Why is My Dog Restless and Anxious at Night? - Sleep Advisor

As mentioned earlier, not getting enough physical activity during the day could cause a dog to feel restless at night. Therefore, you should allow your pup ... WhyisMyDogRestlessandAnxiousatNight?byJillZwarensteynDisclaimer–Nothingonthiswebsiteisintendedtobeasubstituteforprofessionalmedicaladvice,diagnosis,ortreatment…ReadmorehereDogsmakewonderfulandlovingcompanions,butthatdoesn’tmeantheydon’tcomewithouttheirchallenges.Ananxiousdogcouldeasilybecomethecauseofmanysleeplessnights.Justasthedog’srestlessbehaviorcanbedisruptive,youmayalsodevelopanxietyyourselfoutofconcernforyourpup. Ifyouarecurrentlywonderingwhyyourdogisrestlessandanxiousatnight,weareheretohelp.Wewillreviewdifferentmethodstohelpyourdogsleepsoundlythroughthenightwhilealsoexaminingthedifferentreasonswhyyourdogmayberestless.Section1WhyIsMyDogRestlessatNightAllofaSudden?Section2HowtoCalmaRestlessDogatNightSection3FrequentlyAskedQuestionsSection3SleepDrunkennessSymptomsWhyIsMyDogRestlessatNightAllofaSudden?Whetheryouhavenoticedanuptickinnighttimerestlessnessoryourdoghasalwaysbeenanxiousatthistime,thefollowingreasonscouldexplainyourpup’sbehavior.FearLikehumans,dogscanexperiencefearfulfeelingsfromtimetotime,andthereasonstheygetscaredcanvarytoo.Forinstance,dogshaveverysensitivehearing,andasaresult,theycanbecomeeasilyrestlessatnightfromloudnoises.Thunderstormsandfireworksareseveralexamplesofloudnoisesthatareknowntoexacerbateadog'sanxiety. Exposuretodifferentenvironmentsmayalsocausethemtobefearful.Forexample,adogspendingthenightsomewherenewmaybeextraintimatedbytheirnewsurroundingsandhavetroublerelaxing.SeparationAnxietySometimesdogscandevelopseparationanxietywhentheyarenotaroundtheirguardians.Forinstance,adog'sanxietycouldariseatnightiftheystayovernightsomewherewithouttheirguardianorhavetosleepinadifferentroomthanwheretheirguardiansleeps.Otherseparationanxiety[1]causescouldbethatthedogwassurrenderedorabandoned,adoptedbyanewfamily,changestothedog’sroutineorschedule,movingtoanewhome,orchangesinthefamilysuchasamemberdyingormovingaway. AccordingtotheAmericanSocietyforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimals(ASPCA[2]),seniordogsmayexperiencenighttimeseparationanxietybecausetheyviewsleepingasawayofbeingisolatedfromtheirguardian.However,theyaddthatseniordoganxietyfromseparationcouldbeduetoanunderlyingissuesuchasamedicaldisease.SeparationAnxietySymptomsAsyougetreadytoleaveyourhome,thedogmaystartpacing,panting,salivating,hiding,trembling,orshowingsignsofdepression.Shortlyafteryouleave,theymaybecomedestructiveorvocal.Theirdestructivebehaviormaybespecificallydirectedatexitssuchasdoorsandwindows.Theymaygotothebathroominthehousewhileyouaregoneorabouttoleave.Theydonoteatwhileleftalone.LearnMore:HowMuchDoDogsSleep?PainAlso,liketheirhumancounterparts,paincanpreventdogsfromsleepingthroughthenight.Althoughtheycan’tdescribetheirpainbyspeaking,dogsmaytrytosharethattheyareindiscomfortthroughvarioussigns[3].SignsaDogisinPainAnxiousAgitatedVocalizationsuchaswhimpering,yelping,orgrowlingTremblingRestlessFasterbreathingIncreasedheartrateReducedappetiteDepressionHesitanttomoveDogsofallagescouldexperiencepainduetomedicalissues,generalwearandtear,oraninjury.However,anolderdogisatanincreasedriskforhealthcomplicationsorchronicpain.Ifyoususpectyourdogisinpain,youshouldconsultwithaveterinarianimmediately.ConditionsThatCouldCausePaininDogsInfectionorillnessLikehumans,dogsarevulnerabletoinfectionsanddiseases[4].Lymedisease,ringworm,andgiardiaareafewexamplesofthetypesofillnessesthatcanaffectcanines.InjurySomeofthemorecommoninjuriesadogcouldexperienceincludeingestingforeign