Assessing muscle tone - tips

[Spudlet]

Ever since a previous vet told me Henry had 'poor muscle tone' on his hindquarters, I've been obsessed I always thought he had quite good muscles! He has got slightly knobbly knees, but his thighs (I know, not the correct term) are firm and he can leap extremely high and run extremely fast when it suits him. What should I be looking for to assess this please?

Also a warning - do not try to do physio exercises such as walking backwards with an over-excited spaniel who has the Friday feeling, he will end up jumping up at you and plonking his paw in your eye

 

[Dobiegirl]

Like you Im no expert but my vet has always said what a pleasure it is to see such well muscled and fit dogs. I am rubbish at putting pics on here but if you are on facebook I have lots of photos of my Dobes on my profile. Because they are short coated you can see how fit they are and their muscles well defined so if you want pm me and I will add you as a friend so you can have a shifty.

 

[CorvusCorax]

You should be able to feel them - same as ourselves!

 

[gunnergundog]

Either pay a good canine physio to show you or buy a well illustrated book on canine anatomy and physiology so that you understand where all the muscles lie - especially the attachments/insertions and belly of each muscle.

Then get someone to stand your dog up four square and firstly just observe from all angles and make comparisons.....is each side a mirror image of the other or not? Can you see the outline of each muscle mass clearly defined? If one side is less developed than the other palpate/stroke/feel the muscles on either side. Can you notice a difference in the texture or tension?

You need to build up your sensory feel in your fingers and ideally do this on as many different dogs as possible. It takes time!