--- title: Jimothy the Raccoon & Short Spine Syndrome - Oct. 2026 description: Explore the fascinating story of Jimothy the raccoon and learn about Short Spine Syndrome in dogs, along with tips for canine health and safety. image: https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/hubfs/AdobeStock_515264654.jpeg --- [Skip to content](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/jimothy-the-raccoon-short-spine-syndrome-oct.-2026#main-content) [![RCHC\_Lockup\_2Color - Crop for Forms](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/RCHC_Lockup_2Color%20-%20Crop%20for%20Forms.png?width=1789&height=600&name=RCHC_Lockup_2Color%20-%20Crop%20for%20Forms.png)](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center) Open main navigation Close main navigation Oct 26, 2026, 10:17:00 AM # Jimothy the Raccoon & Short Spine Syndrome - Oct. 2026 ![Picture of Dr. Brian Collins](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Brian%20Collins-1.jpg?width=50&name=Brian%20Collins-1.jpg) [Dr. Brian Collins](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/author/dr-brian-collins) Jimothy the Raccoon & Short Spine Syndrome - Oct. 2026 5:25 ![A dog with short spine syndrome](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/AdobeStock_515264654.jpeg?width=960&height=640&name=AdobeStock_515264654.jpeg)   Friends of the Riney Canine Health Center, Thank you for joining our pack! I’m Brian Collins, an extension associate for the Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center, and I’m pleased to share this month’s “From the Vet’s Desk” monthly health topic with our members. It’s been a beautiful fall here in the Northeast. The trees have been especially brilliant in coloration, and the leaves are now falling. Most trees only drop their leaves once a year (though some will drop them twice under certain conditions). Similarly, many dogs are now “blowing their coats” (shedding) as they tend to do in the spring and fall -- though when dogs are in climate-controlled environments, they will shed to varying degrees throughout the year. Frequent brushing and some bathing will help reduce the amount of hair floating around your home and car. For dogs with double coats, I find it helpful to take a brush along on walks so that I can leave all the loose hair outside (and where wildlife can make use of it for nesting material). Speaking of wildlife…are raccoons more like dogs or cats? Why raccoons? As I think back over the summer (my favorite season), I think of a story that has brought happiness to millions of people on the internet. Did Jimothy the raccoon appear in your social media this summer? In case you haven’t yet met Jimothy, he is an internet sensation that first appeared in July, when a Seattle resident who first thought he was a cat -- but then realized he was a raccoon -- posted a video of him online and gave him his name. Then another resident posted footage of him along with his mother and his normal littermates. What was different about Jimothy? He has a pronounced “hunchback” appearance due to a short, rounded spine and how his head seems too close to his shoulders. There were questions about how this might adversely affect his life. Could he escape predators? Could he find food? Fortunately, videos of Jimothy living his life and thriving in the Ballard neighborhood continue to be posted (beware of the AI versions). Soon after he became famous, people began making comparisons to a condition in dogs known as Short Spine Syndrome (SSS). SSS is a rare congenital condition which results in abnormalities in the dog’s vertebrae leading to a shortened, sloping back (but normal length legs), a short neck and a short tail. It is not limited to a particular breed but may be associated with puppies whose parents are too closely related. Only a few dozen cases have been formally published but once you start watching Jimothy reels, the algorithm will soon offer you other dogs like Cooper (an American Foxhound), Quasi the Great (a German Shepherd mix), Ivy the “Frog Dog” (a pitbull), as well as Meemers – a cat with SSS! Despite their unusual (and endearing) appearance, they can live relatively normal lives but may need special care and accommodations to make life easier. This can include maintaining a healthy weight, assisting with grooming (since self-grooming is more challenging), avoiding stairs and slippery flooring, and providing elevated food and water bowls (due to limited range of motion of their neck). More frequent veterinary visits may be necessary, and the veterinarian will make specific recommendations based on the dog’s (or cat’s) individual needs. So – are raccoons more like dogs or cats? Behaviorally, they resemble dogs because they sometimes live in packs – but they also spend part of their time alone like cats. In terms of diet, raccoons are omnivores (meaning they eat both plants and meat), while dogs are facultative carnivores (meaning they mostly eat meat but can also digest plants), and cats are obligate carnivores (meaning they rely on meat for their survival). All three belong to the order Carnivora which splits into two main