Westie Lung Disease - Possible Pulmonary Fibrosis?

by Rae
(Vancouver,B.C.)

I have a 12 yr old Westie who has been quite ill for the last 1 1/2 yrs. It was thought she had Pulmonary Fibrosis with being hypertensive, chronic cough with a gag and had lost quite a bit of weight. She had crackles in her lungs but was not considered to be in heart failure and she did not have a lung biopsy. She continues to have a chronic cough with the gag and it does sound bronchial. Apparently no crackles can be heard. What my question is that can a Westie still have Pulmonary Fibrosis without hearing crackles in her lungs. Now her diagnosis has been changed to Chronic Bronchitis which obviously I am questioning. Any thoughts?

Hi, Sorry to hear about your dog.

Does your dog cough more often during certain periods of the day?

Has there been a chest x-ray taken?

Any environmental reasons for the cough?

Bronchitis is very common in older dogs, and it may be worse during certain seasons.

Other possible causes of a chronic cough could be a trachea problem, heartworm infection, etc.

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Westie Lung Disease - Possible Pulmonary Fibrosis?

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Jan 07, 2012
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Mini NEW
by: Teresa

My wee baby Mini Mouse has been coughing for some time. She like to sleep with a pillow so her head is well above her body.Mini is only 10 years old but life has not been kind to her as she has had a lot of illness though out her short wee life.I took her to the vets just after christmas this year 2012 as she was panting a lot and I could her a strange noise in her throat. The vet listened to her lungs and said she could hear crackles like a crisp packet being scrunched up and she said Mini had wast lung. She said she would get worse slowly or go from ok to death in a matter of 4 to 5 weeks and then we would have to have her put down. I love my wee dog so much and I have two others Micky Mouse and NO nO's she was a stray. What I am going to do as Mini is my best friend and she follows me every where.

Nov 29, 2011
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Research - Westie Lung Disease
by: Anonymous

Does anyone know if there is ongoing research being done in Canada / US for Westie Lung Disease? Our 11 year old Female has been diagnosed and is no longer able to walk/eat/drink etc. We need to put her down this week but for some reason I feel comfort in knowing her disease, while she will succumb to it, could potentially help another dogs diagnosed.

I have seen reference in the UK, but it's 2007. Has anyone read anything more recent?

Thanks.
j

Sep 24, 2011
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reebok's story
by: alynn

My almost 15 year old Westie, who is blind and deaf, has been diagnosed with Westie Lung disease. A little over a year ago the vet heard crackles and did an xray which showed an enlarged heart. She sent the films to a specialist who felt there was no heart problem but most likely Westie Lung disease. We opted not to do a lung biopsy and just kept a close eye for worsening symptoms. This past Friday it became apparent that she was struggling to breathe so I took her to the vet. She was again xrayed and blood work was done. Unfortunately the blood work indicated the beginning of kidney failure so the vet was not able to prescribe steroids. My sweet girl is now on antibiotics and a broncho-dialator but I am afraid her time is very short. I hope to keep her comfortable.

Aug 29, 2011
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Pulmonary Fibrosis
by: Donna

My 15 year old westie that had westie disease, pulmonary fibrosis got sick in Feb, diagnosed in May, my precious Sugarbear passed away June 7, one month after her 15th birthday. She had never been sick a day in her life until Feb. At the beginning of June we had terrible forest fire smoke from the AZ border NM (I live in NM)I think it made my Sugarbear sicker, even though I kept her inside. I don't think I will ever goet over losing her. The steriods and medicine never really helped. I am so sorry your baby is sick. My email is dje1005@aol.com if you want to talk further about this.

Aug 29, 2011
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Westie lung disease
by: Victoria

Hi Westie lovers of Canada
I have been furiously googling pulmonary fibrosis in Westies after my 15 year old Westie, Dylan, was dianosed with this on saturday. I am so encouraged to hear of your 17 yr old Westie. Like your's, Dylan is deaf and half blind, but much loved and cared for. I really hope his progress with the lung disease is slow - he has a great appeptite still and enjoys walking, and he has no cough yet. If any other Westie owners can offer me some hope that he has more time to spend with us for now, I'd be grateful. It's been a difficult year and he adds so much to our lives, and those of the many people he encounters! Thank you.