objects,scratchesandscrapes,eyeinjuries,andligamenttears.SurgeryWhethertheyareelectiveoramedicalemergency,dogscanalsoexperiencediscomfortfollowingsurgery.Manydogswillinherentlywanttolickorbiteattheirpost-surgerywounds,whichiswhyyouwillusuallyseedogswearspecialcollarstopreventthemfromdoingthis.DentalProblemsDogsarealsovulnerabletodentalproblems,suchasGingivitisandPeriodontitis,thatcouldbecomeuncomfortable.ArthritisCaninescanalsodeveloposteoarthritis[5]thatcausesinflammationandpaininthejoints.Aveterinarianwillbeabletoformallydiagnoseifadoghasarthritis. Expertssaythereisnotonespecificreasonwhyadogdevelopsthiscondition.Instead,theycandeveloposteoarthritisovertimebasedonavarietyoffactorssuchastheirbuild,beingoverweight,abnormaljointdevelopment,howactivetheyare,previousinjuries,orthopedicsurgeries,andnutrition.BoneDiseaseDifferenttypesofbonediseasescanimpactyoungdogsstillgrowingintotheirfullsize. AccordingtoVCAHospitals[6],youngerdogscanexperiencespecificbonediseasesthatincludeOsteochondritisDissecans,Panosteitis,HypertrophicOsteodystrophy,ElbowDysplasia,HipDysplasia,andLuxatingPatella.Whilesomeofthesecanleadtolimpinginthefrontandbacklegs,otherscancauselimpinginjustthefrontorback.CancerUnfortunately,dogsmayalsodevelopcancerduringtheirlifetime.AccordingtotheU.S.FoodandDrugAdministration(FDA[7]),overhalfofpetdeathsovertheageof10areduetocancer. However,thegoodnewsisthatpreventivecare,emergingtreatmentreserach,andearlydiagnosiscanhelppetslivelonger. Expertssaypetownersshouldbemindfulofcertainwarningsignsthatapetmayhavecancer.Lookforlumpsorbumps,woundsthatdonotheal,swelling,andabnormalbleeding.Additionally,changesinhowtheyeat,sleep,drink,andgotothebathroomcouldalsobecauseforconcern.OldAgeAsmentioned,ourfurrycompanionsexperienceanincreasedriskofhealthcomplicationsastheyage.OneofthoseissuesisCanineCognitiveDysfunction(CCD),abehavioralsyndromeaffectingseniordogs.Severalcognitivedysfunctionsymptomscouldexplainwhyanolderdogmightberestlessatnight.  Thefirstischangestotheirsleep-wakecycle.Forexample,thedogmaybecomemorefidgetyatnightwhenthey’resupposedtosleep,ortheybegintosleepmoreduringthedayinstead.Dogsmayalsodisplayrepetitivebehaviorssuchaspacingandanoverallincreaseinanxietyandrestlessness.OtherSignsofCognitiveDysfunctioninOlderDogsDisorientationChangesinhowtheyinteractwithyouandothersSoilinginthehouseLearningandmemoryimpairmentsNotEnoughPhysicalActivityManydogscandevelopalotofpent-upenergy,andwhentheydonotgetenoughexerciseduringtheday,thiscouldcausethemtobecomerestlessatnight.Sowhileawalkortwoaroundtheblocktogotothebathroomissomeactivity,itlikelymaynotbeenoughtoexpeltheirenergy,particularlyifthedogislarger.HowtoCalmaRestlessDogatNightCreateaCalmEnvironmentIfyourdogisextraskittishatnight,trycreatingaquietanddarkenvironmentwheretheycansleep.Thedogcouldbeeasilystartledbyloudnoisesorlights,whichmaybewhytheyappearrestlessduringthenight.  Intheeventofthunderstormsorfireworks,keepthewindowsclosedtohelpmufflethesoundsasmuchaspossible.Youcouldalsotryputtingonsomecalmingmusictohelpfurtherdrownoutthenoiseoutside.  