Have a Restless Dog? Here's How to Help Him - Dogster

1. Is your restless dog anxious? · Dogster reader Dana Oaks has found that CBD pet treats helps. · Another suggestion was the supplement melatonin ... Skiptocontent DigitalEdition CustomerService GiveaGift PhotoContestVoting Menu DigitalEdition CustomerService GiveaGift PhotoContestVoting Bookstore Subscribe GiveaGift DogHealth&Care DogFood DogTraining Puppies Lifestyle DogBreeds Bookstore SubscribetoDogsterMagazine Menu DogHealth&Care DogFood DogTraining Puppies Lifestyle DogBreeds Bookstore SubscribetoDogsterMagazine Search Searchfor: Search Searchfor: DogHealth&Care DogFood DogTraining Puppies Lifestyle DogBreeds DigitalEdition CustomerService MyAccount Menu DogHealth&Care DogFood DogTraining Puppies Lifestyle DogBreeds DigitalEdition CustomerService MyAccount HomeDogHealth&CareHaveaRestlessDog?Here’sHowtoHelpHim Dogasleeporsickwrappedupinblankets.Photography©Kosheleva_Kristina|iStock/GettyImagesPlus. DogHealth&Care HaveaRestlessDog?Here’sHowtoHelpHim Ifyouhavearestlessdog,hispacingandwakingupduringthenightcouldbecausedbymanydifferentmedicalandbehavioralissues. By MelissaL.Kauffman , December1,2020 Shareonfacebook Facebook Shareontwitter Twitter Shareonlinkedin LinkedIn Shareonpinterest Pinterest Shareonemail Email Haveyoueverwondered,“Whyismydogrestless,especiallyatnight?”That’sthequestionweaskedourselvesoverandoveragain,asourdogTampagotrestlesseverynightandsometimesduringtheday.Ourrestlessdogpaces,goingfromroomtoroom.Hegetsoutofbedanddrinkswater,thenpaces,thengoesoutsidethroughthedoggiedoor,thencomesbackinandpacessomemore.Hekeepsbothusandhimselfawakeatnight—it’snotagoodsituationforanyoneinvolved!Therearesomanyreasonsthatcouldfactorintoyourdog’srestlessness.Here’sourjourneywithourrestlessdog—andwhathelpedusallgetsomesleep. Whatcouldbeatplayifyouhavearestlessdog,likeourTampa?PhotographycourtesyofMelissaL.Kauffman. Forstarters,determineifyourrestlessdogistrulyrestless—orifthere’ssomethingelseatplay Firstoff,toruleoutamedicalissue,wetookTampatotheveterinarian.Iwouldhavelovedtohaveaquickdiagnosis,butno.Wehadtotakeseveraltestsandwearestillmethodicallyworkingourwaythroughthem.(TheonlykeyissuewasthathisliverALPlevelkeptgettinghigherwithnosignsofstopping,nomatterwhatwedid.)Wealsotalkedtoourbehaviorist.Again,therewasnoquickdiagnosis.Tampahadmultiplebehaviorandmedicalissuesgoingonanditcouldbeanyoneofthemoracombination.Weendedupmakingchangesinanumberofareas. Therearemanyreasonsthatmightbeatplaywhenitcomestoarestlessdog,andherearesomeofthemthatappliedtoTampa.NotonlydoIincludewhatmyhusbandandIdid,I’vealsoaddedsometipsgiventousbyDogsterreadersviaFacebookwhohavealsodealtwith—andhelped—arestlessdog. 