Have you noticed your senior dog not sleeping at night? Sometimes, it can be a sign of health problems. The good news is that there are some solutions you can try to help your senior dog get the sleep and rest they need.

Key Takeaways

• Senior dogs may wake up at night due to medical conditions, pain, or anxiety.
• Canine cognitive dysfunction can cause nighttime restlessness, confusion, house soiling, and other behavior changes.
• Environmental changes, reduced exercise, and increased stress can also cause nighttime restlessness in older dogs.

Why Older Dogs Don’t Sleep at Night

There are several possible reasons that keep your senior dog from sleeping well at night. Here are a few common reasons:

·         Pain. Different conditions can cause your senior dog pain, which can disrupt their sleep patterns.

·         Anxiety. Sometimes, dogs can’t sleep well at night because of fear or anxiety. They may hide, seek attention, tuck their tails, or drool.

·         Needing to go outside. Older dogs may need to go outside more often to relieve themselves.

·         Nightmares. If your senior dog has nightmares frequently, talk to your veterinarian to rule out seizures, since the signs can be similar.

·         Learned behaviors. Humans sometimes accidentally reinforce their dogs waking up at night. Giving them treats or attention at night teaches them that waking up has benefits.

·         Seizures. Neurological problems like seizures are common in senior dogs. Seizures are not suppressed as well during the night as they are in the day.

·         CCD or Canine cognitive dysfunction (canine dementia). Canine dementia can affect senior dogs' ability to sleep because it causes restlessness, confusion, and disorientation.

Sleep disruptions can often be due to medical issues. It’s best to discuss your senior dog’s sleeping issues with their veterinarian.

How to Treat Senior Dog Insomnia

Your veterinarian can be a huge help if your senior dog is not sleeping. They can get to the root of the issue. Firstly, senior dogs need at least an annual check-up, some need two a year. If they have any significant behavior changes between checkups, you should schedule a visit with the vet.

Establish a Nighttime Routine

Humans often find that having a nighttime routine helps them settle down before bed. They train themselves with set tasks they do every night. You can do the same thing for your dog. In fact, most dogs like routines, but some take to them better than others. Develop a nighttime routine that coordinates with your own schedule.

You make grooming part of your bedtime routine; it can also be part of theirs. Take some time to brush them, especially if they are long-haired or they find it relaxing. And use PawerLab’s Ear Canal Wipes to help calm them and get them read for bed. A routine can help your senior dog know what to expect each night, which keeps anxiety down and helps them prepare for bedtime.

Increase Exercise

Getting enough exercise can help your dog sleep better. Of course, with senior dogs, you’ll want to check with their vet before increasing their exercise. If physical exercise isn’t possible because of underlying
health issues, you can try mental enrichment activities with them. This can also help release stress and tire them out, so they sleep better.

Prescription Treatment Options

Your dog’s vet may have some good ideas for helping your senior dog sleep at night. They may be able to give them a prescription, depending on your senior dog’s diagnosis. If pain is a problem for your dog, the vet may recommend pain medication, for example.

About the Author: Hazel

Hazel is the head engineer at Pawer Lab. He develops and tests the latest pup-focused inventions for Pawer Lab. He is passionate about enjoying the small things in life. The border collie’s hobbies include riding in the car, stalking the mailman, and fetching tennis balls.