Page 2
Scottie Cramp or CA? Continued ...
We are just now learning more about this old/new disease in the breed. Dr. Bell reported CA has been in
existence in Scotties for a very long time, but remained unidentified until recently. In August 2001, after the
STCA HTF retained his services, the first scientific report on CA in a Scottish Terrier was published by two
South African doctors. They confirmed this disease affected the Scottie in another country, adding great weight
to Dr. Bell's earlier conclusion that CA is a World-Wide problem in the breed. In the past two years, several
articles concerning CA have been published in The Bagpiper, The Scottie Scamper (Canadian Scottish Terrier
Club), and in Great Scots Magazine. A health pamphlet about CA is now available from the STCA HTF and
presently, two articles about CA can be found under "health" on the official STCA website:
If you've noticed any unusual movement in your Scottie, take a closer look! Have your dog go up and down steps
at a fast pace, have him/her chase a ball, or jump over a small hurdle while off lead. Watch those legs; a CA
affected Scotties' rear legs are all over the place when moving at a fast pace, they can bunny-hop, trip, possibly
bang their chin and exhibit clumsy and uncoordinated movements at all times, once symptoms develop.
What could confusion about this disease mean for the breed? If CA continues being misdiagnosed, and if affected
dogs or obligate carriers are bred, the defective gene responsible for CA will spread even further
throughout the population, thereby perpetuating this degenerative disorder in the Scottie. It is imperative Scottie
owners learn to identify CA. Dr. Jerold Bell, DVM, has recently stated,
"We are at the stage where the defective
gene is so widespread, that no breeding program is immune."
That is a frightening thought to be sure, but there are ways to control disease caused by recessive genes. He
and the STCA HTF are hard at work on that, but they need your help. Anyone who suspects their dog might have
CA, contact Dr. Bell and send him a videotape of your Scottie so he can confirm or rule it out in your dog. Please
include a copy of registration and a pedigree, if available, Dr. Bell offers complete confidentiality. Any Scottie
owner, World-Wide who suspects their dog has CA, can contact him.
Please note: Dr. Bell first needs to correspond with an owner before a video is made of a dog, that way he can
give exact instructions on what movements should be included on any videotape sent to him.
Dr. Jerold Bell, DVM
Freshwater Veterinary Hospital
151 Hazard Ave.
Enfield, CT 06082-4584
E-mail:
To view a videotape or DVD of six clinically diagnosed Scotties with CA, please contact me. There is no charge.
A small donation, earmarked for the STCA-HTF CA Project is always appreciated, but not required.
Debbie Smith
STCA HTF
CA Research Project Chairman
6556 Pinar Rd.
Harborcreek, PA 16421
(814) 899-2856
E-mail:
*Note: Scottie Cramp and Cerebellar Abiotrophy (CA) are two different disorders in the Scottish Terrier breed. Dr. Bell points out the following:
"Cramp is a neuromuscular disorder, while CA is a central nervous system (brain) disorder. Cramp does not progress (due to cell death), while CA does. Both have an old and widespread pedigree base. There are no specific reasons to conclude that they are related."
