When I lived with my dad, he had a Westie named Hannah and now she is about 9 years old and like 6 mo. ago she was diagnosed with cancer :(. My whole family was so devastated and my dad is the closest to her and he wasn't taking it very well at all. Luckily, she had treatment and is now cancer free, but she had many side affects like a human would. Her fur went from soft to rough, she couldn't bark anymore and she was very sick. It was a tough time for our family, it was like having a sister sick-not a pet. She is a part of our family and it would have been terrible if we had to put her down.