Reasons Why Your Dog Is Not Sleeping At Night
Pet parents may be struggling with restless nights due to their dog not sleeping and keeping the family awake. This can cause stress within the dynamics of the home, disrupting the peace. Through the personal experience of being up the last two nights with my 19-year old dachshund, I felt it necessary to research why my pet has not been able to be soothed back to sleep. It seems as though offering all things is not settling to him including water, food, a potty break, covering him up, and even his small dose of a vet prescribed pain medication he receives at 9 p.m.
There are dozens of causes for disturbances to the canine sleep-wake cycle. These causes lead to the dog not sleeping, frequently waking up throughout the night whining, restless, crying, barking, and pacing. When the nighttime ritual of trying to get your pup back to sleep has run its course, you bear the frustration of yet another sleepless night. When your pup is finally ready to settle down at 9 a.m., it is now time for you to head out the door for your full, exhausting day of work.
According to PetMD, dogs sleep 12 to 14 hours a day. So, what are some of the causes that are keeping pups up at night and wreaking havoc on overnight sleep for the family? There are many.
Common Causes of Sleep Disturbances in Dogs
- Insomnia: In older dogs, canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome can be causing insomnia by disrupting normal sleep patterns. Commonly referred to as dog senility, pets appear confused and disoriented, experiencing a change in established normal sleep-wake patterns.
- Pain: Pain is the most common reason for senior dogs to exhibit nighttime distress, with musculoskeletal and neurogenic being the most common types. A trial of pain medications may be the vet’s recommendation to try to comfort your pet at night.
- Sleep Apnea: Although rare in dogs, sleep apnea can cause temporary collapse or narrowing of the airway. This symptom is present in dogs who are overweight, commonly seen in English Bulldogs.
- Narcolepsy: Narcolepsy occurs in dogs when an animal suffers from excessive daytime sleepiness, lack of energy, or brief losses of consciousness. There is no definitive cure for narcolepsy but your veterinarian may prescribe oral medications to help control the frequency and duration of attacks.
- Lack of Exercise: Some breeds will have a difficult time going to sleep at night if they have not received an adequate amount of exercise throughout the day. Younger or working dogs can fall into this category.
- Environmental Disturbances: Dogs are creatures of habit and changes in their environment can cause unsettling disturbances in their sleep cycle. These disturbances can include a new noise outside, new lighting, the weather, a new baby in the home, or even moving furniture.
In the event your pet is having trouble sleeping, your primary veterinarian’s office will likely be closed. Pin Paws offers pet benefits that include a membership to whiskerDocs, 24/7 pet telehealth. This gives you access to a vet specialist by phone, chat, or email any time of day, any day of the year. With this benefit, you and your pet have better chances of counting sheep together and dozing off into la-la land.
For more information on our pet benefits, contact Pin Paws at (888) 918-2386.