1.Isyourrestlessdoganxious? Arestlessdogmightbeanxious.Tampahasalwaysbeenalittlenervoussinceweadoptedhimfromtherescueasapup.Heisalsonoisephobictoreallyloudsoundslikefireworksorsirens.Weadoptedanewparrotthispastyear(Tampahasbeenaroundparrotsallofhislife),andthisparrot’sscreampitchhurtsTampa’sears.So,Tampaisalwaysonhighalertawaitingthescarybirdscream—eventhoughourparrothasneverscreamedintheeveningoratnight.Thisaddedstresscouldcausefactorintohisrestlessness. WediscussedTampa’snervousnesswithourveterinarian.HeputTampaonacalmingsupplement.Igivehimthesupplementatnightabouthalfanhourbeforebed,soitkicksinwhenwearealltryingtosleep.We’vealsotriedpheromoneproducts. WediscussedTampa’sparrotnoisephobiawithourdogbehaviorist.Onheradvice,duringthedaywekeepthedoortomyhusband’s“manroom”—locatedabovethegarage—open.Thisway,Tampaknowshehasa“safespace”togo.Hecangotothisroomwhenhewantstogetawayfromtheparrotscreamingsohecanselfsoothe.Ofcourse,wealsoworkedwithPi-Pi—ourparrot—tolessenthescreaming(whichwasn’tthatmuchtobeginwith).Further,thebehavioristhadmestopgoingonhighalertiftheparrotyelled.IhavetoactlikeitwasnothingandallowTampatoselfsoothe.Myanxietyabouthisanxietywascausinghimmoreanxiety.(Simple,huh?) WhenTampaisfeelinganxious,we’llalsowraphiminablanket.SwaddlingorusingapressureshirtliketheThundershirthashelpedsomedogsfeellessanxious.Tampalikesbeingwrappedinablanket,especiallyatnightwhenhe’ssleeping. Othertipstotryifyouhavearestlessdogandanxietyistheculprit:  DogsterreaderDanaOakshasfoundthatCBDpettreatshelps.“Mydoghasnomoresleepingissues,”shesays. Anothersuggestionwasthesupplementmelatonin,anaturallyoccurringhormonefoundinhumansandanimals,whichcanhelpwithanxiety.PattyEvanstellsDogsterthatshegivesherdogmelatoninperhervet. VinneeVashistha’sdogsleepswithaTeddybearatnighttocalmhimdown. HeatherNelderusesthedietarysupplementCholodinforherdogwhohasSundownerSyndrome. WetookTampaalongwithuswhenwevolunteeredfortheRichardSheltraMemorial10Ktocheerontherunners.KeepingTampa’smindandbodyactivehelpskeephimhealthyandlessrestlessinhisseniorsyears.PhotographycourtesyofMelissaL.Kauffman. 2.Isyourrestlessdogaseniororapuppy? Isyourrestlessdogapuppy orseniordog?Puppiescanbealittleanxiousatnight,missingtheirpackofpuppiesormotherorbealittleanxiousaboutanewplaceorjusthavetogopotty. Tampaisasmalldog,11goingon12,soheisaseniordog.Ourveterinariansaidourrestlessdogproblemmightberelatedtoage—alittledoggiedementia. So,weworkedonkeepingTampa’smindactive.IhavegottenmoredisciplinedabouttakingTampaonthreewalksaday,whereIgivehimplentyofsniffingtimetokeephismindandsensesactive.WealsogiveTampanewexperienceslikegoingcampingandtoothernon-taxingeventstokeephimalertandstaveoffboredom. Ourveterinarianalsogaveusasupplementthatsupportsoverallmindandbodywellness.WegivethistoTampawithhisdinner.Thereareavarietyofseniordogmentalalertnesssupplementsouttherenow,ifitissomethingyou’dalsoliketotryforyourrestlessdog. Tampasleepsinbedwithus.Westartedshuttingthedoortoourbedroomatnight.ThispreventedTampafromwalkingaroundthehousepacingallnight.Forsomeseniordogsandcats,keepingtheminasmallerareahelpsthemfrombecomingconfusedaboutwheretheyare.Idon’tthinkthisistheissuewithTampa,butkeepinghiminthebedroomallowsustomonitoranyworseningorimprovementwithhisrestlessness,pluskeepshimfromgettingintomischiefduringhisnightpacings.Ihadlostseveralmagazinesandsomenewbookstohisnighttimechewing. 