sallie
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CrampMonet has just recently started suffering from cramp - his back leg knots up, and he is in real pain. Well i am presuming that it is cramp! I've never come across this before in any of my dogs, any suggestions on what might be causing it and any known cures, does this happen to any other Brits on this forum?
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guy
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I got a most severe bout of cramp the other day while out working the dog. Someone kindly gave me a small tin of tonic water to drink - worked a treat in about 3 mins.
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doganjo
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My late mountaineer husband used to get cramp when out on the hills - he always took a small bottle of tonic water with him and swore blind he didn't have gin in his hip flask! So I think it may be right - but can you give dogs tonic water? I think cramp is caused by changes in the blood salts when exercising hard. Or so John said anyway.
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eddieh
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Whether this is true or not I do not know, but it was said that it had to be a certain brand of tonic (you know who) as it contains quinine and this is the substance which gives the relief from cramp. May not be true but is probably worth checking on.
Just done a quick google and it appears that it was the quinine which gave (and still gives) the drink its tonic properties. Maybe the story I heard was put about by you know who
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sallie
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well - thanks for the tips  but i am not sure Monet will drink tonic water 
Is it something to do with the muscles cooling down/warming up too quickly?
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Pippa's Pack
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It is definitely the quinine in the tonic which relieves cramp. People take quinine tablets before going to bed to prevent night cramp. Do not know whether there is anything similar that the dogs could have. I have also heard it said that a tiny amount of Epson salts also does the trick but this may be an old wives' tale.
Are you sure it is cramp? Does it always affect the same limb?
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sallie
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Not 100% sure that it is cramp and it is always the same leg.
his leg goes rigid and the muscle becomes very tight, he won't stand on it and for some reason he finds sitting uncomfortable. Its really strange, but he tries to tuck his bum right in and almost under... weird to explain and see
To relieve the pain i lie him down and gently massage his leg - it takes about 3 minutes to pass. Plus there doesn't seem to be any triggers.
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doganjo
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I think you need to ask your vet about this, Sal. If nothing else he can confirm it is cramp and say whether you can give Monet anything for it or do something to avoid it. Is he still getting as much exercise as you said before? I remember a few of us thought he wasn't getting enough food for the amount he was doing - or was that another dog? I can't remember now. But you do need to balance food intake and exercise quite carefully. I found that with Allez when I moved down here - he wasn't getting as much exercise but the same amount of food and he got really quite podgy - lost him a couple of wins too.
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sallie
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'I remember a few of us thought he wasn't getting enough food for the amount he was doing - or was that another dog?'
Yes it was Monet - i took everyones advice and bumped up his food
BF = 1 tin of Butchers
L = 70g arden grange sensitive
T = 70g arden grange sensitive
S = food scraps
This does not include the training treats and other treats for just being my dog 
Twice a week he gets organic raw bones, he also gets organic offal once a week from the same butchers and once a week he gets a tin of salmon or what ever fish is on offer.
His weight is still a struggling 17.2k
Monet is now booked into the vets on Monday - i'm going to ask for a series of blood tests  just to check he isn't lacking in something, is this a good idea?
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doganjo
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17.2 kg is absolutely fine. If he is fit and well otherwise I can't see blood tests being necessary - your vet may have an answer to the cramps without that expense. He sounds Ok otherwise to me so stop worrying. John had leg cramps every time he went climbing and was classed as having a 40 year old body when he died accidentally at 62!
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guy
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I am currently feeding 300 gms Field and Trial Muesli mix (skinners) (100gms per 8kg body weight) and a block 425 gms green tripe plus a squirt of salmon oil each per day. Once a day. will weigh them later and report back.
This is the first dry food i have found that they all will eat every meal.
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sallie
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Vets at 08:30 this morning. No bloods required, the vet said Monet is a picture of health and that some muscular dogs suffer cramp £27.50 to tell me that!
Monets weight is down to 16.8K  - this dog is costing me a fortune in food 
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