Why does my elderly dog sleep so much

Normal Signs of Aging vs Serious Symptoms in Elderly Dogs. 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.

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.

Why does my elderly dog sleep 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 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. She estimates that the lower end is probably around 14-15 hours per day. Pay Attention to Your Individual Dogs Sleep Patterns.

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. Bladder and bowel function can decline as your pet gets older and this can mean that they need to urinate or defecate more than before.

As with older people this can disrupt their sleep patterns and can ultimately lead to restlessness during the night. In addition to this pain and mobility issues can add to the problem and hinder or prevent. 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. 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. 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.

Many people with dementia develop an abnormal sleep pattern. They may not sleep at night and feel sleepy during the day. This usually happens because the way brain controls sleep changes in dementia.

Therefore if you have an elderly sleeping too much at night and taking frequent daytime naps this could be an early warning sign of dementia. 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. Generally dogs would sleep the most when they are puppies and when they are old. Puppies around 4 months up to a year old are only playful and very active when awake.

The puppies activities make them become easily exhausted and this may be the reason. Sleep disturbances and pacing at night are also common symptoms of canine dementia. Another brain ailment Brain tumors and other illnesses can cause changes in the brain that affect your senior dogs behavior.

Pain Osteoarthritis and other joint problems common in older dogs can cause discomfort and pain. 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.

Your senior dogs vocalizing can become a problem if he does it too often or at inappropriate times like when youre sleeping. Anxious vocalizing is usually a plaintive howl or excessive whining. If your dog does it only when youre gone it could indicate separation anxiety.

Another cause of excessive sleepiness in an elderly dog is heart disease. If his heart isnt pumping blood around his body efficiently hell tire very quickly and youll notice hes not as active as usual. Again have your vet examine him.

Why does my dog pant so much conclusion. You know your dog best so you will know what is normal and what is cause for concern. When dealing with senior dogs particularly those with other health concerns it is never a good idea to adopt a wait and see attitude.