Why Is My Dog Always Awake At Night?

Anxiety, stress, and injuries are some of the things that might keep your dog always awake at night. You might be thinking about why your dog keeps waking up in the middle of the night and what it means or what you can do about it.

Suppose your pet is not comfortable in his sleeping area or it has underlying medical conditions or his age is a factor. It is unlikely that he will sleep at night.

Both dogs and people need a good night’s sleep, and when our pets get up in the middle of the night, the disruption can affect the entire family.

Suppose you notice your dog staying up all night. It can be chalked up to discomfort and restlessness that will cause it to lose its nighttime sleep. However, there are various factors to consider while determining the root reasons.

Factors To Consider If Your Dog Is Always Awake At Night

1. Anxiety Is Also A Reason Why Your Dog Is Always Awake

Your dog will be nervous; if it feels abandoned or is left alone at home. Similarly, loud noises, travelling, and being around strange people, children, or other pets can cause anxiety in your dog.

This will cause your pet to be restless and uncomfortable. It will most likely pace around, howl, bark and growl around the house.

It is also possible that it suffers from separation anxiety. No pet likes being left alone. They become anxious when you leave them alone. Separation anxiety is very likely if it becomes nervous when you bid it goodnight. See how to treat anxiety in dogs.

2. Introduction Of A New Pet Or Member To The Household

Your pet is likely threatened by a new pup or a new pet in the house. It will assume its place in the house is threatened and replaced by the new pet.

Similarly, introducing a new member to the family can cause a state of restlessness and anxiety in your dog. A newborn baby will likely signal that the pet will no longer receive the required amount of attention it is used to.

Furthermore, the presence of the new member is likely to make your pet readjust. This enables it to familiarise itself with a new addition to the household. This may be a stressful process for the dog, impacting its sleep.

3. Age

A young dog is more likely to struggle to sleep at night. It may be that it has excess energy it needs to expend or is yet to get used to its new environment. Rather than sleep, it may want to play.

With age, your pet’s body may not be able to keep up with its activity levels, which causes it to experience pain in its joints, which will keep it up at night. If your dog is older, it will likely display signs of discomfort during the day and night.

4. It Is In Pain Or Injured

When you notice that your dog is injured or in pain, laying down can be difficult, this may be due to arthritis, broken bones or other conditions. Furthermore, a stiff walk, whining, a change in breathing, panting, the repeated licking of a specific spot, or an unnatural posture are all signs of pain.

Restless sleep can ensue when your dog is in discomfort and no longer has the diversions of the day to divert its attention away from the problem.

5. It Has Underlying Medical Conditions

Health issues may lead your dog to wake up in the middle of the night, and they can cause your pet to suffer in pain.

Urinary tract infections, kidney disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbance and other underlying health issues in dogs can make your pet feel the urge to pee or poop at night. Conditions such as bloated stomach and skin conditions disrupt your pet’s sleep.

Your dog may find it difficult to sleep at night due to the impairment of its cognitive process. It is sometimes common in older dogs. This causes it to be confused and disoriented, disrupting its routine and sleeping pattern.

6. The Sleeping Environment Of Your Dog

If your dog is uncomfortable where it sleeps, it is likely to get up at night and pace, pant or give some sign to show its discomfort.

Your pet’s sleeping area may be too lit, loud and not spacious enough, making it uncomfortable and disrupting sleep.

7. Noise at Night Is One Reason Why Your Dog Is Always Awake

There are noises that you, as a human, are less likely to hear, but your dog will hear them, which is sure to disturb your pet and make it unable to sleep. Sounds from nocturnal animals, passing vehicles or movement in the house can keep your dog up at night.

Your dog cannot sleep at night due to these noises, which is why it is barking, whining, and pacing at night because it cannot catch these animals interrupting its sleep. Nocturnal critters include mice, bats, raccoons, crickets, squirrels, and opossums.

8. Dog Is Always Awake. Could It Be Stress?

Adjusting to a new environment will be challenging if your dog is suddenly introduced to new sights, noises, and smells. New pets will find it harder to adapt and be more stressed as they have yet to form a meaningful connection with you.

Introducing your dog to a new routine or changing its diet can sometimes be stressful for your dog. Your pet may become uncomfortable as it tries to get used to this new routine, building its stress levels.

9. Dog Always Awake. Could It Be a Lack Of Exercise?

When your dog does not exercise enough, it is likely to stay awake at night, looking for ways to expend the pent-up energy in its body.

Your pet will likely sleep more at night if it engages in many activities. It will require a lot of rest and sleep to recover sufficiently to engage in its daily routine.

What Can I Do If My Dog Is Always Awake At Night?

1. Increase Exercise

If your dog struggles with a change in routine or a general lack of exercise, burning off excess energy is a surefire way to help tire him out. High-energy breeds require rest, and incorporating a new sport, an additional walk per day, or fun dog walking games can help.

2. Provide Security

A stressed-out dog may require extra attention to sleep soundly. Giving him a tight-fitting garment, such as a Thundershirt or a dark crate with a comfy bed, can help. This is especially true during storms or fireworks displays when some dogs experience extreme anxiety. It never hurts to give more belly rubs and other attention.

3. Change His Bed To Keep Him Less Awake At Night

Not every bed will suit every dog. For example, memory foam or other joint-supporting beds are beneficial to arthritic dogs. It may be as simple as replacing your dog’s bed with a better one to help him sleep.

4. Use Calming Supplements

A calming supplement taken 30 minutes or more before bedtime may help a dog with general anxiety or occasional restlessness sleep better. Calming supplements, typically available in soft chew form, can double as a nighttime snack and contain active ingredients such as melatonin and L-tryptophan, which may help calm an anxious dog.

5. Darken The Environment

Even if the lights are turned on in the house, your dog may need to get up and move. Make sure his sleeping area is completely dark. If necessary, use a crate cover. These are especially useful during storms or fireworks displays, when flashes outside may cause anxiety.

Conclusion

Your dog could be awake at night because he may be pressed or hungry. So taking your dog outside just before it sleeps to pee or poop reduces the possibility of waking at night.

Furthermore, giving your dog enough food at the right time will help it sleep better.

A trip to the vet will help you identify and treat any medical conditions that cause your dog to stay awake at night. At the same time, creating a comfortable environment will also make it sleep better at night.