Scotties are fortunate to have few serious genetic problems compared to other breeds. Responsible breeders are working hard to eliminate these problems from the Scottie gene pool. The following paragraphs discuss the most common genetic health problems seen in the Scottish Terrier. Much of the material presented in this section were written by Cindy Cooke. Scottie Cramp Scottie Cramp is the most wide-spread hereditary disorder in the breed and it is also the least serious, from the dog's point of view.
Affected dogs are normal at rest and exhibit normal ability to walk until they are stressed.
Common stimuli are exercise, hunting, fighting, or courtship. As the dog's level of stress increases, his gait begins to change. The forelegs move out to the side and forward rather than straight forward, called winging. The spine in the lumbar area may arch and the rear legs begin to overflex. If the dog is running, he may somersault and fall.