What To Know About Dogs and Sleeping Disorders

Insomnia In Dogs

Dogs can suffer from insomnia, just like humans, and they can also often be impacted by other sleep disorders with symptoms and signs that may seem normal to you at times. For example, when dogs struggle with what’s known as REM Behavior Disorder, they will routinely continue physical activity during sleep.

We often associate this squirming or grumbling or even miming a run while laying down as them being very involved in a dream, maybe just chasing rabbits and squirrels, you’d think.

However, there are instances when dogs can experience this more often than not and the

Sleep Apnea In Dogs

And if your dogs snores exceptionally loud, they may be struggling with sleep apnea. Whereas the other conditions can be the result of physical injuries or mental health problems, sleep apnea is a major problem related to a dog’s breathing while asleep.

Overweight dogs or dogs with flat faces are most often impacted by this, usually wrestling with enough interrupted sleep that they’re unable to maintain or even reach restorative phases of sleep.

This can impact everything from energy levels the next day to brain development in the long term, so it’s certainly a potentially severe enough problem that any dog struggling with this should be taken to the vet for medical help.

"While,

Narcolepsy In Dogs

Even narcolepsy - another sleep disorder many people can be adversely affected by - can impact canines.

And again, the symptoms may seem like just typical dog behavior from time to time, coming home after playing outside at the park or going on a run — any kind of excessive physical activity you might use to tire your pup out for the day — and suddenly they collapse in exhaustion and immediately fall asleep. Mission accomplished, right?

This is something we often want from our dogs, but as Dr. Pendergrass explains, it can actually be the result of a genetic condition which is triggered by excessive activity and excitement like eating, playing, greeting family members, and so on. 

"The muscles will become slack and the dog will appear to be in a deep sleep with rapid eye movement (REM sleep).

External stimulation, like loud noise or petting, will abruptly wake up the dog.” But thankfully, Pendergrass also points out that narcolepsy isn’t exceptionally harmful to dogs with this condition. 

To the contrary, though, something like insomnia can be extremely harmful to any dog. It is considered to be rare in dogs but the condition can be a sign of underlying health conditions

Others Causes for Lack of Sleep

Sometimes they suffer from extreme stress, anxiety, existing physical injuries, digestion problems, pain from arthritis inflammation, and even depression that can keep them from getting quality sleep at night, just like humans.

And dogs who have a hard time sleeping at night in their later years can also be found pacing around the house rather than resting, which is sometimes a sign that he or she is developing dementia.

While dementia is not a sleep disorder itself, it can negatively affect sleep and over time have a negative domino effect on overall physical health. 

Sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, and REM Behavior Disorder and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder are considered the most common sleep disorders that dogs can be impacted by.

Some of these conditions are a result of lifestyle, which of course you as the owner can do your best to steer clear of. Some of these disorders and illnesses can be dictated

Breeds with Increased Risk of Sleep Disorders

English Bulldogs, Dachshunds, Poodles, Doberman Pinschers, Beagles, Labrador Retrievers are all known to have an increased risk of sleep disorders for varying reasons