Better known as westie or westy, this breed, native to Scotland, is distinguished by a beautiful look that catches the attention of many dog lovers: medium-sized, a dense white fur and a soft expression on its face.His temperament is that of a large dog inside a small body, being a very tenacious dog, who remains alert and defends his territory, although obviously he is also an excellent companion, who responds with joy to the care he receives from his human family.
Do you plan to welcome a dog with these features?That’s why it’s important to find out in this Animal Expert article, in which we talk about the most common diseases of the White Terrier of the Western Highlands.
- This disease.
- Technically known as cranomandibular osteopathy.
- Usually occurs in puppies.
- Especially in 3 to 6 months.
- And is an inherited disease.
It consists of abnormal growth of the jaw bone, although fortunately it disappears around 12 months.However, the westie who is affected by the disease will need routine treatment with anti-inflammatory medications while sick, due to the pain the dog feels and to make sure it is not.has no difficulty eating.
Clearly, this is a genetic risk associated with the breed, which does not mean that all white terrier dogs in the Western Highlands will be affected by the disease.
The white terrier of the western highlands tends to accumulate copper deposits, causing the destruction of hepatocytes; hepatitis initially manifests asymptomaticly, but subsequently, between 3 and 6 years of age, it manifests dramatically with signs of liver failure.
It is also a genetic disease, but its prognosis may improve, from the year precautions are taken to request a veterinary examination to determine copper levels in the liver.
The ears of the white terrier in the highlands should be cleaned weekly to prevent otitis and worsen with an infectious component in addition to an inflammatory.
The ears should be cleaned with a serum or gauze soaked in water, although it is always necessary to dry after the procedure, with another dry gauze, this care should always be taken, especially after bathing, to avoid the accumulation of wax and water that enters the ears.
Special attention should be paid to the eyes of this dog to avoid the accumulation of remelas, which means removing it properly, as soon as it is identified, to avoid any inflammation such as conjunctivitis.
To achieve this goal is very important the hair care of this breed, it is advisable for a professional canine to remove dead hair, although it is uncomfortable for some dogs.That is why it is recommended to cut the hair and not to start it with the stripping technique.
It should be bathed with a maximum frequency of once a month, unless otherwise indicated by the veterinarian, since it is a dog with a predisposition to develop dermatitis in the form of rashes, which can be aggravated with frequent baths.For cleaning we will use specific products but we must always opt for the most neutral and soft products.
Although the aforementioned genetic diseases are impossible to prevent, we can help our dog to enjoy optimal health if we provide adequate eating and physical activity, in addition to the emotional well-being and stimulation it needs.
We also recommend that you consult a veterinarian every 6 months or a year at most, so that it is possible to intervene quickly in any pathology and treat it on time, following the usual vaccination and deworming schedule of the dog allows us to avoid, for example, an allergy to flea bites or a much more serious condition, such as parvovirus.
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis, we suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any condition or discomfort.
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