Magnesium Supplement?

[Podengo]

Anyone supplement their dogs with magnesium?

Elsie on occasion gets what appears to be muscle cramps, she has gone to the vets for it, but there isn't anything they can do... Especially since the cramps vanish by the time I get her in the car to go! She doesn't seem to be in a huge amount of pain, she will stretch a lot, be a little bit shaky and more cuddly than normal... But as usual if you try to cuddle or talk to her too much she will run off and bring you a toy.

I know people supplement with magnesium for muscle cramps, and those 'cramp stop' sprays that they have for runners and cyclists etc have magnesium (among other things) in them, so wondering if it's something that could help out in Elsie's case? Both times she has had cramps has been 2 days after vigorous exercise, one time was a very long forest hike, and the other was 3 days of agility and obedience.

I find this to be an interesting read on the topic: Agility Dogs Fitness: Magnesium

FWIW, she is raw fed... Gets mostly rabbit, beef and chicken. We feed prey model raw, she gets organs and bones. She gets fish on occasion.

[persephone]

before rushing off to buy supplements .. Has she been tested for hypoglycemia ?She may have a mild form ... and it's worth checking! :)

She may also have an injury which is causing teh cramps ...has she been to a canine chiro?

[Podengo]

before rushing off to buy supplements .. Has she been tested for hypoglycemia ?She may have a mild form ... and it's worth checking! :)

She may also have an injury which is causing teh cramps ...has she been to a canine chiro?

No she hasn't - I'll ask about that when we visit the vets next. I try to get her to share some sugary fruit with me at shows but she usually just chews it up and spits it out!

We have not seen a Chiro yet, but there is one at the show this weekend so I will go and have a chat to her and see what she thinks, thanks :)

Oh and anyone have thoughts on something like this? K9 Super Fuel

[ness]

What sort of signs does she show of having a cramp? I only ask because it was tossed around as being a "diagnosis" for what is going on with Kenz which actually turned out to be luxating patella. And for a long while I would take her to the chiro with 24 hours of having had one and they could find nothing to explain it.

Edited June 6, 2013 by ness

[megan_]

I tried the Super Fuela nd it didn't suit my dogs - very high fat content so interesting poops, even after a few weeks. Might suit Elsie though.

[Podengo]

What sort of signs does she show of having a cramp? I only ask because it was tossed around as being a "diagnosis" for what is going on with Kenz which actually turned out to be luxating patella. And for a long while I would take her to the chiro with 24 hours of having had one and they could find nothing to explain it.

I actually thought it was her patellas (being a Jack Russell x I was highly aware of the potential risk) and had her checked out for luxating patella, thank god it's not.

The symptoms are what I thought luxating patella would look like, she would extend a rear leg, stretch it lots, hold it on a funny angle, then hold it up... It goes away after about 5 minutes. Both times it has occurred when she has just got out of her crate in the morning too.

[Podengo]

I tried the Super Fuela nd it didn't suit my dogs - very high fat content so interesting poops, even after a few weeks. Might suit Elsie though.

Interesting - I wish I could try a small tub of it LOL. Did you buy yours from Clean Run or is there an Australian stockist? I don't think the fat content should bother Elsie too much...

[sas]

http://www.animalhealthstore.com.au/magnesium-oil-250ml-big-dog.html

[ness]

Hmm DD did you get her checked out by a specialist. The reason I ask is because Kenz's went undetected for ages despite vet checks/chiro vet/physio/orthospecialists. If Elsie is well muscled and fit there is every chance they might not necessarily pick up on them. Kenz's was only discovered when she was rested and lots a stack of muscle.

Elsie isn't old either - apparently they can deteriorate with time and can go from not noticeable to really noticeable. Despite having a thorough check over Kenz's RH it was only picked up on ages in January this year and was not detected at time of surgery nearly 12 months ago. The explanation being it wasn't bad enough to be picked up.

The other thing to consider is potential for a partial cruciate tear. Definitely might be worth a specialist visit and having it looked at by a good sports vet/chiro.

Edited June 6, 2013 by ness

[Podengo]

Hmm DD did you get her checked out by a specialist. The reason I ask is because Kenz's went undetected for ages despite vet checks/chiro vet/physio/orthospecialists. If Elsie is well muscled and fit there is every chance they might not necessarily pick up on them. Kenz's was only discovered when she was rested and lots a stack of muscle.

Elsie isn't old either - apparently they can deteriorate with time and can go from not noticeable to really noticeable. Despite having a thorough check over Kenz's RH it was only picked up on ages in January this year and was not detected at time of surgery nearly 12 months ago. The explanation being it wasn't bad enough to be picked up.

The other thing to consider is potential for a partial cruciate tear. Definitely might be worth a specialist visit and having it looked at by a good sports vet/chiro.

Yup my regular vet is a sport vet, her special area of interest is lameness :)

Edited June 6, 2013 by DiscoDobe

[persephone]

It does sound as if there is something setting a pain/cramp response ... hip, maybe ../sciatica? I know how my leg feels when I get up & sciatica strikes ...perhaps dogs get the same sort of pain ? I try & stretch mine , too.