Ifyouhaveadenorfinishedbasementthatisquieter,youcouldtrylettingthedogsleepdownthere.However,besurethatyourdogisokaytobeleftalone,asthiscouldexacerbateseparationanxietyiftheyhavethataswell.ProvideComfortSometimes,providingextracomfortforyourpupcoulddothetrickwhenitcomestohelpingthemsleepbetter.GoodDogBedJustasanewmattresscanworkwondersforimprovingyoursleep,dogsmayalsobenefitfromacozybed.Forinstance,orthopedicdogbedscouldhelprelievepainindogswitharthritis.Furthermore,acushionybedislikelymoreinduciveforpeacefulsleepingthanacoldhardwoodfloor.StuffedToysorBlanketsPuppiesrecentlyseparatedfromtheirsiblingsormothermayneedextracomfortastheyadjusttotheirnewenvironment.Tohelptheminthisprocess,considerpurchasingoneortwostuffedtoysandablankettheycancuddle.SoothingNoisesPlayingsoothingsoundsatnightcouldalsohelprestlessdogsfeelmorerelaxed.YoucanfindmultipleplaylistscateredtocalmingdowndogsonSpotifyandYoutube.DaytimeExerciseAsmentionedearlier,notgettingenoughphysicalactivityduringthedaycouldcauseadogtofeelrestlessatnight.Therefore,youshouldallowyourpupadequatetimefordaytimeexercise,particularlyifyounoticetheyarerestlessatnight.  Ifyouhaveabackyard,thisisaneasyopportunitytoletthedogrunaround.However,thosewholiveinapartmentsorcondominiumswillneedtomaketimetotaketheirdogout.  Dogparks,walks,thebeach,andhikesarejustsomeofthewaysyoucanprovideyourpupwithphysicalactivity.Iftheyareextraplayful,considerbringingalongafrisbeeortennisballtoplayagameofcatch.LastMinuteBathroomBreakInsomecases,adogcouldexhibitsignsofrestlessnessbecausetheyneedtorelievethemselves.Takingyourcanineforalast-minutepottybreakrightbeforebedcouldhelppreventthisfromhappening,allowingthemtorestmorecomfortablyuntilmorning.CalmingAidsIfyouhavetriedmultipletacticsbutstillhavenoluck,considergivingyourpupcalmingaids.Thegoodnewsisthatcalmingaidsfordogscancomeinvariousforms,suchassupplements,vests,collars,oils,andsprays.Althoughtheseaidsarerelativelyeasytofind,eitheronlineorinpetsupplystores,youshouldgetonethatyourdog’svetapprovesofsincetheycouldaffectcertaindogsdifferently.SpeakWithYourDog’sVeterinarianIngeneral,yourdog’svetwillbeanexcellentresourceifyourpupisanxiousatnight.Aveterinariancanhelpdetermineifanunderlyingmedicalissueiscausingtherestlessness,ortheycanprovidemorespecificsolutionstohelpyourdogrestbetter.Beforetheappointment,trytokeepajournalofyourdog’snighttimesymptoms,sothevethasaclearunderstandingofhowthedogisbehaving.FrequentlyAskedQuestionsWhatifI’mtryingtocratetrainmypuppy?Wecoveredearlierthatpuppiescanexperiencenighttimeanxietyafterbecomingnewlyseparatedfromtheirmomandsiblings.Manynewpetparentswillalsotrytocratetrain[8]theirpuppyduringthistime.Veterinaryexpertsrecommendseveraloptionstohelpapuppysleepthroughthenightwhilecratetraining. Thefirstistotryoutacratecoverduringsummerwhenthesunsetslaterandrisesearlier.Likehumans,puppysleeppatternscanbeaffectedbylightanddark.Furthermore,theexpertsadviseturningoffadditionallightsintheroom,suchastelevisionsandcellphones. Theyalsosuggestotherwaystohelpthepuppyfeelsecureandcozyinsidethecrate,suchasadogbed,blanket,soothingscentsandsounds,andstuffedtoystocuddlewithwhiletheysleep.Pre-bedtimebathroombreaksarealsoimportant,butmakesureitisrelaxedandnotanopportunitytoplaybecausethiscouldwindthemupbeforebed. Lastly, bemindfulnottofeedyourpuppytoolateorearly.Ifpuppieseattooearly,theycouldbecomehungryduringthenight,andiftheyeattoolate,theymayneedtorelievethemselvesinthemiddleofthenight.Whendoescaninedementiausuallystart?Caninecognitivedementia[9]typicallybeginswhenthedogis11yearsorolder.Researcherssaythisneurodegenerativediseaseaffectsabout60percentofdogs. Whilenospecificbreedismoreaffectedbythisthanothers,expertssayitisusuallydiagnosedinsmallerbreedssincetheytendtohavealongerlifespanthanlargerdogs.Furthermore,theysaythatCCD’ssimilaritytoAlzheimer’scouldprovidehelpfulinsightintothehumandisease.ShouldIsleepwithmydog?Youmightwonderwhethersleepingwithyourpet,eitherinthesameroomorbed,couldhelpwiththeiranxiety.Plus,somepeoplesleepwiththeirpetstorelievetheirownanxiousfeelings. Sleepingwithyourpetisnotinherentlyabadthing.However,therearefactorsyouwillneedtoconsiderbeforehand,inparticularyourhealthandthehealthofyourdog.  