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Mar
Dogs spend a good part of their life sleeping because thats how theyre genetically designed. These changes are natural in older dogs.
Thyroid hormones help maintain a healthy metabolism.
Why do old dogs sleep a lot. Your dogs sleeping habits may begin to change as he or she ages Sleeping more is usually very normal for senior dogs although there can sometimes be reason to worry Pay attention to your dogs. Signs of sleep problems for your senior dog Confusion If your dog is sleeping during the day and behaving confused at night that could be a sign of dementia. Sleeping through serious noise Pet hearing loss could be one of the reasons your dog is sleeping more.
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 up to 18-20 hours a day says Dr.
She estimates that the lower end is probably around 14-15 hours per day. Senior dogs need about as much sleep as puppies from 15 to 18 hours a day. Stress is harder on adult dogs especially as their senses deteriorate and they lose confidence.
Older dogs may begin to go blind or deaf which makes it hard for them to navigate the world and they may be much more anxious in new places. 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.
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. Older dogs may start to rest more because their bodies are not as strong as they once were just like people.
Experts estimate that adult dogs. Theres a reason why older dogs like warm cozy beds its not as easy to regulate body temperature. A dog who could handle hanging outside all day on a chilly day will likely need a sweater when out and a bit more time inside with a bed close to the heater.
Helping your dog keep his body temperature up will help minimize joint and muscle stiffness and even help him stave off illnesses since his body wont be focused entirely on staying warm. Sometimes their hearts weaken so much that blood backs up in the liver and lungs. If untreated dogs will cough up a foamy red substance in an effort to clean out their lungs since the heart is too weak to circulate blood on its own.
Lethargy can be a symptom of very serious diseases including Cushings disease kidney disease Addisons disease hypothyroidism or cancer but it is nonetheless very easy to confuse with decreased energy normal for aging dogs. Audrey_sel via Flickr 11 Chow Chow. Possibly the most cat like of the dog breeds the Chow Chow is known for sleeping a lot.
But if you want a snuggler dont look here for the most part this breed likes to sleep alone. Interrupted sleep in older pets can occur for many reasons including medical behavioural and cognitive problems. Medical problems that may cause our dogs to wake in the night are disease processes that cause pain or discomfort or increase the need for your dog to urinate or defecate.
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.
If dogs have a job to do like herding cattle search and rescue or acting as a service dog they sleep less. If youre away from the home for long hours your family dog may sleep more simply because he is bored. Dogs spend a good part of their life sleeping because thats how theyre genetically designed.
In fact the time to worry is when your dog isnt sleeping as much as he used to. Changes in sleeping patterns can indicate a problemwhether that means a health issue or stress. Video of the Day.
Hypothyroidism is common in middle-aged and older dogs. It occurs when there is a decrease in thyroid hormone levels in your dogs blood. Thyroid hormones help maintain a healthy metabolism.
Therefore hypothyroid dogs tend to sleep more act sluggish when awake and are prone to. 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. A dog sleeping more than normal who also shows a decline in appearance and appetite may for example be suffering from age-related illness such as kidney failure.
A dog who sleeps more than normal and also displays mobility issues may be suffering from arthritis.