Scottish Terrier Health Network

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Scottish Terrier Health Network "Making A Difference" for Scotties : A Network focussing on improving the health and well being of our beloved Scottish Terriers. www.scottishterrierhealth.com

Focussing on the health and well being of our Scotties. We will share factual stories of how others have coped with Scottie illnesses and hope this provides a greater understanding for those suffering similar conditions. Lets Make A Difference for the Scotties of tomorrow.

04/10/2026

Janine asks: “Hi there, i have a 5 year old male called Murray. He's been licking his paws non stop, to the point that they are soaking wet. We've taken him to the vet a couple of times. 1st diagnosis was inflammation - got meds, didn't work. Took him back. Then the vet said he has arthritis in both small toes on his front feet. He's on his 2nd course of cortisone, but it's not working. What could this possibly be? And more importantly, what can I do? I can see his discomfort.”
If anyone is able to help Janine with her little boy’s issues, we would be grateful. Thanks Kx

12/09/2026

Linda asks : “My little guy is 10 in a month. He had his gallbladder removed about 7 weeks ago. Diet is completely different from what he had but he’s eating great. Meals are smaller and more frequent with Royal Canin gastrointestinal low-fat food. He had 2 days of diarrhea recently which scared me so off to the vet . He’s now on 2 antibiotics and probiotic and is better. Has anyone dealt with gallbladder surgery with their Scottie?”
If anyone has experience of this, then I’m sure Linda would love to hear from you, thanks Kx

18/08/2026

Elevated Liver Enzymes
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Julie askes : "Hi there, My guy is 11, very healthy, but has elevated liver enzymes and sluggish gallbladder, I'm looking to see if anyone uses any herbal supplements to help this. Thanks"

If anyone can help with some suggestions, Julie would be grateful, thanks Kx

06/08/2026

Julieanne asks: "A puppy from my recent litter is losing pigment on her nose. I have dealt with this once from a scottie I had before I started breeding and was told it is Vitiligo. Just wondering if any one else has seen pigment loss that was something more serious?"
For those like me not knowing what vitiligo is, it is reported as 'causing the skin and fur to turn white or light pink in patches. It is painless, non-contagious, and purely cosmetic, meaning it does not harm a dog's overall health.' However, Julieanne as mentioned is interested to know if the "pigment loss" developed into something more serious.

13/07/2026

Cushings
=======
Julies asks : "Hi, I have a 10.5 year old female Scottie. She has had elevated Liver enzymes & this week tested positive for cushings although only real symptom has been drinking a lot. She is on her 3rd day of Trilostane & has had a little diarrhea & today after going to groomer for a shampoo & dry, is very flat, will not even walk unless very slowly. Just wondering if anyone has had experience with this medication. Thanks Julie"

I'm sure that we can help Julie and her beloved Scottie with some advice. Thanks Kx

08/07/2026

Paige would really appreciate a bit of advice/help :
Hi, I am wondering if anyone has had any experience with flaking skin on their Scottie. Specifically, flaking just above the a**s and also now on the tail. I took my 8 yr old to the vet, she sampled and found nothing growing, so sent us home with Theraderm cream (steroid, anti-inflammatory, antibacteria, antifungal). I’ve been applying it daily for a month and it has diminished though I still see flaking occationally. However, now it has started on the top of his tail - middway down. Large flakes of skin coming off.
We’re going back to the vet but I wonder if anyone else has had this issue?
Additional update : Three vet visits layer and we still have no answers, though we did rule out Cushings and in so doing discovered he has anaplasmosis which is being treated with Doxycycline. The flaking skin remains, however.

If anyone recognises these symptoms, or has/had a scottie experience this, then Paige would love to hear from you in the comments below. Thanks Kx

08/07/2026

Sharon asks : FOOD ADVICE PLEASE

Our 13.5 year old Scottie Hamish is 1.5 years post TCC diagnosis & still living a full & comfortable life thanks to the help of an expert veterinary team.

He has to eat a strict diet (Royal Canin or Purina Hypoallergenic) because he cannot digest protein well.

He has been plodding along well with this until last month when we had to de-camp from our home in London to Somerset to support a family member who is very ill. This also coincided with the heatwave.

Hamish put the brakes on all his usual foods - even treats - almost like he is refusing to eat them out of context.

Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do which helped? We have tried small toppers of tuna/ cod/ salmon but even that is becoming a struggle.

Thanks so much in advance!

Let's hope we can give Sharon some useful tips to get Hamish back to his normal self. Thanks Kx

Barbara really needs some advice : "My beautiful boy is having alot of health problems he is only 8 and has been though...
10/10/2025

Barbara really needs some advice : "My beautiful boy is having alot of health problems he is only 8 and has been though so much in his short life’s, for this reason he really doesn’t cope well at the vets and gets very distressed
he’s had 6 fits in 9 days .
He is under going tests . we know he has very high liver levels they think the fits maybe are caused from his elevated liver levels. So did blood tests and an ultrasound scan this week . But I wasn’t prepare for the findings. I’m so worried and can’t to do the best for my boy
But He has a large mass in his gallbladder it could cancer or it might be a large jelly mass either have a good outcome , he also has a legion in his liver and an abnormal prostrate .
I am devastated he will be referred to a specialist vet and will be having a ct scan and more tests so we know what we are fighting . My vet is already saying removing his gallbladder could be the best option. So I’m wondering is any one here has had this surgery. And did it have good results I’m not sure Walter would cope with such a big operation. And it might not be the best thing for him under the circumstances but I’d like other scottie owners thought s . He has just been starting on medication for the fits and is coping well and will be starting denamarin to help the liver and he is already is on a liver friendly diet. Any thoughts would be helpful many thanks in advance from one very worried scottie mum ."

We're all thinking of you and Walter and I'm sure that we can give you some advice so that you can talk it through with your wonderful vets. Kx

Cushings and Elevated Liver Enzymes===========================Charles asks: "Hello my Scottie Buckles in the picture bel...
09/10/2025

Cushings and Elevated Liver Enzymes
===========================

Charles asks: "Hello my Scottie Buckles in the picture below has been tested and found to have high liver enzymes. howver the vet does not know for sure if he has Cushings. She said the test was undeterminate. What is normal for Scotties? When i went back to the Vet for this month's test as he has been put on medication, I had to brief the vet on what was going on. He also had little bumps under his tail which should be removed and biopsy done, but the vet was afraid to do them and put him under sedation due to the high liver enzymes. I appreciate any help you can provide me with as we love our Buckles very much and want to save him, any pain he might be going through. Note he has not shone any signs of Cushings that we can see."

I'm sure there'll be lots of help/advice for Charles and Buckles, so let's hope some of our information will be of help to them both. thanks Kx

Bladder Cancer ===========Carole would like a little help : "Hamish has been diagnosed with TCC, bladder cancer, a month...
07/10/2025

Bladder Cancer
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Carole would like a little help : "Hamish has been diagnosed with TCC, bladder cancer, a month ago. He is 10, almost 11. Please share your experiences with chemo. He is on an NSAID, CARPROFEN, and I may have to make a decision soon."

If anyone can give Carole some support I know she and Hamish would appreciate it. Thanks Kx

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