Uggie the dog forced to retire due to mystery illness

Uggie the dog's time on the silver screen is coming to an end, as the Jack Russell terrier is suffering from a neurological disorder.

Uggie is currently best known for being a scene-stealer in The Artist, the current front-runner for best picture at this year's Academy Awards.

Uggie's trainer, Von Muller, told the Daily Mail, "It's very sad but he is suffering from a mystery shaking syndrome. It is a neurological disorder and we've spent thousands on vets' bills trying to figure out what is causing it but the experts don't really know."

Back in December, Uggie's condition didn't seem as serious. Then, Von Muller told the Daily Mail "His health is good, but he has a bit of a shaking syndrome that white dogs get. People will think he is nervous or cold, but it's a neurological thing."

Shivering for a Jack Russell is not unusual but, Uggie's symptoms have been described as abnormal.

Scans and tests have shown that Uggie is not suffering from this condition.

Uggie's shaking occurs when he is most complacent. The famous dog did have this mystery condition when filming started for The Artist, but it can hardly be noticed on camera.

"For The Artist we were working 15-hour days and I can't put him through that again," Von Muller told the Daily Mail.

Uggie is set to perform with Billy Crystal at the Oscars, which will be his last performance before retiring, reports The Huffington Post.

The Jack Russell has his own Twitter, which follows his life at red-carpet events as well as his TV show appearances. He has recently had a guest spot on The Graham Norton Show.