Common Pet Sleep Disorders Of Dogs

Most of the time, pet owners see their pets running, playing and doing all sorts of things. As a result, pet owners are confident that their pets are healthy. However, there are instances when pet owners may notice something unusual in their pets when it is time for sleep. For one, they may notice that their pets, like dogs, are having a hard time falling asleep, which may also affect your sleep. Unfortunately, dogs may also experience pet sleep disorders. To deal with these issues, you need to know the most common sleep disorders dogs may experience. Listed below are the following.

Insomnia

Insomnia of dogs is just like insomnia of humans. Dogs have trouble sleeping from the start of the night or waking up during the night and not being able to fall back to sleep. For dogs, this condition is commonly associated to an injury, anxiety and illness or perhaps its age. This is experienced since dogs may feel discomfort such as joint or digestion problems. Bladder problems also wake older dogs.

Narcolepsy

Another common sleep disorder dogs may encounter is narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a rare condition, but it can affect your dog's sleep due to the disruption of the REM cycle that may cause sleepiness during the day. One of the most common symptoms of narcolepsy is sleep attacks also known as cataplexy. This symptom is a sudden muscle weakness or paralysis while remaining awake. These attacks may last for a few seconds or perhaps a couple of minutes and can be caused by strong emotions. This symptom is commonly experienced by dogs while eating or playing.

Sleep Apnea

Dogs also snore as they sleep. However, loud snoring may be a sign that your furry friend has sleep apnea. It is commonly experienced by English Bulldogs and obese dogs, which causes breathing problems while they are sleeping. Sleep apnea can be experienced multiple times during the night that can wake your dog. With this condition, dogs feel very tired during the day.

REM Behavior Disorder and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder

REM behavior disorder is a condition where dogs are active during their REM cycle. Thus, some dogs run into walls, attack objects, or bite even if they are gentle when awake. Other than that, you may also notice your dogs pawing at the air while they are asleep.