cramps in back leg

Question
I have a 12 yr old weimaraner who keeps getting cramps in her hind legs.  She jumps up from her bed with her back leg curled up and retracted and yelps out in quite severe pain. I massage it and gradually she puts it back down and then she walks on it ok.  She also has 'wobbler sydrome' in her front legs.  What do you think could be causing this?

Answer
Hi Gill,

Intervertebral disk disease can cause the kind of muscle cramping in the rear legs you've described.

There is a nerve pain that is called Neuritis, that is very painful. It can run down the leg (like from the sciatic nerve) or go across the back.

Hypoadrenocorticism can also cause painful episodic muscle cramps.

As you can see there are are several things which can cause the kind of leg cramps that your dog has been having. A good place to start, would be an exam with your vet.

Best of luck,

Patti