3.Doesyourrestlessdoghavearthritis? Tampahasarthritisinhislegsandback.Arthritisisanotherpossibleanswertowhyyouhavearestlessdog.Thisconditioncausesphysicaldiscomfort,whichcanalsomakeyourdognotwanttoliedown.AlthoughIdon’tbelievethisiscausingtherestlessness,Inowgivebothofmydogs,whohavesomearthritisinthespine,alittlemassageatnightandinthemorningtoeaseanydiscomfort.Bothdogsarealsoonasupplementforjoints. 4.Isyourrestlessdoghearingthingsatnight—orlosinghishearing? Thiscangotwoways.Eitheryourdoghasexcellenthearingandhe’shearingsmallcrittersinthenight,whichiskeepinghimawakeandrestless,oryourdog’shearingisnotgreatanymoreanditmakeshimalittlejumpy.Tampaislosinghishearinganditdefinitelymakeshimalittlemoreanxiousandmorehyperalertandwatchfultocompensate.Wedidhaveasmallmouseproblemoverthewinterthisyear,butTampaneverheardthem,onlyIdid,soIknowthiswasn’tanissue. WebelieveTampa’sbiggestrestlessdogissuewashunger.Hewasalreadyoverweight,sothiswasabigchallenge.PhotographycourtesyofMelissaL.Kauffman. 5.Isyourrestlessdoghungry? Thisisabigoneforus.Tampaisconstantlyhungry—whichisaproblem.Hepacesabouteveryhourwantingfood.Thisisnotuncommon.Arestlessdogmightbehungryduetoahealthissue,notgettingenoughfoodornotgettingtherightkindoffood. Again,wewenttothevettoruleoutamedicalconditionandwearestillgoingthroughthetestingprocess.TherearesomedogdiseaseslikeCushing’sthatcauseincreasedhunger.(Tampadoesn’thaveit.)I’llletyouknowifwefindoutamedicalconditioniscausingTampa’srestlessnessandhunger.Wealreadyhaveanappointmentwithaspecialistandwillbedoinganultrasound.(We’vealreadydonebloodworkandaradiograph.) Regardingdiet,wedidchangeTampatoaspecialprescriptiondietbecauseofconcernsabouthisliver,whichdefinitelymadehishungerworse.BecauseTampagainedsomuchweightontheprescriptiondiet,wekepthisservingssmall,buthehasn’tlosttheweight.Wefinallydecidedbecausewewerefeedinghimsomuchlessthantherecommendedamountthatwewouldincreasehisfoodintakebygivinghimthreesmallmealsthroughouttheday,nowfeedinghimrightbeforebedtime.Thisextrafeedinghashelpedhisfoodanxiety.He’slesslikelytowakeuplookingforfoodthanbefore,butithasn’tcompletelymadehimalessrestlessdog.Wealsohavetriedgivinghimsomepumpkinbeforebed,hopingthehighfibermightfilluphisstomachalittlemorewithoutpackingonthepounds. Weplanontalkingtoadognutritionistnexttodiscusshisweightgainandhungerissues,andtoadjusthisdiettoonethatappeaseshishungermore. 6.Isyourrestlessdogthirsty? Tampawasdefinitelyexperiencingincreasedthirst.Again,thisisarestlessdogissuecausedbyamedicalcondition. WethoughtTampahadCushing’sdiseasebecauseofsomeconcernswithhisbloodworkandallofhissymptoms.However,itturnsouthehadaurinaryinfection.Ifyourdoghasincreasedthirst,makesurethisisthefirstthingyouruleoutwithyourveterinarian.Becausewethoughtitwassomethingelse,wedidn’tdotheurinetestuntiloursecondappointment.Oncethiswasclearedup,Tampadefinitelydrankalittlelesswaterduringthenight,butitstilldidn’tmakehimalessrestlessdog. WhenTampaconstantlywentoutthedoggiedoortogopotty,weknewamedicalissuecouldbetheproblem.PhotographycourtesyofMelissaL.Kauffman. 