Forexample,dogswitharthritiscouldhavedifficultygettinginandoutofbed.Inthiscase,asimplesolutionwouldbetoletthemsleepinyourbedroominsteadofsharingabed.  Ifyouhaveallergies,sleepingbesideyourpetcouldworsenthem.Evenifyouarenotallergictodogsspecifically,theycancarryotherallergensintheirfur,suchaspollen,dust,anddanger.  Furthermore,co-sleepingwithapetcouldleadtomoredisturbedsleepiftheanimalmovesaroundalot.Youmayalsoaccidentallyirritateorhurtyourpupifyourolloverontopofthemwhileyouareasleep.Aresomebreedsmoreanxiousthanothers?Differentdogbreedsareknowntohavetheirownuniquepersonalities,andresearcherspointoutthatthesetraitscomefromtheirspecificDNApatterns[10].Thatraisesthequestion,then,astowhethercertainbreedsaremorelikelytoexperienceanxiety. Todeterminethis,aresearchteamaskeddogownerstofilloutasurveyabouttheirdog’spersonality.Basedontheresponses,theyfoundthatcertaindogbreedsarepronetoanxiousbehaviors. However,theylimitedtheirfindingsto14breedsand200responses.Intotal,theteamhadreceivedover13,000responsescovering264breeds. TheyfoundthatLagottoRomagnolos,WheatenTerriers,andmixedbreeddogsweremostsensitivetonoises.Secondly,Spanishwaterdogs,Shetlanddogs,andmixedbreedsarethemostfearfulbreeds.Lastly,miniatureschnauzersweremoreaggressiveanduneasyaroundstrangers. Furthermore,thesefindingsmaynotbeentirelygeneticbutratheracombinationofDNAandenvironmentalfactors.Forexample,mixedbreedsaremorelikelytoexperiencetimeinashelter,whichcouldincreasetheirriskofdevelopinganxiety.SourcesandReferences:[1]“SeparationAnxiety”,ASPCA[2]“BehaviorProblemsinOlderDogs”,ASPCA[3]“HowtoKnowifYourDogIsinPain:SignsofDiscomfort”,AmericanKennelClub,May23,2021[4]“InfectiousDiseases”,VCAHospitals[5]“ArthritisinDogs”,VCAHospitals[6]“BoneDiseasesofGrowingDogs”,VCAHospitals[7]“MyDogHasCancer:WhatDoINeedtoKnow?”,U.S.FoodandDrugAdministration,July29,2021[8]“TrainerTipstoHelpYourPuppySleepThroughtheNight”,PreventativeVet,September15,2021[9]SonjaPrparMihevc,GregorMajdič,“CanineCognitiveDysfunctionandAlzheimer’sDisease–TwoFacetsoftheSameDisease?”,NationalLibraryofMedicine,2019[10]“Isyourdoganxious?Genescommontoitsbreedcouldplayarole”,Science,March5,2020JillZwarensteynJillZwarensteynisacontentwriterforSleepAdvisorandisenthusiasticaboutprovidinghelpfulandengaginginformationonallthingssleepandwellness.BasedinLosAngeles,sheisanexperiencedwriterandjournalistwhoenjoysspendingherfreetimeatthebeach,hiking,reading,orexploringnewplacesaroundtown.She’salsoanavidtravelerwhohasapersonalgoalofbeingabletosuccessfullysleeponanairplanesomeday.FollowUsOnTransparencyDisclosure–Wemayreceiveareferralfee(atnoadditionalcosttothebuyer)forproductspurchasedthroughthelinksonoursiteorotherapplicablepages.Tolearnmore,pleasereadourfulldisclosurepagehere.Wealsoencourageyoutoreadabouthowwemayresearchand/ortestProductshere.Info&LegalAboutUsSleepExpertReviewTeamContactUsCultureTerms&ConditionsPrivacyPolicyDMCAPolicySleepCalculatorOurMissionThere’snoone-size-fits-allwhenitcomestobetterhealthandbetterrest,butnoonehastimetosleep,letalonefigureouthowtoupgradethesleepthey’regetting.Fromfiguringouthowtobuyamattressonline,suggestingonesthataregoodfordifferentneedsandbodytypes,orbreakingdownthenewestsciencebehindtechnologyandwellnessbreakthroughs,SleepAdvisorhasyoucovered.