May 24, 2011
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Our Westie has lung illness, but still with us at almost 17 yrs. old
by: Anonymous

It is May 24, 2011 and our almost 17 year old Westie, who was given less than 6 months to live in Jan. 2010, is still with us. When he became very ill in 2010, two vets confirmed the diagnosis was cancer when they looked at xrays back then, but now one of them says if it was cancer he would already be dead. He still coughs and gags, but the shots he takes for allergies are helpful for both of these. He still has crackles in his lungs, but his appetite & weight are both fine. So, we are not sure exactly what kind of illness he has, other than it is lung related. Does anybody have any idea what he might have?
He had some pancreatitis attacks back in 2010 also, but putting him on specialized gastro intestinal food seems to have alleviated that particular problem. He's an old man, and is deaf and blind, but gets around OK, and still seems to enjoy eating, taking long naps, getting lots of affection, and lounging on the screen porch & smelling the world around him, so we are taking it a few days at a time. He has his good days and not so good days, but we love him dearly, and we tend to his needs like we would any other elderly loved one with health issues. We feel we will know when "it is time", but still dread that day. Until then, he will get his daily fresh vegetables that supplment his specialized dog food and lots of love.

May 24, 2011
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Westie Lung Disease
by: Donna

My 15 year old westie has Westie Lung disease. Any info from pet owners would be appreciated.

Thanks

Aug 30, 2010
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Answers to comment questions
by: Anonymous

We were not told any specifics about what kind of cancer, they just said there appeared to be "metatastic tissue" in his lungs from a growth in his chest. No biopsy was done that day, but he was very sick and they may not have wanted to stress him anymore. Also, would they have needed to place him under anesthesia to do a biopsy in the chest and lungs. If so, that may have been why they did not do one. He's 16, and that in itself can be dangerous at that age.

His weight has not changed, and he eats well most of the time. When his allergies get bad, his appetite will come and go, until he gets his shot, then it goes back to normal. Overall he eats well.

Aug 30, 2010
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Westie With Cancer Diagnosis or Lung Disease?
by: Anonymous

Sorry to hear about your dog. I would first ask the veterinarian what he saw on the x-ray that made him think there was cancer?

Normally cancer has to be confirmed by biopsy, which looks like it wasn't performed in this case.

How is your dog's weigh? It is losing any weight?

Did they saw what type of cancer it was?

Aug 26, 2010
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My Westie has cough too
by: Anonymous

Late Jan. 2010 we woke up to find our 15 year old Westie disoriented, panting & with severe non-productive coughing. (He had been coughing prior to Jan., but he licks hair off paws & legs and it sounded like a hairball cough.) Rushed him to his vet, who said his heart sounded OK, but did xrays. Heavy shading on xrays in chest & lighter shading in lungs - 2 partners in vet practice viewed xrays & agreed he had cancer- he was given less than 6 mos to live. Vet gave him injections (kind unknown) & Rx for antibiotic (Baytril) & Piroxicam. Dog has severe skin allergies, so 6 weeks later had to take him off Piroxicam in order to give prednisone shots monthly so he could have decent quality of life. It is now 7 mos. since diagnosis & he is not worse & still eats well most of the time. Skin hot spots begin to appear before he can be given next prednisone shot, so occasionally he gets another Rx for antibiotic. After shots, and especially after combo of shots & antibiotic, all his afflictions improve markedly - allergies (he stops itching), lung problems (the frequency and severity of cough is reduced), arthritis in legs & hips (moves around much better), cataracts (he seems to actually see better), he can develop pancreatitis attacks (has not had one since Jan. treatment), deafness (no change in this). His vet recently said if Jan. diagnosis had been correct, our dog would be dead by now. We are confused now about what disease he actually has that causes his coughing. His cough can get bad between shots & when taken to vet for worsening cough, vet said dog had fluid sounds in lungs & gave Rx to get fluid from lungs & to use again as needed. But cough seems like dry cough, so that confuses me too & recently the Rx to reduce fluid in lungs seems less effective. All his afflictions get bad before shots, & his appetite lessens. I want to know what disease you think he has, is there anything to help his cough other than fluid reduction pills & predisone, & is there any other vet treatment you would advise?

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