This breed carries roughly a one-in-four chance of developing lifelong itchy skin disease — about double the risk of the average dog — and it's also linked to an incurable, often fatal lung disease essentially unique to the breed that most sellers never bring up.
13.4years, median
0.9 years above the all-dog median of 12.5.
Measured, not estimated: the middle age at death across 584,734 UK dogs, 284,734 of them deceased. Based on 18,662 dogs of this breed. 95% confidence interval 13.3 to 13.5 years. Half lived longer than this, half did not. UK dogs, so treat it as the best available figure rather than a promise about yours.
In the same study, small breeds as a group had a median of 12.7 years and medium-muzzled breeds 12.8. This breed is small and medium-muzzled.
McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports 14:531 — open access · CC BY 4.071.5% of West Highland White Terriers had at least one disorder recorded in 2016.
From the clinical records of 2,058 West Highland White Terriers under veterinary care in the UK that year, read by the Royal Veterinary College’s VetCompass programme.
Most often recorded, 2016
| Disorder | Share of West Highland White Terriers | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Gum disease (periodontal disease) | 15.7% | 14.1–17.3 |
| Ear infection (otitis externa) | 10.6% | 9.3–12.0 |
| Overgrown nails | 7.2% | 6.2–8.4 |
| Allergic skin disease | 6.5% | 5.5–7.7 |
| Obesity | 6.1% | 5.1–7.2 |
| Anal sac impaction | 5.1% | 4.2–6.1 |
| Inflamed paws (pododermatitis) | 4.3% | 3.4–5.2 |
| Flea infestation | 3% | 2.3–3.8 |
| Skin infection (pyoderma) | 2.7% | 2.0–3.5 |
| Osteoarthritis | 2.6% | 1.9–3.6 |
Any skin problem, grouped: 22.7% (95% CI 20.9 to 24.6).
Age at death in this sample
Median 13.4 years (middle half 11 to 15), 2016 data. Of the 128 deaths with a recorded cause: Lower airway disorder 10.2%, Cancer (neoplasia) 10.2%, Spinal cord disorder 7.8%, Behavior 6.3%, Brain disorder 6.3%, Gut disease 6.3%. Males 13.8 years, females 12.9. Different sample and year from the measured lifespan above, which is why the two numbers differ.
Skin problems as a group were recorded in 22.7% of Westies against 15.5% of all dogs. Lung and airway disease caused 10.2% of deaths against 3.9% across breeds.
“Cutaneous disorders were the most common disorder group in the breed but showed a lower prevalence than might be expected.”— the authors, O'Neill et al. 2019, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology 6:7
Health tests to ask the breeder for
West Highland White Terrier Club of America sets the tests a West Highland White Terrier needs for a CHIC number in the OFA's open database. A CHIC number means the tests were done and the results are public. It does not mean the dog passed them: ask for the results for both parents, or look them up yourself on ofa.org.
- Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist (annual exams until at least age 8)
- Hip Dysplasia (OFA Evaluation)
- Patellar Luxation (OFA Evaluation)
- Craniomandibular Osteopathy (CMO) DNA test
When to spay or neuter a West Highland White Terrier: the UC Davis study of 35 breeds has a suggested guideline for the breed. For males it is any age. For females, a year or later. The spay and neuter page has the numbers behind it and what the guidelines say for a dog this size.
Itchy skin: Merck lists the West Highland White Terrier among the breeds prone to atopic dermatitis, a lifelong allergy to things like pollen, mold and dust that usually starts between six months and three years of age. Why does my dog keep itching? has how vets tell it apart from fleas, mites and food allergy, and the treatments.
Test names as the club lists them; checked September 2026. OFA CHIC breed page. How to use this at the breeder: check a breeder.
Adopt a West Highland White Terrier near you
Shelters and rescues list West Highland White Terriers and West Highland White Terrier mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
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Living with a West Highland White Terrier
Westies are tough, confident terriers with real digging and prey-drive instincts — expect a dog that will go after rodents, dig up the yard, and hold its ground rather than a docile lapdog. The wiry double coat needs hand-stripping or professional clipping every four to six weeks to keep its texture and color, and given the breed's well-documented skin issues, many owners deal with some degree of chronic itching, licking, or ear trouble regardless of how well they care for the coat.
Health you should know about
- Atopic (allergic) dermatitis — a UK welfare-science review found around 25% of Westies clinically affected, versus roughly 10% of dogs generally; most owners in the underlying study said it seriously affected their dog's quality of life, and nearly half said it affected their own.
- Canine idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ('Westie lung disease') — a progressive, currently incurable scarring of the lungs that causes worsening breathlessness; research funders note there is still relatively little research into treatment or outcomes.
- Patellar luxation — a slipping kneecap common in small terrier breeds.
- Craniomandibular osteopathy ('Westie jaw') — a painful overgrowth of jawbone in puppies that usually resolves after they finish growing but can require pain management in the meantime.
Read the full Dog Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a dog needs before you choose a breed.
Naming a West Highland White Terrier? Scottish dog and cat names, 79 of them, with what they mean.
Sources — 5 references
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w
- https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/WestHighlandWhiteTerrier.pdf
- https://www.petmd.com/dog/breeds/west-highland-white-terrier
- https://www.ufaw.org.uk/dogs/west-highland-white-terrier-canine-atopic-dermati
- https://westiefoundation.org/westie-health-issues
Last reviewed October 2026. 5 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.