What’s more adorable than a dog sleeping on their cute little paws? How about a dog that decided to use your feet as their pillow? Or one that went to la-la land while curled up on your lap? Or another catching some z’s on top of another pooch?
The fact of the matter is, dogs love to sleep, and we love watching them sleep.
But what if your fur baby is sleeping too much? What even is “too much?” And what could be the reasons behind a dog’s snooze fest?
We’ll be answering these questions and more in today’s article, so please keep reading!
What Is the Normal Amount of Sleep for a Dog?
Because sleeping too much is abnormal, it’s usually a sign that not all is well with your dog.
So how many hours of sleep should your dog be getting every day?
In a 24-hour timeframe, your canine pal should sleep for around 12 to 14 hours. Yes, dogs sleep more than humans do; in fact, it’s normal and healthy for them to be asleep 50% of every day.
When awake, dogs spend around 7 of those 24 hours lying down, resting, and generally being lazy. Again, it’s ordinary for these animals to commit about 30% of their day to inactivity.
All in all, that’s 80% of the day spent doing nothing and next to nothing, leaving the dog only 5 hours of activity!
Take note, however, that a dog’s age and breed can influence how much they sleep. Which brings us to…
Top 3 Normal Reasons Dogs Sleep So Much
You have nothing to worry about if your dog is sleeping a lot due to the following reasons:
1. Age
In general, dogs sleep the most during puppyhood and old age.
Don’t be alarmed if a puppy sleeps as much as 18 hours a day; this is ordinary for very young dogs. When they’re awake, pups between 4 months and a year old are exceedingly playful and active. All that activity is tiring, and one of the best ways they can recover from exhaustion is by spending more time snoozing.
Senior dogs also sleep more, in many cases because they have less energy and thus grow tired more quickly than younger dogs.
2. Breed
A dog’s breed determines their size, activities, and how quickly they age – all factors that can influence how much the individual canine needs to sleep.
Large-breed dogs tend to sleep more, in part because they grow old faster. Small-breed dogs live longer and age at a slower rate, which explains why they require less sleep.
Working dogs also don’t need as much sleep as other breeds.
Examples of breeds that sleep a lot include Basset Hounds, Bullmastiffs, Chow Chows, Greyhounds, Saint Bernards, and Newfoundlands. No wonder such dogs are often stereotyped as lazy!
3. Activity level
Some dogs are more physically active than others. Sometimes, this is due to their breed; at other times, it’s simply the dog’s personality.
Dogs bred for work need a physically active lifestyle. This is because they have lots of energy that they need to expend; the failure to release this energy can make them unhappy, encouraging them to act out. It’s also because of this excess energy that these dogs don’t require as much sleep as breeds with less energy.
On the other hand, being highly active can exhaust dogs who don’t have that much energy, so they need to sleep more to recover.
Top 10 Abnormal Reasons Dogs Sleep So Much
Unfortunately, there are times when oversleeping is a sign of trouble. Take your dog to the animal hospital or clinic so a veterinarian can examine and treat them if you suspect they’re suffering from one or more of the following problems:
1. Anxiety, stress, and/or boredom
Psychological distress is extremely draining, so don’t be surprised if a dog who’s stressed, anxious, and/or bored tires quickly. And what’s one of the most effective ways to recover from exhaustion? That’s right – sleeping an inordinate amount of time.
The fact of the matter is that lethargy that leads to oversleeping is among the most common symptoms of mental health issues. The other symptoms include:
- Aggression
- Destructive behavior (e.g. chewing the furniture)
- Panting
- Pacing
- Drooling
- Defecating and/or urinating in the house
- Compulsive or repetitive behaviors
- Restlessness
If your pet is constantly experiencing stress, anxiety, and/or boredom, do your best to provide them with lots of physically and mentally rewarding experiences. So walk them often, play games with them, give them exciting toys to play with, and train them regularly – all of which can nourish their mind, boost their confidence, and entertain them.
You should also consider bringing your pooch to a vet, as they can prescribe anti-anxiety medication. A certified dog trainer or animal behaviorist can also determine the root cause of your pooch’s psychological concerns and devise ways to improve their mental health and undo their unwanted behaviors.
