Why is my dog restless? - Wag!

If your dog's restlessness is abnormal, you must determine if the response is behavioral or medical and you should seek a veterinarian's advice. You can lessen ... ServicesWalkingSittingBoardingDrop-InVisitsIn-HomeTrainingDigitalTrainingVetChatWellnessPlansSafetyCommunityGuidelinesTrust&SafetyComparePetInsurancePlansHelpCenterServicesWalkingSittingBoardingDrop-InVisitsIn-HomeTrainingDigitalTrainingVetChatWellnessPlansBecomeaCaregiverBecomeaWalkerBecomeaSitterLoginBecomeaCaregiverBecomeaWalkerBecomeaSitterSignupHomeDogSymptomsRestlessinDogsRestlessinDogsMostcommonconditionsCushingsDisease/SeparationAnxiety/PoisoningRatedasmildconditon10VeterinaryAnswersMostcommonconditionsCushingsDisease/SeparationAnxiety/PoisoningPrepareforunexpectedvetbillsCompareInsuranceOptionsPrepareforunexpectedvetbillsCompareInsuranceOptionsWhatareRestless?Sometimes,yourdogwillpaceorseemrestlesstogetyourattention. Excitementusuallyaccompaniesthistypeofrestless. Asapetowner,youknowwhatyourdog’snormalbehaviorislikesoyoucanspothisoutofcharacterrestlessnesswhenitoccurs. Restlessnessinyourdogmayincludepacingorcircling,repeatedlyadjustinghispositionandchangesinsleeppatterns. Youwillwanttoknowthecauseofyourdogunsettledbehavior. Thereareseveralpotentialreasonsforrestlessfrombehavioraltomedicalconditions. Someofthemorecommonreasonsinclude:Separationanxiety(behavioral)Phobias(behavioral)FleasandticksTapewormsPoisoningCushing’sDiseaseWhilesomerestlessnessisbehavioral,itisimportanttoruleoutanymedicalreasonsforyourdog’sunsettledbehavior.Vetbillscansneakuponyou.Planahead.Getthepawfectinsuranceplanforyourpup.CompareplansWhyRestlessOccursinDogsOutoftheordinary,restlessbehaviorinyourdogmayindicatesomelevelsofpain,healthissues,oranxiety. Mostpeoplecandetermineifthenatureoftheproblemisbehavioralormedical.SeparationAnxietyDogssometimesdevelopoverlyattachedbondstotheirpeople,andwhenyouleaveyourdog,hemaybecomerestless. Separationanxietycanleadtodestructivebehaviors,overvocalization,orhousesoilingandtypicallymanifestwiththefirst15to30minutesafterleavingyourdog.  PhobiasandFearsPhobiasandfearsasthecauseofrestlessbehaviorareeasiertospotbecausesomethingusuallytriggersyourdog’srestlessness. Phobiasareanexaggeratedfear,andyourdogmaytuckhistailunder,pantexcessively,pace,orcrywhenhisphobiaistriggered. Loudnoises,suchasthunder,fireworks,orgunshotsusuallytriggerphobias. FleasandTicksFleasandticksaresmallparasitesthatbiteandfeedonyourdog’sbloodandcanbeveryuncomfortableforyourdog. Ifyourdoghasafleainfestation,hewillintenselyscratchandlickhisskintohelprelievetheitching. Ticks,ontheotherhand,usetheirmouthstoattachthemselvestoyourdoganddrawbloodfromhim. Ticksmaycarryinfectiousdiseaseandfurtherharmyourdogbeyondtheirritationthatleadstorestlessbehaviors.TapewormsTapewormsareintestinalparasiticwormswithflatheadsandarecommonindogsofallages.Tapewormsarenotaseriousthreattoyourdogbutmayleadtointestinalblockages. Puppiesaremoresusceptibletotheharmfuleffectsatapewormasitcanresultinslowgrowthandanemiainyourpuppy. Themostcommontapewormindogsisafleatapewormandmaydevelopafteryourdogingestsfleas. ToxinandPoisonIngestionTherearepotentialtoxinsandpoisonsyourdogmayhaveanopportunitytoingestthroughouthisday,andsomemaynotseemlikely.Acommonpoisonfordogsthatweoftenforgetischocolate.Consumingchocolatecanleadtorestlessbehavior,excessivepanting,andagitationinyourdog. Theclinicalsignsofchocolatepoisoningcanoccurwithinthefirstfewhoursofingestionandcanlastfordays. Youwillusuallyknowifyourdoghaseatenchocolatebecauseheleavestheevidencebehind,suchascandywrappersandboxes.  