7.Doesyourrestlessdoghavetopottyatnight? Havingtogotothebathroomatnighthappenstopuppies,seniordogsandevenadultdogs—hey,evenushumans.Arestlessdogmightjustnotbeabletoholdit…andthatcouldbeamedicalissueorit’sjustbecauseofageforapuppyorseniordog. Inourcase,Tampaisaseniordogandsometimes8hoursistoolongforhimtogowithoutthepotty.Wehaveadoggiedoor,sothiswouldn’tbeanissueforus,exceptwekeepthebedroomdoorshuttokeephimfrompacingaroundthehouse.Gettinguponcetolethimoutisfine.Welovehim,anditgivesusachanceforapottybreak,too. 8.Isyourrestlessdogtoohotortoocold? Bothpuppiesandseniordogs,smallandshort-hairedbreeds,plusbrachycephalicbreeds(smoosh-faceddogs),areaffectedbyheatandcold.Ifyouhavearestlessdog,hecouldbeeithertoohotortoocold.Tampaisaseniordog,andwedefinitelynoticedhewentfrombeinglikeacamel—notaffectedbyheatatall—tobeingsensitivetoit.Atnight,sometimeshewouldpantandgetuptodrinkwater.Istartedmakingtheroomalittlecooleratnight,whichdefinitelyhasstoppedthepanting. DogsterreaderLynHolmestellsDogsterthatsheusesahotwaterbottleinthebedforherChihuahua,whosleepswithher.“Wegetin,Imovethehotwaterbottleoverandwesnuggledown,”shesays.“Plushehasablanketontopoftheduvettosnuggleinifhegetstoowarminthebed.Hehasabowlofwaterandabowlofkibbledown,andhewilloccasionallyhaveamidnightsnack,Igetwokenupbyhiscrunching.” DogsterreaderEmmaWarringtonadds,“Makesurethey’rewarm.Coverwithablanketorinvestinahousecoat.Itgetscoldatnight,still.” Dogscansometimesberestlessiftheyaren’tgivenenoughexerciseduringtheday.WewalkTampaandJusticethreetimesaday,oncebeforebedtime.PhotographycourtesyMelissaL.Kauffman. 9.Isyourrestlessdoggettingenoughexercise? Likeahuman,arestlessdogmightnotgetenoughexerciseduringthedaytorunoffhisexcessenergy.Keepingyourdogbusyandactiveduringthedayiskeytogoodphysicalandmentalhealth.Asexercisehelpsusallsleepbetter,myhusbandandInowgiveourdogsanicelongwalkatnightaboutanhourbeforebedtime.Atireddogislesslikelytobearestlessdog. DogsterreaderSylviaKnutson-Barrconcurs.“Anicelongwalkbeforebedtimetotirehimout”helpsherwithherrestlessdog. BrendaRogerstellsusherdogdoesn’tgetrestlessbecause“she’ssobusyallday,she’sexhausted.She’sthebest.” BriannaBentonaddsomeweightstoherdog’swalk.Shesuggests“walkingwithsidesaddlebagsfilledwithenoughweightforyourdogtohandle.Maybeputwaterbottlesinthem.”(Justlikewithhumanstalkingtotheirdoctorsbeforeusingweights,alwayscheckwithyourveterinarianaboutaddingweightstoyourdog’sexerciseregimeincaseshehasanyconcernsandweightlimitsuggestions.) However,DogsterreaderAnneChangdoeswarn,“Don’tgetthemexcitedatleastanhourbeforebedtime.Justchillanddoyourthing.Leavethemontheirown.” 10.Canarestlessdogberestless…simplyoutofhabit? Onethingwe’venoticedaboutourdogTampaisthatoncehelearnssomething,it’shardforhimtounlearnit.Forexample,everyFourthofJulywhenfireworksgooffatnight,ittakesusaboutthreemonthstoconvinceTampathatnighttimedoesn’tmeanloudnoises.Tampalearnsalotofwhatbehavioristscallabehavioralchain. WhateverhasmadeTamparestlessatnight,Tampahasnowlearnedthatthisishowtoreacttoit.Re-teachinghimthatnighttimeisforsleepingtakesalotofeffort.Ifweknowhe’snotthirsty,doesn’thavetogotothebathroomorhasjusteatenandhe’srestlessatnight,myhusbandjustputshimbackonthebedandputshisblanketonhim.Usuallythissettleshimbackdown. Thebottomlineonhelpingarestlessdog