duty sometimes ignoring our will, so let’s say I try to do the best I can with the tools I have.

I will include the main ones in this article, but obviously the list is not exhaustive…

Frequent diseases west highland white terrier

1. Hereditary Oculopathies (HED)

Hereditary Oculopathies are eye diseases, either congenital or appearing later in life, transmitted on a genetic basis (or presumed to be so) from affected animals or carriers. They are a significant concern in breeding, as they can lead to progressive vision reduction or even blindness.

• Nature: Genetically transmissible eye diseases.
• Common examples:
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA ): A degenerative disease that affects the retinal photoreceptor cells (the rods and then the cones), leading to initial and then complete night blindness. It is recessive in the most common form (prcd-PRA).
  • Hereditary Cataract (HC): Opacification of the lens, which can vary in severity.
  • Retinal Dysplasia: Developmental abnormality of the retina (folds, rosettes) that can vary in severity, up to retinal detachment and complete blindness in some forms.
• Symptoms: Often difficult to detect initially, may include progressive decrease in vision (dog compensates with sense of smell and hearing), dilated pupils under normal light conditions, or signs of night blindness.
• Diagnosis and Control: Specialized eye examinations (with pupil dilation) are performed by certified veterinary ophthalmologists (e.g., for the issuance of the ECVO-FSA Certificate). For late-onset conditions, the certification has limited validity (often one year) and requires periodic updates, while for congenital conditions it is definitive.

2. Dislocation of the Patella (Rotula Dysplasia).

Patella Dislocation is the abnormal protrusion of the patella (the small knee bone) from its femoral groove (trochlear groove). It is one of the most common causes of hind limb lameness, especially in young dogs.

• Nature: Primarily a congenital and hereditary condition associated with anatomical misalignment of the femur, tibia, or both.
• Classification:
  • Medial (most common in small dogs): The kneecap moves toward the inside of the limb.
  • Lateral (more common in large dogs): The kneecap moves outward from the limb.
• Symptoms:
  • Intermittent lameness, often manifested as a “step hop” or sudden lifting of the limb for a few steps, followed by a return to normal (when the kneecap returns to its seat).
  • In the most severe forms, constant lameness, pain, and difficulty extending the knee.
  • “Crouching” (squatting) gait in case of bilateral involvement.
• Grades of Gravity (1 to 4): Severity is graded according to the ease with which the patella exits and re-enters the groove. Higher grades imply permanent dislocation and more damage to the joint (early arthrosis and risk of cruciate ligament rupture).
• Treatment: Often surgical, especially in more advanced grades, to correct bone alignment and deepen the trochlear groove.

3. Aseptic Necrosis of the Femoral Head (Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease or LCPD).

Aseptic Necrosis of the Femoral Head is a degenerative disease affecting the hip joint, particularly the head and neck of the femur.

• Nature: Occurs due to a lack of blood supply (aseptic necrosis) to the femoral head during the growth phase. The bone “dies,” resorbs and deforms or collapses.
• Affected Subjects: Predominantly affects small and toy dogs and typically arises at a young age (between 5 and 8 months).
• Symptoms:
  • Progressive lameness (at first slight and intermittent, then more constant).
  • Hip pain (often evident with manipulation or palpation).
  • Crepitus at the hip joint.
  • Atrophy (decreased mass) of the thigh muscles in the affected limb (often unilateral, but can be bilateral).
• Diagnosis: Confirmed by radiography of the hip.
• Treatment: There is no curative drug treatment. Definitive treatment is almost always surgical, usually through Femoral Head and Neck Osteotomy (femoral head resection), or in rare cases total hip replacement. Excision creates a “false joint” that, due to the dog’s residual musculature and reduced weight, provides good functional recovery and elimination of pain.

4. Cranio-Mandibular Osteopathy (CMO)

5. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ( IPF ), also known by its English acronym.

It is a serious, chronic, progressive disease that affects lung tissue.

What is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?

FPI is a respiratory disorder in which normal elastic tissue in the lung is progressively replaced by scar tissue, which is rigid and nonfunctional (fibrotic tissue).

• Idiopathic: It means the exact cause is unknown.
• Consequence: Fibrosis prevents the pulmonary alveoli (the small air sacs where gas exchange occurs) from expanding and contracting properly. This drastically reduces the efficiency of oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange, leading to progressive respiratory failure and hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels).

Incidence and Breeds at Risk

Although FPI can affect several dog breeds, it is considered a disease with a strong genetic predisposition in the West Highland White Terrier. Other breeds sometimes affected include the Cairn Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

FPI in Westies is typical in adult or older animals, with an average age of onset around 9-10 years. Currently, there is no single widely accepted and commercially available genetic test that identifies with certainty dogs at risk of developing Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).

Typical Symptoms

Clinical signs are generally progressive and worsen as the disease progresses:

• Dry and Persistent Cough: One of the most common symptoms, often described as nonproductive.
• Dyspnea (Respiratory Difficulty): The dog is breathing with increased effort and frequency.
• Exercise Intolerance: The dog gets tired easily, does not want to play or take long walks as before. This is often the first sign noticed by owners.
• Lung Crepitus: On auscultation of the chest by the veterinarian, dry, fine crackling or rattling-like noises (often described as “velcro”) are heard due to the opening of airways blocked by fibrosis.
• Cyanosis (late): Bluish discoloration of mucous membranes due to severe oxygen deficiency.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis requires specific instrumental tests:

1. Chest Radiograph: Shows a diffuse interstitial pattern (white opacities that should not be there), suggesting the presence of fibrotic tissue.
2. High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT ): It is also considered the diagnostic “gold standard” (the most accurate examination) in veterinary medicine, as it provides detailed images to confirm the extent of fibrosis and pulmonary changes.
3. Exclusion of other Pathologies: It is essential to rule out other causes of cough and difficulty breathing, such as heart disease (e.g., mitral insufficiency), chronic bronchitis, or filariasis. For this, echocardiography is also often performed.

Treatment and Prognosis

• Treatment: Unfortunately, there is no definitive cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and the disease is progressive. Treatment aims to slow progression and improve quality of life:
  • Corticosteroids (e.g., Prednisolone): Used for anti-inflammatory effect and to try to limit lung damage.
  • Bronchodilators: To help widen airways and facilitate breathing.
  • Anti-fibrotic drugs (investigational): Similar to those used in human medicine, they aim to slow the formation of scar tissue.
  • Supportive Therapy: Oxygen therapy in seizures, medications for pulmonary hypertension (such as sildenafil, also known as “Viagra”) if present.
• Prognosis: The prognosis for FPI is inauspicious (unfavorable). Average survival after the onset of symptoms is often limited, varying from a few months to a couple of years, depending on severity and response to therapy.

6. Autoimmune endocrine disorders

Addison’s disease caused by a deficiency of cortisol and aldosterone

Cushing’s syndrome caused, in contrast, by excess cortisol.