Is your dog acting restless and pacing or panting? Watching your dog act uncomfortable can be alarming and upsetting. If your dog is acting unsettled and uncomfortable it can be due to a number of possible causes. The most likely causes for restless behavior in dogs: senility changes, abdominal discomfort, musculoskeletal pain, anxiety or difficulty breathing.
In this post I will explain distinguishing features for each of these causes. This will help you determine what may be the root cause of your dog’s behavior and how best to help your dog.
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Canine Cognitive Dysfunction can cause nighttime restlessness
Senility is caused by aging changes to the brain which affect cognitive abilities. These age related brain changes affect brain functioning and cause subsequent behavior changes. In dogs that are 11-12 years old as many at 28% of dogs develop cognitive dysfunction. This number rises to almost 68% of dogs that are between 15-16 years of age.
She is back to sleeping through the night, very energetic and playful during the day, knows which way the door opens and much more. Her cognitive function has improved drastically, she’s well-rested and always ready to play with her toys. We are still on our first bottle of Senilife, but this is definitely worth a shot if you’re dog is experiencing a cognitive decline.
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To diagnose cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), medical causes should be excluded first.
A variety of cues related to behavior are evaluated. Signs of disorientation in a familiar environment, changes in social interactions, sleep-wake cycles, house training and activity can all be clues to CDS.
Repetitive behavior and aimless wandering and restlessness are prominent changes in senior dogs with cognitive decline. People who suffer from Alzehimer’s disease often develop movement disorders with restlessness, gait impairment and tremors.
Older dogs with senility changes spend more time involved in aimless activity and have higher locomotor activity than younger dogs. The more severe the cognitive impairment, the more time is spent in these activities.
Twenty percent of the body’s total oxygen is consumed by the brain. As dogs age, protective mechanisms to reduce oxidative damage to the brain are less effective. Oxidative damage to the brain is associated with cognitive decline in dogs.
There are a couple of therapeutic prescription diets designed to help dogs with cognitive improvement. The first therapeutic diet , Hills B/D by Science Diet, has shown proven benefit in clinical studies. B/D is rich in antioxidants and contains flaxseed, carrots,spinach, tomato, alpha-lipoic acid, vitamins E, C and B12, beta carotene and several amino acids.
Dogs with cognitive dysfunction can improve with a diet supplemented with medium chain triglycerides
The second prescription therapeutic diet is called Neurocare Diet and is made by Purina. This diet is formulated with medium chain triglycerides. Long term supplementation with medium chain triglycerides has been shown to improve cognitive function in dogs. Diets supplemented with medium chain triglycerides (MCT) increase ketone levels in the blood. Ketones are the preferred energy source for brain function.
Dogs given a diet supplemented with 5.5% MCT for 8 months performed significantly better on cognitive tasks than the control group.
Purina’s Neurocare diet and Hill’s B/D’Diets both require a prescription from your veterinarian. This food marketed by Purina also supports cognitive function in older dogs and is supplemented with medium chain triglycerides (MCTs): Purina One Vibrant Maturity 7+ Senior Formula
Other ways to improve cognitive function in older dogs
Exercise and brain games
Focusing on providing more exercise during the day (to suit their physical capacity) and working with your dog 30 minutes a day to provide mental stimulation during the day can also be helpful to help maintain and improve cognition in senior dogs.
Having your dog “hunt” for food by placing the kibble into a food puzzle or snuffle mat helps brain engagement. Working with your dog to learn “tricks” and practice exercises such as settling on a mat can all be great brain games.
Using calming supplements for nighttime restlessness in your dog
The use of calming supplements at night can help encourage your dog to rest at bedtime. Supplements such as Solliquin or Anxitane and Composure all contain L-Theanine and are available on Amazon. L-Theanine is an amino acid that helps lower anxiety. Anixtane contains only L-theanine while Composure and Solliquin contain a few other natural compounds for anxiety relief.
Read this article for more tips on managing canine anxiety
Anxitane: L- theanine
Composure: L-theanine plus Colostrum Calming Biopeptide, Vitamin B1 and Shoden extract
Solliquin: L-theanine, Whey protein and extracts of Magnolia and Phellodendron
Another calming supplement good for use at bedtime is melatonin. Melatonin has been studied to be helpful in lowering doses of premedication drugs needed in dogs prior to surgery. It has also been found to be helpful to lower anxiety in fearful dogs. The usual dose given to dogs is 0.1mg/kg rounded up to the nearest tablet or half-tablet size. This should be given 30 minutes before bedtime.
