Pikku-Ukon Sivut - Jack Russell Terrier - Jackrussellinterrieri

Roope's "Skip"

Are the Russell's skipping movements a real problem or just a funny habit? Here in Finland we have some Russells who move funnily, skipping one or both of their back legs, leaving out one or two steps or skipping in a "change step jump" style. This is my story of our skipping Russell.

My Russell male Roope has started skipping one of his back legs more and more during the year. At the eye exam I asked the vet if Roope might had problems in his knee, but the vet said that if the knees where fine in January, they would be fine now as well. I asked him why was Roope skipping, and the vet said that it was just a funny habit. Then Roope got a couple of possible girlfriends, and I wanted to be sure that he is healthy. So I made a new appointment for knee exam and one for a hip x-rays. First I told the vet about the skipping and he was quite sure it was a knee defect. But the knees were fine. I kept asking if the hips or the back could cause skipping. The vet thought that wouldn't be the case. However, Roope was given an anaesthetic and the knees were tested with the dog asleep.

Roope's hip x-ray Then they took the hip x-rays. The x-ray was so big that the bag was also visible. After a while we were asked to return from the waiting room to the examination room. There we had the bad news. The healthier hip is a B and the sick one a C with some signs of arthritis. The hips were also hand- tested. The worse hip almost rattled. I got two different opinions of the hips.

Actually we do not have to change anything at the moment. The dog's muscular system must be kept in a good condition and the vet even complemented the muscles in Roope's back legs. We can also continue with agility, we just have to take it more carefully.

I talked with the vet about how many sound-kneed Russells skip. With this I do not mean that they have knee defects. I also asked if it was a good idea to use Roope in breeding, and he did not recommend it. He told me that a hip defect is also heritable. Or if Roope is used in breeding, the bitch must have healthy hips.

I myself am happy that I had x-rays taken from Roope's hips. It is not nice to hear that there is a sickness in your own dog. But now I know why my dog skips when he moves. And it was easy to make the decision that Roope will not be used in breeding.