Cushing’sDiseaseCushing’sdiseaseoccurswhentheendocrineglandscannolongerproducethecorrectlevelsofcortisolinyourdog. Cortisolproductionoccurstohelpsuppressinflammationandcantriggerduringmomentsofstressinyourdog’slife. Cushing’sisanoverproductionofcortisolandcanbetriggeredbypituitarygland(growngland)damage,adrenaltumors,orovertreatingwithanti-inflammatorycorticosteroids.TopWhattodoifyourDogisRestlessIfyourdog’srestlessnessisabnormal,youmustdetermineiftheresponseisbehavioralormedicalandyoushouldseekaveterinarian’sadvice. Youcanlessenanxietyandfearovertimewithreinforcement-basedtrainingandshouldaskforhelpfromatraineroryourvetforthebestcourseofaction. Sedativeandanti-anxietymedicationscanalsobeadministeredtohelpanadjustingpetbutwillnotsolveyourdog’sbehavior-relatedrestlessness.  Ifyourdogisinpainorhisrestlessnessisduetoamedicalcondition,yourveterinarianwillbeabletodeterminethecause. Iffleasorticksarethecauseofyourdog’sunease,youmuchfollowyourvet’sinstructionswithcaretogetridoftheparasites. Tapewormtreatmentsareveryeffectiveifyourdogisdiagnosedwithawormparasiteandyourveterinarianwillprescribeadewormermedication. Thetreatmentforingestingatoxinorpoison,suchaschocolate,willdependonhowquicklyyoucatchtheingestionandgetyourdogtotheveterinarian. Atthevet,yourdogmaybeinducedtovomittoremovethechocolatefromhisstomach. Absorbents,suchascharcoal,mayalsobeusedtohelpabsorbthetoxins. Manytimesothertreatmentsaregiventosupporttheremovaloftoxins,suchasinterventionsfluidtherapyandbeta-blockerstohelpreducetheheartrate. Formoresevereconditions,suchasCushing’s,yourdogmayhavetoundergosurgeryorradiationtherapyaswellasusemedicationtohelpcontroltheadrenalglands.TopPreventionofRestlessTrainingandpositivereinforcementcangoalongwayinpreventinganxietyandfearfromdevelopinginyourdog. Alovingandcomfortablehomeisalwaysthebestenvironmentforyourdogtogrowandbehappy. Youcanpreventmedical-relatedrestlessnesscausedbyfleasandticksbypropergroomingtechniquesandlearninghowtospotandremoveticks. Avoidingtallgrassyareaswillalsopreventticksfromcomingintocontactwithyourdog.Severalcommonhouseholdproductsandplantsmayaffectyourdog’shealthandmakehimrestless.Knowingwhatisunsafeforyoudogandkeepingitawayfromhimwillhelppreventpotentialpoisoning.Asyourdogages,hemaydevelopdiseasesthatleadtorestlessbehavior;however,youcanpreventchemicallyinducedphysiologicalresponsesbylimitingunnecessarymedications. Overuseofanti-inflammatorymedicationsareonesuchdrugthatmayleadtoCushing’sdisease;therefore,youshouldalwaysconsultwithyourveterinarianbeforeadministeringanymedication.TopCostofRestlessTreatmentcostforrestlessbehaviorwilldependontheunderlyingcause. Forexample,treatmentforfleascancost$300whereastreatmentforCushing’smaycost$2,000.Top*Wag!maycollectashareofsalesorothercompensationfromthelinksonthispage.Itemsaresoldbytheretailer,notWag!.RestlessQuestionsandAdvicefromVeterinaryProfessionalsPitBullFifteenWeeksUnknownseverity7foundhelpfulUnknownseverityHasSymptomsRestlesnesshejuststartedactingweirdshejustsitstherelookingasifsheisguiltywithherheaddownIwasfixingherfoodandwaterandIsatitdownandwalkedoutoftheroomandaskedherwhatwaswrongandIpatherheadandexcitedtheroomforatleast30minsandwalkedbackinshewasstillinthesamespotfooduntouchedsoIcalledhernameshewaggedhertailasifshewantstogetexcitedbutcan'tIputherinmybedandshejustlyesinadownwarddogpositionattheedgeofmybedandkeepsreadjustingherheadandwhimperseveryfewsecondsOct.3,2020OwnerDr.SaraO.DVM7RecommendationsHello,Iworrythatyourdogmayhavepulledmuscleoranupsetstomach.Sometimesstomachpainscancausethemtositinweirdpositionstryingtogetcomfortable.Tryfeedingablanddietofchickenandriceandletherrest.Ifsheisnotbetterinadayortwo,orstarthavingGIissuessuchasvomitingordiarrhea,itwouldbebesttoseeyourvet.Oct.4,2020Wasthisexperiencehelpful?SaintBernardEightYearsUnknownseverity1foundhelpfulUnknownseverityHasSymptomsNoisyBreathingHello, MySaintBernardhasbeenrestless,panting,anditchingforthepastfewdays.Shehasbeenscratchingunderherchinandchewingonsomespotsonherlegs.Iwillattachapictureofaconcerningspotonherleg. Wehavenotfoundaveterinarianinourareayet,andwouldalsolovesomeadviceonhowtofindagoodoneaswell. Thankyouverymuchforanyhelpyoucanoffer. DJJeskeSept.28,2020OwnerDr.MicheleK.DVM1RecommendationsThankyouforyourquestion-thatarealooksverysore,andpossiblyinfected,fromthepicture.Idothinkthatitwouldbeagoodideatohaveherseenbyaveterinarian,asshemayneedantihistamineorantibiotictherapy. Onewaytofindanewveterinarianistolookaroundyourhouseandseewhatisclose,thengointoseewhatyourimpressionis...anotheristoaskotherpeoplewithdogsthatyouseewalkingwhotheytaketheirdogstoforveterinarycare. Ihopethatallgoeswellforher!Oct.6,2020Wasthisexperiencehelpful?SeemoreSeemoreVetbillscansneakuponyou.Planahead.Getthepawfectinsuranceplanforyourpup.CompareplansRelatedHealthArticlesTakingShortQuickBreathsStickingOutHisTongueUnabletoMoveSpottingBloodKickingBackLegsFallingDownUrinatingontheCouchSwayingBackandForthJerkingHisHeadSneezingBloodDraggingBackLegUnabletoWalkCoughingUpBloodEyesTurningWhiteEatingPlantsItchyandLosingHairNeedroutinewellnesscoverage?LearnmoreintheWag!appFivestarsFivestarsFivestarsFivestarsFivestars43k+reviewsInstallWag!AboutWag!AboutWag!TrustandSafetyCommunityguidelinesWag!PartnersPressBlogCareersBecomeaDogWalkerTopWag!citiesSanFranciscoLosAngelesChicagoNewYorkAtlantaWashingtonD.C.DallasMiamiPhiladelphiaHelpCenterResourcesDogHealthDogTrainingDogGroomingDogBreedsDogNamesDogActivitiesDogSensesDogBehaviorLifestylesDogBeachesDogCampgroundDogParksDogTrailsSecurityResponsibledisclosureAppStoreGooglePlayStorePrivacypolicyCAPrivacyTerms&conditionsAccessibility©2021WagLabs,Inc.Allrightsreserved.Wag!HelpCenterAppStoreGooglePlayStoreDownloadtheWag!appAboutWag!AboutWag!TrustandSafetyCommunityguidelinesWag!PartnersPressBlogCareersBecomeaDogWalkerResourcesDogHealthDogTrainingDogGroomingDogBreedsDogNamesDogActivitiesDogSensesDogBehaviorTopWag!citiesSanFranciscoLosAngelesChicagoNewYorkAtlantaWashingtonD.C.DallasMiamiPhiladelphiaLifestylesDogBeachesDogCampgroundDogParksDogTrailsSecurityResponsibledisclosure©2021WagLabs,Inc.Allrightsreserved.PrivacypolicyCAPrivacyTerms&conditionsAccessibilityWag!HelpCenterAppStoreGooglePlayStoreDownloadtheWag!appAboutWag!AboutWag!TrustandSafetyCommunityguidelinesWag!PartnersPressBlogCareersBecomeaDogWalkerTopWag!citiesSanFranciscoLosAngelesChicagoNewYorkAtlantaWashingtonD.C.DallasMiamiPhiladelphiaResourcesDogHealthDogTrainingDogGroomingDogBreedsDogNamesDogActivitiesDogSensesDogBehaviorLifestylesDogBeachesDogCampgroundDogParksDogTrailsSecurityResponsibledisclosure©2021WagLabs,Inc.Allrightsreserved.PrivacypolicyCAPrivacyTerms&conditionsAccessibility