Most melatonin tablets come as 1mg, 2.5mg, 3mg, and 5mg tablet sizes
Chart for the amount of melatonin to give a dog based on weight
| Weight in pounds | Amount of melatonin in mg |
| 5-20 pounds | 1 mg |
| 30 pounds | 1.5 mg |
| 40 pounds | 2 mg |
| 50-70 pounds | 3 mg |
| 80 pounds | 4 mg |
Some behaviorists use a benzodiazepine like lorazepam or a serotonin modulator like trazodone to help older, senile dogs settle and have a more restful night. If your senior dog also has arthritis pain or discomfort using gabapentin at night can help ease discomfort and also provide mild sedation to encourage relaxation.
A few other simple adjustments that can be helpful are providing a night light to help your senior dog see where they need to go at night, a heating pad to rest on if it’s cold in the winter time and a small easily digestible snack at bedtime.
Canine restlessness due to abdominal pain or discomfort
Restlessness in your dog may be due to pain or discomfort. A common source of discomfort is abdominal pain. One of the most serious abdominal emergencies we see in veterinary medicine is a condition called bloat.
Bloat and GDV in dogs causing abdominal pain and discomfort
Bloat happens when the stomach dilates with gas, fluid and food. The stomach can dilate like a balloon and this pressure can be very uncomfortable. This pressure within the stomach makes laying down difficult. A life threatening complication of bloat is when the stomach then twists on its axis . This twist cuts off circulation as the caudal vena cava and portal veins are compressed. This causes shock, low blood pressure and severe lack of oxygen to the body. This condition is called gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV).
Symptoms of GDV include a sudden history of restlessness, abdominal distension, retching, hypersalivation, collapse and trouble breathing. The abdomen has a tympanic quality from the gas distension of the stomach. Dogs that have delayed treatment or recognition of these symptoms will progress to have a fast heart rate and poor pulse quality. They will start to breathe quickly and develop pale mucous membrane color.
Dogs at risk for GDV
GDV happens most commonly in deep chested breeds of dogs that weigh greater than 60 lbs. The breeds at greatest risk for GDV are Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Weimaraners, golden retrievers, German shepherd dogs, wolf hounds and bloodhounds. The breed with the highest incidence of GDV is the Great Dane.
Dogs with a fearful personality are unfortunately at 2.5 times greater risk for developing GDV. Rapid eating, eating only one large meal per day and restricting water before and after meals can all increase risk of GDV. In Giant breeds only, eating from a raised feeding bowl also increases risk of GDV.
Other causes of belly pain in dogs
More common causes of abdominal pain are maldigestion, gas, acid reflux or inflammation of the pancreas. Concomitant symptoms of loose stools, decreased or no appetite, vomiting or lethargy would also likely be present.
Down dog position in your dog indicates extreme abdominal pain
A posture that indicates extreme abdominal pain is the down dog position. This is when your dog stretches out his/her front legs on the floor and pops his hips up. It is also called the prayer position. The most common disease that is synonymous with this posture is pancreatitis. The pancreas is an organ that secretes digestive enzymes.
The pancreas can sometimes become inflamed and cause a lot of abdominal discomfort. So, if you see your dog alternating between pacing and practicing this posture, you should definitely bring him/or to the veterinarian for evaluation and treatment
The best way to diagnose pancreatitis is with an ultrasound of the abdomen to visualize that organ and determine if it looks inflamed.
Treatment for pancreatitis is based on supportive care to reduce pain, providing plenty of fluids and feeding a low fat diet. Diets high in fat trigger the pancreas to release digestive enzymes and this can worsen inflammation.
Dogs at risk for pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis can cause chronic pain in dogs and has increased prevalence in the English Cocker Spaniel. Dogs over 7 years of age are at increased risk of acute pancreatitis. Terrier and non sporting breeds appear to be at higher risk for developing acute pancreatitis than other breeds. Many dogs also have concurrent diseases such as diabetes, Cushings, chronic kidney disease, cancer, heart failure and autoimmune diseases. Some dogs develop acute pancreatitis following recent medication use or abdominal surgery.
Dogs at increased risk for pancreatitis are: Dachshunds, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels, Fox Terriers and sled dogs.
Canine restlessness to due reflux or ulcers
Trouble getting settled as night may be due to nighttime esophageal reflux. Symptoms can be panting, pacing, hypersalivation and regurgitation.
If your dog has acid reflux, an antacid like Prilosec (omeprazole) can be given at 1 mg/kg once to twice a day. A prescription drug called metoclopramide given 30 minutes before meals and at bedtime can also help protect against reflux. Finally, a small meal at bedtime can help reduce extra acidity at night.
