24
Jan
As your dog becomes older from about age 7 onward its normal for her to sleep more. Some dogs start overreacting to things they once ignored like the garage door opening or the newspaper being delivered.
Older dogs sleep a lot more for a variety of reasons.
Do older dogs sleep a lot more. 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 sleep. 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 up to 18-20 hours a day says Dr. When they get older however that number can increase to 18 hours a day including the time they sleep overnight. When a dog sleeps notes Kennel Club Accredited dog trainer Joe Nutkins they help the body recover and heal.
Why Do Dogs Sleep More As They Get Older Introduction. Older dogs need just as much love as puppies and sometimes more. It is a fact that older dogs spend far.
The Root of the Behavior. Most dogs are considered senior by age seven although the larger dog breeds may be senior. He may no longer enjoy brisk jogs at your side or engage in rough-and-tumble play at the dog park.
It is also perfectly normal for an older dog to sleep more of the day away up to 16 or 18 hours even. However some of these hours will be passed in quiet rest and not true sleep. With age your dog might sleep more.
On average senior dogs sleep for about 16 to 18 hours a day. It is more resting than sleeping that naturally happens to all of us because of old age. The battery levels drop when a dog grows old and they just like to sit in a cosy place and relax.
Top 10 Reasons Why Your Dog Is Sleeping a Lot More Than Usual 1. Age of the Dog. Dogs may sleep for more than 12 hours a day usually 12- 14 hours daily sleep.
Large dog breeds Old. The breed of a dog determines its size activities and also how quickly it gets old. Obesity is one of the main health issues for older dogs and it can cause myriad other health problems from exacerbating joint pain and breathlessness to causing heart or liver issues.
The reason older dogs tend to become obese is not only because their energy level and activity decrease but also because their general caloric needs shift. Fifty percent of all dogs over ten years of age exhibit at least one symptom of cognitive dysfunction which means that the older your dog gets the more likely they will suffer from this condition. Look for behavioral changes increased hours of sleeping within a 24 hour period decreased sleep at night tremors pacing and poor potty training habits as these are all symptoms of cognitive dysfunction.
Its normal for an older dog to sleep more and for her sleep patterns to change as she ages. You may notice that your dog is sleeping at different times of day and for longer periods. But if your dog has gone from sleeping for half the morning to sleeping the entire morning this may signal a health issue.
How Much Do Senior Dogs Sleep. Dogs do sleep more as they age. But dogs age at different rates.
For instance a giant breed dog like an Irish wolfhound is considered a senior at 6 or 7 years of age while a Chihuahua might not be regarded as a senior until closer to 9 or 10. Depending on the dog a senior might sleep between 14 and 20 hours a day. As your dog becomes older from about age 7 onward its normal for her to sleep more.
Older dogs sleep a lot more for a variety of reasons. They tire more easily from exertion they may have arthritis and not want to move as much or your dog may be sluggish from slower metabolism caused by something like hypothyroidism. For dogs this is around the 6-7 age range and will be when they start greying around the muzzle and sleeping a lot more.
In this article we will cover some of the reasons for this behavior and others that older dogs start to show as they age. Do older dogs sleep more. On average most dogs spend about 50 of their day sleeping about 12 hours in a 24-hour period.
Puppies large-breed dogs and older dogs may sleep more while small-breed dogs and working dogs may sleep less. When you think about this it makes sense. Most adult dogs sleep from about 8 to 135 hours per day 1 with 108 hours per day being average.
Compare that to humans who only need 7 to 9 hours per day. Dogs certainly sleep more than we do although there are animals who sleep even longer such as armadillos and koalas. Dogs who sleep more during the day can become more restless and active at night.
Some dogs start overreacting to things they once ignored like the garage door opening or the newspaper being delivered. Keeping a record can help you identify what triggers your dogs nighttime activity.