suborders: Caniformia (dog-like carnivores) and Feliformia (cat-like carnivores). Evolutionarily, raccoons are more closely related to dogs as they are in the suborder Caniformia, but have their own family called Procyonidae. Though raccoons are cute and fascinating (and sometimes dog-like), it’s important to remember that they are also one of the four main rabies vector species in the US -- they’re actually the species most commonly reported as rabid (followed by skunks, foxes and bats). To keep your dog safe, ensure that their rabies vaccine is current and keep them on a leash to avoid unexpected interactions. At this time of year, raccoons are eating as much as they can to build up fat reserves to prepare for the cold. They don’t actually hibernate, but they will go into a deep sleep called torpor that can last from a few days to a month when it’s especially cold. However, they will become active once again on warmer days so it’s possible for your dog and a raccoon to cross paths in the winter! As always, thank you for being a Riney Canine Health Center member. We look forward to catching up with you next month!    Dr. Brian Collins Extension Veterinarian Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center   ***Visit our*** [***website***](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-topics) ***today for more canine health topics and give your furry friend the care they deserve.*** *Questions: Discover expert tips, personalized advice and friendly support from our [Big Red Bark Chat](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-topics/big-red-bark-chat) AI Assistant!*   [Canine Health Tips](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/tag/canine-health-tips) ## Related posts [![Golden Retriever and Yellow Lab playing with ball in swimming pool ](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Golden_%26_Lab_Pool_iStock-1407627174.jpg?height=200&name=Golden_%26_Lab_Pool_iStock-1407627174.jpg)](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/summer-safety-tips-may-2024) [Canine Health Tips](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/tag/canine-health-tips) ## [Canine Summer Safety Tips - May 2024](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/summer-safety-tips-may-2024) ![Picture of Dr. Brian Collins](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Brian%20Collins-1.jpg?width=50&name=Brian%20Collins-1.jpg) [Dr. Brian Collins](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/author/dr-brian-collins) May 29, 2024, 10:40:36 AM [Read more](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/summer-safety-tips-may-2024) [![Dog Hiding ](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/DogHiding_iStock-1207309643.jpg?height=200&name=DogHiding_iStock-1207309643.jpg)](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/sound-sensitivities-june-2024) [Canine Health Tips](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/tag/canine-health-tips) ## [Sound Sensitivities - June 2024](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/sound-sensitivities-june-2024) ![Picture of Dr. Aly Cohen](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Aly%20in%20RCHC%20shirt%20(+%20Mishka)-1.jpg?width=50&name=Aly%20in%20RCHC%20shirt%20(+%20Mishka)-1.jpg) [Dr. Aly Cohen](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/author/dr-aly-cohen) Jun 17, 2024, 3:40:27 PM [Read more](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/sound-sensitivities-june-2024) [![](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_761373619.jpg?height=200&name=shutterstock_761373619.jpg)](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/caring-for-your-senior-dog-november-2025) [Canine Health Tips](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/tag/canine-health-tips) ## [Caring for your Senior Dog - November 2025](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/caring-for-your-senior-dog-november-2025) ![Picture of Dr. Brian Collins](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/Brian%20Collins-1.jpg?width=50&name=Brian%20Collins-1.jpg) [Dr. Brian Collins](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/author/dr-brian-collins) Nov 7, 2025, 9:38:50 AM [Read more](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/member-benefits-health-tips/caring-for-your-senior-dog-november-2025) [![RCHC\_Lockup\_2Color - Crop for Forms](https://riney.vet.cornell.edu/hs-fs/hubfs/RCHC_Lockup_2Color%20-%20Crop%20for%20Forms.png?width=1789&height=600&name=RCHC_Lockup_2Color%20-%20Crop%20for%20Forms.png "RCHC_Lockup_2Color - Crop for Forms")](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center) **Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine** 930 Campus Rd., Box #40 Ithaca, NY 14853  --- [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590974220746) [X Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/cornelldogs) [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/cornell.rchc/) [youtube icon](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf8tGKj10zyhPiDs3lsECo04In2uEfIA) Copyright © 2026, Cornell Richard P. 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