Gastric ulceration and bleeding in dogs can happen with recent use of NSAIDS ( non steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, certain gastrointestinal and pancreatic cancers, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Orthopedic or joint pain causing restlessness and discomfort in your dog
Another possible cause of restlessness and difficulty getting settled and in a comfortable resting position is musculoskeletal pain. This can be due to arthritic changes causing pain particularly when lying down or getting up. It may hurt to lay on harder surfaces. Providing your dog a comfortable resting spot is of course helpful. The problem is some larger breed dogs get hot easily and prefer to avoid their squishy beds. You may want to buy a hammock bed for your large breed dog. These are slightly off the ground and allow for more air circulation and a cooler resting spot. No slip treads on the floor like foam puzzle mats or yoga mates can help a dog feel more confident navigating around the house if they have pain and weakness and provide some cushion for the dog that avoids a bed.
Some dogs can develop acute back pain.Certain dog breeds such as French Bulldogs, Dachshunds, Pekingese can develop degeneration of their intervertebral discs and predispose them to acute back pain. Other dogs in this category (chondrodystrophic breeds) are Beagles, Basset Hounds, Cocker spaniels and Pembroke Welsh Corgis.
In non-chondrodystrophic dogs, some dogs can develop fibrous changes within their discs causing back pain. This typically occurs later in life at age 7 or older.
Signs of and treatment for dog back pain
Dogs with neck or back pain will yelp randomly when moving into certain positions that trigger their neck or back pain. If they have neck pain you may find that they guard their neck and won’t raise their neck above a certain level. Dogs with neck or back pain often will stop jumping up and down off furniture. They may be more quiet and not move around as much.
Treatment for neck or back pain often relies on giving anti-inflammatory pain relievers like a non steroidal anti-inflammatory medication or combining steroids with a pain reliever that is good at targeting nervous system pain like gabapentin. Occasionally muscle relaxants are prescribed to stop spasming muscles that can occur in the muscles supporting the neck or back.
Difficulty breathing in dogs causing trouble getting comfortable
Finally, another cause of discomfort and trouble getting comfortable in a laying down position is any disease in the chest that is causing difficulty breathing well at night.
Some dogs with heart disease may find that they struggle more to breathe well at night in a restful position. Dogs that have an enlarged heart from heart disease can compress their intrathoracic trachea and trigger coughing in certain resting positions. These dogs may have to raise their head to breathe more easily.
If your dog has excess fluid in their lungs or around their lungs, certain resting positions will further collapse their lungs and cause discomfort when trying to rest.
If you suspect breathing problems in your dog
f you suspect your dog may be having trouble breathing you should start by counting a resting respiratory rate. A normal respiratory rate is under 40 breaths per minute. If you see aresting breathing rate rise above this value, it suggests they are working harder to breathe.
A trip to the vet is always recommended for any breathing concerns. Your veterinarian will listen carefully to your dog’s heart and lungs to determine if there is a murmur present or any sounds of congestion in the lungs. A chest x-ray can be very helpful to measure the heart size and evaluate the health of the lungs and look for any disease in the lungs or fluid in the chest cavity.
Anxiety in your dog causing difficulty settling down
Anxiety is often at the root of difficulty settling down. Anxious dogs (just like painful dogs) may pant a lot. Even if the behavior is out of character, it’s possible your dog has developed a phobia and is anticipating danger. In these cases, changing the context around nighttime might be helpful to break up the routine. Perhaps you can try sleeping in a different room in the house. Anti-anxiety medications can also be useful to “melt” away the anxiety and help your dog to settle down.
Tricyclic antidepressants are often selected or a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) like Reconcile. Benzodiazepines like lorazepam can be given with these drugs at nighttime. If you suspect your dog is more sensitive to sounds or reacting to nighttime sounds, a white noise machine can make a difference.
A dog appeasing pheromone collar like Adaptil can diffuse calming pheromones to help your dog relax . If you prefer not to use a collar, a plug in diffuser is available too. A good place to start is by using Adaptil and providing a calming supplement with L-theanine (like Anxitane, Composure or Solliquin).
If your dog is still unsettled and anxious after implementing a few of these suggestions, your best bet is to work on a plan with your veterinarian or a boarded veterinary behaviorist.
This article has lots of great information about how to diagnose and treat anxiety in your dog.
Conclusion: what is causing your dog to be restless and unable to settle down?
The top 5 reasons for your dog’s restlessness and inability to get comfortable are : senility changes, abdominal discomfort, musculoskeletal pain, anxiety or difficulty breathing.
I hope this article has helped you understand how to better decipher what may be the root cause of your dog’s behavior so you can create a plan to help your dog relax again.