Ifyouhavearestlessdog,pleasetrytorespondtothiswithloveandpatience.Thiscanbehardtodowhenyouaren’tgettingenoughsleep.Iknowpeoplewhohaveshutthedogoutofthebedroomsotheydon’thavetohearthedogpacing,butthentheycan’tmonitorthedogandiftheproblemisanxiety,itcanmakethebehaviorofyourrestlessdogworse. Therearemanyreasonsthatfactorintoarestlessdog,andthesearejustsomeofthemthatwefeltmightbecontributingtoourdog’srestlessness.Ifyouhavearestlessdog,gothroughthislistandseeifyoucanmakesometweakstoyourdog’sdailyschedule.Somewillworkforyourdogandyourfamilyandsomewon’t.It’snotuncommonforhumanstosleeplessandgetrestlessatnightastheygetolder,soit’snotasurprisethatithappenstosomedogs,too.MyhusbandandI—knowingthatTampawouldwakeusupduringthenight—wouldsometimesgotobedearliertogetenoughsleep. Gettingaveterinariananddogbehavioristtohelpiskey,especiallyifitisamedicalissueoranxietyissue.Bepatient,asamedicaldiagnosiscouldtakeawhile,especiallygettingintoseeaspecialistandwaitingfortestresults.Tampahashadthisissueforagoodsixmonths,andwearestilltryingtofigureitout.Ifyouhaveanytipsforhowyouhelpedyourrestlessdog,wewouldlovetoheartheminthecommentsbelow.MakingthesechangeshavehelpedusgofromTampawakingupfourorfivetimesinthenighttojustonetime.That’sabigdifference! ReadNext:MyDogStaresatMe—IsThatNormal? Tags: Behavior,DugUpatDogster,Health&Care Comments 9thoughtson“HaveaRestlessDog?Here’sHowtoHelpHim” MyJRTmixrescueconstantlybarksatorrushestheTVwhenshehearsadogbarkor‘recognizes’themusicortalkingthatadogcommercialiscomingup.It’saconstantstrugglewithhertostop.Iappreciatehereagernesstoprotectmebutprotectingmefromsomethingthatisnotathreatisgettingridiculous.Anysuggestionstohelpher?Thankyou,PamC. Reply Iwaswonderingifyouhadfoundanythingthathelped?Youcouldbewritingaboutour13yearolddog.Therestlessnessisdistressingandconfusing.Wehavetriedsomanythings.Thankyou. Reply Pingback:13MostAstonishingHuskyMixes–AGuideToHuskyMixedBreeds–BarkFriend Pingback:DogAnxietyAtBedtime–DogAnxietySymptoms Pingback:DogAnxietyJacket–DogAnxietySymptoms Pingback:DogAnxietyAtNight–DogAnxietySymptoms Pingback:DogAnxietyNightTime–DogAnxietySymptoms Pingback:DogAnxietyRx–DogAnxietySymptoms WehavehadseveralJapaneseChins.Mysenior,Gizmo,hadSundownerSyndrome,whichcausedhimtopaceandhaveallkindsoftroubleatnightsettlingdown.Wefinallyfoundamiraclesolutioncalled,“NutriCalm”fromRxPetVitamins.IgetitthroughAmazonanditwasapprovedbymyholisticveterinarian.Itisaliquid.MyChinsaretypicallybetween7-12lbsandtheygetonedropperfullabout30minutesbeforebedtime.Itisahomeopathicremedy,soitwon’thurtyourpupperifitdoesn’twork.Wefeltitwasnorisk,sowegaveitatry.WOW!Whatadifference.Itdoesn’tknockthemoutlikeasedative,itsimplycalmsthemandGizmowouldsleepmorerestfulallnight.Somenightswerebetterthanothers,butthensomeofmynightsarebetterthanothers,too!Theyreallyaremuchlikeus.Itiscertainlyworthatry.Goodlucktoallofyou. 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