Why do dogs whimper in their sleep

Dogs having a seizure often are disoriented afterwards and may drool and pant. Seizing dogs may urinate or defecate on themselves, while dreaming dogs usually do not. Though we mention that dreaming dogs can easily be woken, it is best not to do so, and especially not to touch a dog when he is dreaming, as it may startle him, and he could possibly bite or scratch involuntarily. If you feel the need to wake a sleeping dog because you are concerned by his movements, it is better to call his name loudly or make a noise, such as dropping an object on the floor, and see if he responds.

If he wakens, he was probably dreaming, and then you can gently reassure him if he is startled. If your dog is having a seizure, stay calm and do not try to prevent him from swallowing his tongue, as this is a myth.

Instead, try to protect him from falling or hurting himself. When he is coming out of a seizure, even though you may have felt panicked, try to be calm and reassure your dog, as he has no idea what just happened. If possible, try to time the length of the seizure.

If your dog seizes more than minutes continuously, prevent him from overheating by gently cooling him with cool wet towels on the head, neck, and groin. Also, if your dog experiences a seizure and comes out of it, but has another seizure within 24 hours or multiple seizures , these are called cluster seizures.

All seizures should be reason to contact a veterinarian right away, but cluster seizures require emergency action. Last, if you are unsure whether your dog is having a dream or a seizure, you should videotape the event on your smartphone and email it to your veterinarian. Compare Breeds Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side. If you are suspecting that seizure episodes are the problem for your dog whimpering in sleep, talk to your veterinarian as soon as possible.

When older dogs with chronic joint pain or other dogs with any sort of painful condition lay down against a surface putting extra pressure on the point of pain they whimper in their sleep.

Older painful whimpers are seen a lot more because more than one joint is affected and the illness is vastly progressed. When you think there is a chance that pain is the reason for your dog whimpering in sleep take him to the vet for a thorough check-up. Rule out pain as a possible cause before you continue to investigate other reasons for whimpering in sleep. Dogs get bloated for many reasons — bad food, suboptimal feeding schedule, and foreign bodies can all contribute to excessive gas accumulation.

When the gas builds up to a point where the stomach and intestines cannot be distended any further the discomfort is unbearable. Non-too-serious cases of bloat can also make your dog whimper from abdominal discomfort while sleeping.

If your dog has a problem digesting the food you can turn to a bland diet like cooked rice and boiled chicken or ask your vet about other possible feeding options. All dogs need their regular daily exercise to get enough physical and mental engagement and stimulation. Boredom can be expressed when everyone goes to sleep and the dog starts whining and whimpering for no obvious reason.

Some dogs express these emotions with their eyes closed so it may seem like they are sleeping, but actually, they are widely awake. Once you start talking to your dog or let him out in the yard to run around the whimpering will stop so you will know what the problem was in the first place.

If you have a puppy, check my article to see how much exercise is safe for puppies. Many dogs are overly connected with their owners and start whining when they get separated from them due to separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is a common problem and instead of opting for medications right away, you should start training right away if you notice symptoms.

If your dog is whining more often only when she lays down, she may be dealing with joint pain or some other problem relating to her position. She may also have some trouble breathing while sleeping or any number of other problems contributing to the whining. Dogs who are advanced in age or who have chronic illnesses may be more likely to whine at night than others due to their health issues. Therefore, you should rule out this possibility completely with your vet before continuing to diagnose the source of the whining.

Feeding dogs low-quality food or ingredients that they are intolerant to or allergic to might cause this issue. Dogs who eat too quickly may also develop bloating and can become very sick with other ailments related to digestion as well.

Stick with food that has simple, real ingredients that she can easily process. Additionally, you might want to try feeding her a very bland diet for a few days including plain cooked white rice and plain boiled chicken.

If the whining eases during this time, then you can safely assume her diet is causing the issue. This may be a problem your veterinarian can help you with as well, so schedule an appointment if you think stomach pain and digestive trouble may be the problem. Dogs need a lot of stimulation, and they need a lot more exercise than many house dogs get, too. When your dog gets bored and everyone else in the house has gone to sleep at night, this could cause her to start whining at night for what may seem like no reason.

She is likely looking for attention or for someone to play with her, or she may want to be let out into the yard to run around—regardless of the time! Many dogs suffer from separation anxiety. Your veterinarian can give you some suggestions for behavior training and may offer medication to help with this as well.

For example, if your dog is afraid of storms, she is likely to whine during storms and may also hide or become aggressive during this time as well.