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cramp
Mar 20, 2014 17:55:20 GMT
Post by gazza56 on Mar 20, 2014 17:55:20 GMT
mollie alice is about 9 years old and just lately has been suffering from cramp in one of her back legs .Just wondered if anyone out there had any tips on how to ease the problem
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cramp
Mar 20, 2014 20:35:53 GMT
Post by funnypoppet on Mar 20, 2014 20:35:53 GMT
Try mashed banana mixed in her dinner. Know quite a few trainers give bananas to their racing dogs who cramp whilst racing.
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cramp
Mar 20, 2014 20:40:46 GMT
Post by suethejam on Mar 20, 2014 20:40:46 GMT
If the cramp is a new symptom then I'd get in touch with the vet to see what might be causing it - you can get muscle spasm when there underlying pain - it's not always pain in the leg - it's common to have spasm in the leg because the back is painful and they've been unconsciously altering their gait to compensate. Pain can obviously be treated and, if the vet thinks it's a chronic problem, then there are muscle relaxants that you can use to keep the muscles out of spasm.
We've had a few dogs who have muscle spasm - the vet recommended massage - rub the affected muscle gently until it eases off. I wouldn't do stretches unless you've been properly coached (Pat/Ooops! might have advice there from their racers. A warm blanket or a warm hot water bottle (you know what I mean!) will also help to relax a cramping muscle.
But I'd seriously start at the vet - 8/9 years seems to be when conditions like arthritis become apparent so it's well worth checking to make sure what might be behind the camps.
Hope that helps - let us know how you get on....
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cramp
Mar 21, 2014 10:07:08 GMT
Post by sueb on Mar 21, 2014 10:07:08 GMT
Sorry to hear about Molly Alice, such a beautiful girl(she shared a kennel with Brennan for a while).
Sorry I don't have experience of this(save for 1 trip to emergency vet when Nellie was in a great deal of pain in her back, which may have been cramp), but looks like good advice has been given above.
The book "Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies" says that some hounds are prone to this and cold weather or exercise usually brings it on. It says immediate treatment is to get the dog inside and walk them around where it's warm. Also "long term treatment, which will usually eliminate the problem, is a daily potassium supplement." Probably why bananas recommended, as I think they have good source of potassium?
Let us know how she gets on.
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cramp
Mar 21, 2014 14:47:14 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2014 14:47:14 GMT
I remember hearing, and I think it was Pat, that some trainers recommend tomato sauce! Hence why my two get pilchards and/or sardines in tomato everyday. Better treatment than I get!!
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cramp
Mar 21, 2014 15:09:04 GMT
Post by gazza56 on Mar 21, 2014 15:09:04 GMT
thanks to everyone for your ideas,some thing about the pilchards rings a bell ,up to about a year ago we used to share a tin of pilchards between our two and for some reason which i cant remember we stopped , i think we will go back to giving them again ,also they are due their jabs next month so i will have a chat with vet.
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cramp
Apr 23, 2014 15:44:07 GMT
Post by gazza56 on Apr 23, 2014 15:44:07 GMT
have been giving her half a tin of sardines every other day and she seems 100% better plus she looks on it as a treat and always leaves a clean dish( which she always does anyways)thank everyone for your ideas and lets hope it solves the problem long term
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cramp
Apr 26, 2014 17:57:44 GMT
Post by sueb on Apr 26, 2014 17:57:44 GMT
That's great to hear!
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