Benefits of quality sleep for pets Part 2

Benefits of quality sleep for pets Part 2

Hello and welcome to Part 2

This day will talk about the scary part like the Risks, Patterns and Disorders.

So lets start...

Risks of poor sleep in pets

Poor sleep will mess up the mood of your pet and have some adverse effects on his health. You are the person to make sure your pet is getting enough sleep to avoid the following risks.

  • Your pet will be at significant risk of getting heart disease if it is not getting enough sleep.
  • Poor sleep may induce depression in pets, just like in humans.
  • Pets that suffer from inadequate sleep or are restless during the night tend to be more aggressive and show behavioral problems. 
  • Inadequate sleep will give the pet a weakened immune system, thus making it susceptible to severe illnesses from otherwise relatively normal diseases. 

Sleep patterns of pets

Sleeping is essential for all pets, and pets need more sleep than humans. That’s why the sleep cycle for pets is always more than 8 hours. Cats and dogs sleep more than humans. The average sleep cycle for adult dogs is between 10-14 hours a day. Cats sleep 12-16 hours a day. Old pets need more sleep than adult pets. As the pets get older, they become tired easily and need more sleep to regain energy. Puppies are usually hyperactive, so they waste a lot of energy during playing or exploring new things. They also need more sleep than adults, just like human babies. So, baby pets may sleep 15-20 hours a day. If your pet is sleeping only 8-9 hours at night, it will cover other hours by taking naps during the day. And it is the best idea to sync your sleeping schedule with your pet at night.

Sleep disorders in pets

There are many shreds of evidence that, just like humans, pets can also get sleep disorders. If your pet seems grumpy, confused, or disoriented, sleep deprivation can be the possible cause. Sleep disorders are more common in old-age pets as they don't get enough sleep like young and adult pets. Old pets also get more disturbed during sleep if they have arthritis.

  • Insomnia

It is not very common among pets, but it can be termed insomnia when your pet is not getting enough sleep. Your pet will sleep less than 8 hours in insomnia. There can be many causes of insomnia. Your pet might be suffering from discomfort or some kind of infection in the body. For this, you will have to diagnose if your pet has some health issue. It is best to take your pet to the vet to find the underlying cause of insomnia.

  • Sleep apnea

 The pet goes into a deeper and longer dreaming phase without breathing. This problem is seen in humans as well, but it is worse in pets. This disease is more common in obese dogs. It can be dangerous, and you should get it treated on time.

  • Narcolepsy

It is genetically rooted in pets. Your pet may collapse in a deep sleep even during the day while playing or eating. The treatment is required only if the episodes of narcolepsy are repeated.

  • REM behavior disorder

If your pet is having physical activity during sleep, it will be termed as REM behavior disorder. It may be due to the dream your pet is having in sleep. This disorder is more common in dogs as they are seen showing movements like waving paws in the air during sleep. It may be chasing a Frisbee or a squirrel in sleep. The problem is not worrisome if your dog wakes up fine after sleep without any disorientation. You should take your dog to the vet if the behavior is repeated too often. 

 

 

Now for some GOOD NEWS In Part 3 will talk about the improvements we can do. 

How to improve a pets’ sleep

Importance of Comfortable bedding for a pet

See you next week 🐱🐶😍

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