2. Narcolepsy
Like humans, dogs can suffer from sleep disorders, and one of them, in particular, can put a dog to sleep anywhere and anytime.
Narcolepsy is a chronic condition characterized by extreme drowsiness during the daytime, making it difficult for the dog to stay awake for extended durations – the circumstances notwithstanding. It can even cause a dog to suddenly fall asleep.
In many cases, canine narcolepsy is inherited genetically. However, it can also occur in a dog whose family has no history of the disorder.
While presently incurable, narcolepsy isn’t life-threatening. It doesn’t grow worse with age, either. Anti-cataplectic medications can help manage severe symptoms.
3. Bacterial infection
Some bacteria can cause highly contagious infections whose symptoms include lethargy a.k.a. lack of energy, which in turn can make a dog overly drowsy.
One example of such an infection is leptospirosis. A dog can contract leptospirosis if their wound or mucus membranes come into contact with urine, soil, food, water, or bedding contaminated with the Leptospira bacteria. Getting bitten by an infected animal or consuming the infected tissues of a dead creature can also result in infection.
In addition to fatigue, leptospirosis can give rise to the following issues in dogs:
- Severe weakness
- Depression
- Stillness
- Fever
- Refusal to eat
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Acute muscle pain
- Reproductive issues
This disease is most common in warm regions.
4. Viral infection
Many highly contagious viral infections lead to a wide range of symptoms, among them the severe weakness that can result in somnolence.
One example is parvovirus, an extremely dangerous infection whose culprit is the Parvoviridae virus. Usually affecting pups from six weeks to six months old, it hampers the body’s nutrient absorption ability. Lacking essential nutrients in their body, the young canine grows weaker. Without treatment, this disease can be fatal.
On top of lethargy, parvovirus can result in the manifestation of the following problems:
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal bloating and pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea (often severe and bloody)
- Dehydration (due to water loss)
- Fever or low body temperature
- Drastic weight loss
- Rapid heartbeat
- Inflamed, reddish tissue around the mouth and eyes
- Discomfort or pain
What’s the best way to combat parvovirus? Prevention through vaccination.
Another infectious condition is a respiratory disease called tracheobronchitis or Kennel cough, which can harm dogs of any age but is particularly dangerous where pups less than six months old are concerned. Its symptoms include fatigue as well as the following:
- Strong cough that sounds like honking
- Low fever
- Loss of appetite
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
Vaccination is also the best defense against Kennel cough.
5. Poisoning
If a dog ingests something their body isn’t equipped to handle, they can end up poisoned. For example, onions, garlic, chocolate, coffee, avocados, and alcohol can all poison dogs, sometimes fatally.
As with the other problems on this list, poisoning can result in somnolence. Depending on the specific poison, this problem can manifest as other symptoms, such as:
- Drooling
- Pale gums
- Nosebleeds
- Tremors, seizures, or convulsions
- Unsteady on feet
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abnormal heartbeat
- Difficulty urinating
- Kidney failure
While poisoning can harm canines of any age, they’re especially life-threatening where puppies and elderly dogs are concerned.
6. Anemia
In dogs as well as people, anemia is a condition that’s defined by an abnormal decrease in the body’s red blood cell count.
Multiple issues can lead to anemia. In dogs, however, bloodsucking parasites (such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, and tapeworms) are among the most common reasons behind the condition.
Other common causes of anemia include Cushing’s disease, chronic diseases or medications that interfere with red blood cell production, infectious diseases such as canine distemper, injuries that lead to severe blood loss, intestinal bleeding, and toxins or poisons.
Anemia can cause severe tiredness and thus overwhelming sleepiness. Of course, it can also give rise to other symptoms, such as:
- Weakness
- Paleness in the gums, ears, or eyes
- Rapid breathing or fast pulse
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Black feces
- Swollen face or jaw
The dog breeds most commonly affected by anemia include Cocker Spaniels, Collies, Doberman Pinschers, English Springers, Irish Setters, and Poodles.
7. Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition that results from a deficiency in a hormone known as thyroxine, which the dog’s thyroid gland normally secretes.
Thyroxine controls the amount of energy the dog’s body uses. A lack of thyroxine in a dog’s bloodstream therefore causes lethargy which, in turn, results in oversleeping.
The other symptoms of thyroxine deficiency include:
- Slow movements
- Depression
- Mental dullness
- Exercise intolerance
- Cold intolerance
- Weight gain despite no changes in appetite
- Obesity
- Hair loss, hair thinning, or increased shedding
- Skin thickening
- Reproductive disturbances
Senior dogs are more susceptible to thyroxine deficiency, though it can also occur in younger dogs.
Examples of the dog breeds most prone to hypothyroidism include Dachshunds, Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, and Labradors.
8. Obesity
Abnormal and unhealthy weight gain, or obesity, is among the reasons why a dog could be spending too much time slumbering.
In humans, obesity is associated with fatigue and excessive daytime sleepiness. There are many reasons for this. For one, obesity and stress are closely linked, and as we talked about earlier, stress can lead to lethargy.
Not to mention having excess weight makes moving around more tiring; even engaging in simple, routine activities can be that much harder for an obese dog. Thus, the poor thing sleeps more to recover from exhaustion.
Obesity also increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes, both of which can also lead to lethargy, as we’ll see further below.
9. Diabetes
When a dog’s body is unable to produce a healthy amount of insulin, it can end up at a greater risk of developing a serious chronic condition known as diabetes.
If a dog’s insulin levels are too high, their blood sugar level will plunge, causing hypoglycemia. One of hypoglycemia’s major symptoms is lethargy, which can encourage excess sleep. It can also result in the following symptoms:
- Weakness
- Disorientation
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
- Seizures/tremors
- Fainting
- Coma
On the other hand, if a dog’s insulin levels are too low, their blood sugar level grows abnormally high to cause hyperglycemia. This problem also counts sleep-inducing fatigue as one of its key symptoms. The other symptoms are as follows:
- Increased thirst and, consequently, increased urination
- Depression (may grow severe)
- Dehydration
- Excessive hunger
- Weight loss or weight gain that leads to obesity
- Bloodshot eyes
- Cataracts
- Tissue damage
- Nerve damage in limbs
- Liver damage
- Wounds that refuse to heal or heal slowly
- Worsening infections
If untreated, both types of diabetes can drastically reduce the quality of a dog’s life and even cut their life short.
At a greater risk of developing diabetes are dog breeds such as Beagles, Cairn Terriers, Dachshunds, Golden Retrievers, Keeshonds, Miniature Schnauzers, Poodles, and Samoyeds.
10. Heart disease
Heat disease is a condition that is either present at birth or acquired over time. It can be caused by a variety of issues, including aging, breed, obesity, and nutrition.
Like the other health concerns already discussed, heart disease can result in fatigue and make a dog slumber more than usual. Other symptoms include:
- Persistent cough
- Collapse or fainting
- Breathing difficulty
- Exercise intolerance
- Behavioral changes
In many cases, the symptoms of heart disease don’t manifest until later in a dog’s life. For this reason, it’s a good idea to have a vet examine your fur baby regularly so that they can spot and treat the concern before it grows worse.
Conclusion
Is your dog sleeping more than usual? Don’t panic, as this could be nothing out of the ordinary. After all, a dog’s age, breed, and activity level can each influence how much sleep a pooch gets, with puppies, elderly dogs, large-breed dogs, and some active dogs tending to sleep a lot.
On the other hand, if your dog’s excessive sleeping is accompanied by strange behaviors or experiences, then it could be a sign of a problem. For this reason, know how to tell when a dog is stressed, anxious, bored, or narcoleptic. In addition, familiarize yourself with the symptoms of medical concerns such as bacterial infections, viral infections, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, poisoning, anemia, and hypothyroidism.
If you suspect your dog is suffering from any of the above conditions, don’t hesitate to ask a veterinarian for help. They can treat or manage your dog’s ailment, which will allow them to not only sleep normally but also enjoy improved health.