Why does my dog wake up at night?
What dog owner hasn't been woken up in the middle of the night by a dog who had an urge to go out to do his business? Apart from this scenario, when a dog wakes up during the night, it is either because the duration of his sleep is reduced (we speak of hyposomnia, or even insomnia) or because his nycthemeral cycle (day-night cycle) is disrupted.
In dogs, these sleep disorders can occur if:
Your dog is hyperactive
A hyperactive dog is a dog that suffers from a developmental disorder.In this case, the dog is also said to suffer from Hs/Ha syndrome (hypersensitivity/hyperactivity). He is a dog who has always slept little, is awakened at the slightest stimulation, who almost never "lays down" and who always seems "alert" . Dogs with this developmental disorder have generally been separated from their mother before the age of 2 months or have not received good mothering from her.
Your dog is not tired enough
A hyperactive dog should not be confused with a dog that is not sufficiently physically and mentally spent by its owners. A dog who is not sufficiently exercised and who spends his day sleeping can also wake up at night because he is simply not sleepy anymore! The solution for your dog to find quality sleep is then very simple: it will be enough to spend it more by offering him a long daily walk where he will have the opportunity to run, smell new smells and meet fellow creatures.
Your dog is anxious
An anxious dog is a dog that is often scared and constantly hypervigilant. His anxiety is then the cause of his frequent nocturnal awakenings, sometimes accompanied by panic attacks (trembling, vocalizing, gasping) and wandering in a low posture (tail between his legs).
Dogs that suffer from hyperattachment may also experience difficulty sleeping when separated from their attachment self. Generally, when he finds himself in his company, the difficulties falling asleep disappear as if by magic!
Your dog is depressed
Sleep disorders are also one of the symptoms of depression in dogs. They are then accompanied by great sadness, apathy (the dog no longer wants anything), appetite disorders and a general slowdown.
In older dogs, cognitive dysfunction syndrome can also lead to insomnia and aimless nocturnal wanderings around the house.
Your dog has hypothyroidism
Dogs that suffer from this endocrine disorder that is hypothyroidism can also wake up in the middle of the night with manifestations of anxiety. This pathology is generally accompanied by other symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain despite a sometimes reduced appetite, digestive disorders or even a sparse coat.
What to do?
To prevent your dog from waking up during the night, the solutions are related to the cause(s) of his nocturnal awakenings.
If you think your dog is hyperactive, anxious or depressed, consult a veterinarian and, ideally, a veterinary behaviorist. Using medication and/or behavioral therapy, it will help you increase the duration and quality of your dog's nighttime sleep as well as his overall well-being.
If your dog's anxiety is linked to difficulty staying alone, do not hesitate to consult our article specially devoted to this subject.
If you suspect hypothyroidism in your dog, consult your veterinarian as well. If it turns out that this is the case, he will then set up a treatment based on synthetic thyroid hormones.
In any case, to improve the quality of your dog's sleep, also consider:
- offer a comfortable bed for your pet and place it in a place with little traffic but not isolated from the rest of the family, sheltered from the cold and drafts,
- spend it enough during the day by offering a long quality walk, chewing activities and play sessions,
- give him food early enough in the evening to give him time to relieve himself before nightfall,
- offer him a hygienic outing before going to bed so he can relieve himself before starting his night.