Unusual pet sleep behaviors to watch out for
Many pets have cute and quirky bedtime habits, like circling their bed before lying down or yipping in their sleep, but some nocturnal behaviors are not as innocent as they seem. Check our list of unusual sleep behaviors to make sure your pet’s nighttime antics aren’t more than they seem:
• Night pacing: Are you kept up at night by the continuous clicking of your pet aimlessly pacing the house? In senior pets, this nightly restlessness may be caused by cognitive dysfunction, also known as dementia. The confusion it causes can disrupt a pet’s sleep-wake cycles and lead to night pacing. Other possible causes of pet insomnia also include hyperthyroidism in cats and anxiety.
• Can’t get comfortable: Some pets are prissy about their beds, fussily fluffing it into the perfect shape before lying down, but if your pet seems to be spending excessive time circling and pawing, repeatedly getting up to try again, something might be amiss. Painful conditions such as arthritis may be preventing your pet from finding a restful position.
• Sleep coughing: A cough that happens only at nighttime is just as concerning as a round-the-clock cough. Coughing caused by certain diseases, like heart disease, are exacerbated by lying down and are more easily noticed at bedtime.
• Violent sleep movements: Forget gentle twitching and yipping during sleep—the dreaming motions of pets with REM sleep behavior disorder are forceful enough to propel them across the floor and run them into walls! This disorder can closely resemble a seizure (and vice versa).
• Falling asleep suddenly: Narcolepsy is a genetic condition that causes pets to fall over asleep throughout the day, especially when they are excited. The pet may be eagerly running up for a treat in one moment and fully asleep on the floor the next. Other diseases that cause sudden collapse, like seizures or heart disease, look very similar and should always be checked for as well.
If you notice any of these signs in your pet, make an appointment to discuss them with your veterinarian. Capturing a video of your pet’s behavior will help your veterinarian reach a diagnosis.
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