‘Jimothy’ the raccoon has short spine syndrome – but this condition can affect dogs, too

This animal has a very rare congenital deformity called short spine syndrome, where the spine fails to develop properly in utero. Short spine syndrome is so exceedingly rare that it’s hard to say exactly why it happens. What we can say is that the condition results in animals having normal limb length but significantly shorter spines. Short spine syndrome throughout historyIt’s not a new condition, and has always sparked human attention. Jimothy’s story is, among other things, about how animals with this condition can adapt, survive and lead a happy life.