My senior dog sleeps well, like a baby in fact, however this is not the case of many senior dogs. Dementia and pain are leading causes of anxiety and discomfort for senior dogs which can lead to senior dogs being restless at night.
As we know too well, senior dogs often show signs of dementia and experience pain and inflammation in their elder years. If your senior dog is restless at night, no matter what the reason, try these top tips to increase your senior dogs comfort and to reduce your senior dogs restlessness at night.
Ensure your senior dog has a nice comfortable place to relax. As dogs age, like people, they lose collagen in their joints and as they age joints become inflamed causing dogs to be increasingly stiff and sore.
A comfortable therapeutic bed does wonders for your elder dog. A comfortable bed may also stop your senior dog from being restless at night since being uncomfortable can cause them to dig and paw in their bed and move around to reduce restlessness.
Ensure your senior dog goes to the bathroom before bed. A bathroom break before bed will allow your senior dog, yes the same one that seems to be less and less able to hold its bladder, to be more comfortable. With comfort your dog will be more likely to stay in a deeper sleep and possibly avoid restless periods.
Go for a walk before bed. Not only does physical fatigue reduce dog restlessness at night but it also reduces stiffness and increases mobility. According to Dr. Susan Nelson, K-State veterinarian and assistant professor of clinical sciences, dogs, like people, reap many benefits from exercise. She said there are physical and mental health advantages for the dog owner and the dog when they exercise together.
Nelson said. “Dogs also need an outlet to relieve their energy or else they may develop destructive behavior. Your dog is going to be happier and more content if it receives adequate exercise.”
Provide your Senior dog with anti-inflammatory support. If your senior dog is restless in the night due to pain and discomfort, like sometimes with our 16 year old mixed breed Zooey, our pup that has had a new lease on life with Relieve Plus, we regularly use an antiinflammatory support supplement as we discuss in our article Tips For Managing Pet Arthritis Recommended by Vets. The added support of Relieve Plus allows her to stay comfortable and calm throughout the night and sleep deeply.
Senior dogs may feel better and sleep deeper with some support like Relieve Plus Pain and Wellness Spray, a CBD Hemp Spray with CBD, Boswellia, Yucca and MSM, all serious pain and inflammation fighters for pets as we discuss Turmeric is another alternative for reducing pain and inflammation in senior dogs as we describe in our article on 6 benefits of Turmeric for dogs.
Provide your Senior dog with Calming Support. A natural calming support supplement may do wonders to set your senior dog at ease and reduce senior dog restlessness at night.
There are also prescription calming support options available, for instance, many vets will prescribe prescription drugs for anxiety like Trazadone.
The Pawlicy Advisor reports that side effects from Trazadone may include:
- Anxiety
- Increased aggression
- Lethargy or drowsiness
- Panting
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting or gagging
- Changes in appetite
- Dilated pupils
- Colitis (painful inflammation of the inner lining of the colon)
- Priapism (prolonged, painful erection of the penis)
- Ataxia (loss of muscle control)
- Arrhythmia
These side effects are enough that we prefer a natural alternative to prescription anti-anxiety medications for dogs is Calm CBD Hemp Spray. There are no known side effects with CBD and our Hemp spray also includes calming terpenes that are chicken flavored and water soluble for fast absorption and effects. The nano particle side allows your dog to have faster absorption and for the CBD to go directly into your dog’s system.
Try Calm CBD Spray for Dogs to help your senior dog with restlessness at night.
Any more ideas about what to do to help your senior dog with restlessness at night? Leave them in the comments below.
