Overweight and sick dogs may also sleep more than healthy dogs. Your vet can look over the sleep log and do tests to help find underlying conditions that may be causing your dog to sleep more.
Puppies and older dogs will likely spend more of their time asleep.
Why is my older dog sleeping so much. Sleeping more is usually very normal for senior dogs although there can sometimes be reason to worry. Pay attention to your dogs behavior changes in. The older they get the more sleep they need and thats OK says Dr.
Just like senior citizens need more sleep an older dog sleeps a lot when compared to their younger counterparts. On the higher end of the scale a senior dog can sleep. Too much exercise not enough food climate and temperature can cause a dog to require more sleep.
Make Lifestyle Adjustments You can make life easier. The reasons why your dog is sleeping a lot may be due to the following. Age Dog Breed Stress and anxiety Activity Level Thyroxine deficiency Diabetes Bacteria infection Viral infection.
The reasons why your dog is sleeping a lot may be due to the following. Age Dog Breed Stress and anxiety Activity Level Thyroxine deficiency Diabetes Bacteria infection Viral infection. You may find yourself distancing from your older dog some days as his age is hard to bear and other times curling up with him in the sun feeling his breathing as he sleeps with your hand gently resting on his chest as it has so many times before.
It is truly bitter-sweet. Some of the big ones in older dogs are hypothyroidism an underactive thyroid heart disease and arthritis. If you notice that your dog is sleeping more than normal keep a sleep log and make an appointment with your vet.
Your vet can look over the sleep log and do tests to help find underlying conditions that may be causing your dog to sleep more. Normal Signs of Aging vs Serious Symptoms in Elderly Dogs. Common symptoms like lethargy persistent vomiting diarrhea cloudy pupils frequent urination weight change disorientation slow-healing rate and bad breath are often-ignored clues of serious disease.
Read on to learn about the symptoms of the most concerning diseases that can. A dog thats sleeping a lot more and not eating simply could just be going through changes related to aging. Metabolism slows down as a dog gets older and this could lead your dog to sleep more often instead of being active and playing.
Aging brings physical changes that affect appetite and your dog will be eating less as he gets older. A senior dog may develop arthritis or lose muscle mass if they swap enough activity for sleep which can result in stiffness limping or even lameness Ahn states. Youve got many natural and medicinal options for helping your dog regain muscle and keep joints strong so its not the end of the world if your senior dog is sleeping too much.
When in doubt ask a vet. My huskyshepard is 15 cant walk upstairs anymore poops while shes walking and sleeping eats less than normal dog food but begs sooo bad she never did that ever pees in the house whines and pants starting the circling and pacing at night but still has spunk and tries to play with my 2 other dogs 13 yo staffie and 10 yo shepard. Older dogs are tired out faster from day-to-day living simply due to the natural aging process.
While the specifics have yet to be studied large-breed dogs may also sleep more compared to smaller-breed dogs and working-breed dogs which tend to be more alert and energetic says Barrack. Dont miss our vet-approved pet care tips. Older dogs because of their age are not as energetic as they were when they were only puppies.
They are not as agile anymore and they cannot run as fast as before or walk long distances as they used to do when they were younger. These changes are natural in older dogs. One of the many changes you will notice is that they will begin to pant more.
If your dog has kidney failure it can cause lethargy and over-sleeping. You might also notice increased drinking and urination appetite loss weight loss vomiting or blood in the urine. Some dogs with kidney problems also have a chemical smell to their breath and may stumble when walking.
Since they dont have smartphones jobs or homework sleeping is generally the best way to spend long tedious hours. How much your dog sleeps will depend on a variety of factors. Puppies and older dogs will likely spend more of their time asleep.
Overweight and sick dogs may also sleep more than healthy dogs. Sleeping an hour or so more than a younger dog is common for older dogs and not necessarily a sign of health problems. As with humans the older a dog is the lighter their sleep and the more time they need to spend resting to feel rejuvenated.