Dogs sleep almost 12 to 14 hours per day. You may think that dogs are lazy because they sleep a lot, but they do not sleep in big chunks. Instead of sleeping the whole night, they sleep in short segments; they take dog naps.
Dogs don’t sleep continuously, and their deep sleep lasts about 16 minutes. Here are some of the reasons why dogs sleep a lot.
Your Dog’s Breed Activity
Dogs that are active stay awake because they have to face mental and physical tasks every day. Dogs who are not engaged in any physical activity may tend to sleep all day.
Medical Issue
Excessive sleep in your dog may be caused by a medical issue like Hypothyroidism and diabetes, so if you notice any dramatic change in your pet, consult your veterinarian.
Sleep Cycle Changes
The sleep cycle that your dog has is dependent on the age of the dog. Older dogs sleep more often compared to puppies. The older dogs sleep more because as they age, they find it challenging to live, their muscles ache, and their energy deteriorates.
Because of a higher energy level, your puppies spend more time playing and exploring new things while your older dogs want to chill.
The Food That You Feed Your Dog
Diet can be another possible reason why dogs sleep excessively. Sometimes, when you feed your dog complex carbohydrates, they feel an increase in blood sugar level and ultimately become lethargic. Try to feed your dog high-quality, healthy foods catered specifically for them.
Your Dog Might Be Stressed, Depressed or Anxious
Stress, depression, anxiety, and other mental trauma are other possible reasons why your dog may be sleeping as much he does. Psychological difficulties can make your dog lazy, sleepy and keeps him snoring all the time.
Speak with your pets’ veterinarian to develop a regiment for routine physical activities that may help your dog to stay as healthy as they can.
Find Out If Your Dog Has An Infection
Bacterial infections such as leptospirosis can also disturb your dog’s sleeping pattern. It is highly contagious and can be transmitted to your dog quickly, so be careful about it, and if you notice anything unusual, consult with your Vet.
Viral infections can make your dog sleep more like Parvovirus. In these conditions, your dog faces many respiratory issues. Your dog becomes weak and dehydrated, so it would help if you got your dog vaccinated against it.
Your Dog Might Be Anemic
Anemia is a medical condition that causes your dogs’ blood level to lower. This reduction in blood prevents your dog’s body from getting enough energy.
It could be caused by blood-sucking parasites in the dog’s body, like hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms, and whipworms.
Changes In The Dog Environment
A change in the environment may affect your dog. Dogs always react to their surroundings and people. For example, if they are shifted to any other place, they may become sad.
You will feel a definite change in their mood and behavior. If some new member comes to your home, that can make your dog get stressed. As a result, your dog sleeps more.
Any sudden life change can affect your dog’s habits. Most dogs react to sudden life changes with anxiety and stress and sleep a lot to bring their mood back to normal.
Ultimately, as dog owners, we may not know what’s wrong with our dogs or why they act the strange way they do. The good news is that you can notice the change, and you can act fast to mitigate any problems by speaking with your dog’s veterinarian, to help your dog in the best way possible – You don’t have to do it alone.