Sleep Medicine for Dogs?
Question:
I have a 4 yr. old lab that has been “whining” for the last couple of nights, (intermitently). She has eaten and behaved normally during the day. My wife ventured this morning “If their were sleeping pills for dogs…” I am leaning against this notion, but, perhaps, there is/are other recommendations that we could implement. Thank you very much. Frank B.
Answer
Hi Frank,
There are sedatives that would make your lab sleep, but I really doubt a veterinarian would prescribe them. Most dogs will whine a few nights, then give up. Is this a new behaviour? Do you think she may need to relieve herself? Have you recently changed her sleep habits, for instance… let her sleep with you or in your room ? Labs are very smart dogs, so if you give in even once , and let her out, then you will have to listen to it for awhile. I hope it gets better soon for you…. but I really think giving her a sedative is not a good idea. Have you tried those little things you put in your ears to block sound? When my kids were little, I used them and they work great!
Good luck.
P.S. If you feel your dog’s life is in danger, please call a Veterinarian immediately.
Sleeping Dogs (see also Sleeping Animals)
There’s no doubt about it: dogs sure know how to sleep.
- The amount of time spent napping varies from dog to dog and depends on the dog’s age and personality. Counting little naps and longer snoozes, most dogs sleep about fourteen hours a day
- Nobody is sure why dogs sleep so much. The amount of sleep that an animal needs depends upon its species. Horses and cows may sleep only three or four hours daily, because they require long hours of grazing to supply their bodies with sufficient food. Bats and opossums may sleep closer to 20 hours
- The various breeds of dogs also seem to have different sleep requirements
- Some very large breeds of dogs, like Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards, and mastiffs often spend a great deal of their lives sleeping – perhaps up to sixteen or even eighteen hours a day.
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