Can dogs get cramp, I have an 11th month old westie who is fit and healthy, but sometimes when he is asleep he suddenly flies off the sofa with a very loud scream, after a few seconds he is  fine, just wondered if it could be cramp, he's quite an active young man, very happy, eats well and a joy to have.

I dont know from a medical point of view but my dog has done this before and ive always assumed it was cramp or 'dead leg' because he had laid on it funny.

As a youngster (around 12 months +) one of ours would occasionally come to a halt, with one of his back legs rigid, extended & muscles rock hard.

Found the way to deal with it was to gently roll him on to his back, leg still extended & gently massage his upper leg till the muscles relaxed & he was happy to get up & move on. His vet & chiropractor at the time suggested he was suffering from cramp (?), didn't yelp but was obviously uncomfortable till I'd spent sometime massaging him.