Why Does My Dog Jump Up Suddenly When Lying Down?

Is your dog having a hard time sleeping? Do they twitch or suddenly jump up, or do they seem like they just can’t get comfortable? Find out if it’s a medical issue or if the ground is too hard!

Why Does My Dog Jump Up Suddenly When Lying Down?

From old age, to a serious medical issue or a sleep disorder, there are many reasons why dogs wake up suddenly from sleep. Dogs’ sleep patterns are surprisingly not far off from our own. Dogs have REM sleep like humans, and they also have very similar sleeping disorders like sleep apnea or insomnia. If you find that your dog is constantly jumping up from their sleep check in with your vet as soon as possible because something serious could be happening.

Reasons why your dog suddenly jumps while lying down?

1. Fear

 

2. Sleep Behavior Disorder

 

3. Being on Alert

 

4. Nightmares

 

5. Anal Glands

 

6. Osteoarthritis

 

7. High Blood Pressure

 

8. Kidney Stones

 

9. Fleas and Ticks

 

10. Urinary Tract Infections

 

11. Bloated Stomachs

 

Dog suddenly wakes up and runs

While there are many reasons as to why your dog wakes up at night, pay attention to the fine details of their disturbed sleep. When a dog jolts awake and takes off or yelps a little bit, they either got scared or its a good sign that their anal glands need to be expressed. Since the anal glands are in their behind, when they need to be expressed it causes a great deal of discomfort from the back, making the dog wake up and feel like they need to run. Anal gland issues are a simple fix. You can do them yourself, to save yourself a $50 vet bill, however you can take them to the vet for a quick fix.

 

 

My dog is sleeping and then suddenly waking up

If your dog is sleeping and then suddenly waking up, take your dog to the vet to rule out any medical conditions. If that is not the problem, first try establishing a good bedtime routine. An example of a good bedtime routine for your dog could look like

• 7:00 pm- dinner
• 8:00- last walk (go outside with your dog for at least 30 minutes. Take them on a walk around the block, or play with them a little bit in the yard)
• 8:30- give calming treat (this may include one of their favorite small treats, or a sleeping aid, doggy melatonin or valerian root)
• 9:00- show your dog to their bed, make sure their area is comfortable and they seem happy in their bed. Turn the lights off and make sure the room is dark. If your dog is having an extra hard time sleeping, sometimes kennel training may work best for the both of you. Keep their favorite dog bed and their favorite toy or stuffed animal inside the krate. Make sure they know that the kennel is where bedtime is and it may help them better understand they can’t get up and wander around at night.

 

Why does my dog move from spot to spot?

Since we have domesticated dogs, they are creatures of comfort. Usually when dogs can’t seem to get comfortable or are moving their sleeping spot over and over again, it means that they are just trying to find the most comfortable spot. Keep in mind that temperature can be a factor as well. If it’s hot outside, dogs enjoy having a fan or the AC on to keep them cool and they enjoy warmth during the colder months. Get your dog a nice dog bed for them to lay on, maybe even a soft blanket to put down or a cushion.

Dog jolting awake?

From being stubborn to life threatening issues, dogs sometimes jolt awake in their sleep.

 

Help! My Dog Suddenly Jumps Up from Sleep

1. Your Dog May Need His Anal Glands Expressed

 

2. It Could be a Nervous Reaction

• Many dogs have anxiety disorders that you may not know about. If your dog seems very skittish or scared around certain places or people, it may have an anxiety problem. This would affect their sleep as well. Loud noises can be very alarming especially to skittish dogs and being startled awake can be very scary for them.

 

3. Your Dog May Have Focal Seizures

• It can be hard to pinpoint focal seizures in dogs. Look for symptoms like, vision or hearing changes, dilated pupils, fur standing up, biting or nipping at the air, barking or growling at something that isn’t there. These seizures happen frequently at night when your dog may be trying to sleep and will be woken up by them. If you suspect your dog of having focal seizures, take your dog to the vet where they can be treated. With medication and a good diet, sometimes even surgery, the seizures can go away.

 

What Can I Do If My Dog Jumps Up from Sleep?

There are so many reasons as to why your dog isn’t getting good rest. It’s important to find the cause in case there is a serious underlying medical issue. Here are some things you can do to help with their sleep.

 

• Ensure Regular Checks with the Vet
  • To make sure your dog isn’t having any medical problems that correlate with their lack of sleep, make sure you have regular vet visits

 

• Increase the Physical Activity
  • It could be something as simply as an energy build up so make sure your dog has gotten enough exercise throughout the day

 

• Provide a Comfortable Sleeping Environment
  • Your dog simply may just be uncomfortable! We know what it’s like to try and sleep somewhere that doesn’t suit our needs and dogs do too. Try getting them a new dog bed or rearranging the location, make sure the room they sleep in is a neutral temperature at night

 

• Use Valerian Root
  • Valerian root is a great natural sleep aid for both dogs and humans. Don’t give to puppies and ask your vet before using

 

• Get your Dog’s Anal Glands Expressed
  • Anal glands could be causing the sleep problem

 

• Treat Arthritis
  • If you have an older dog, they may have developed arthritis which makes it very uncomfortable to sleep. There are a few over the counter medications you can try or talk to your doctor about getting prescribed something for more serious cases

 

How to Help Your Dog Sleep Well at Night

A dog with a sleep disorder can be tricky. There isn’t much you can do but to let them sort it out themselves. The best thing for you to do would be to make sure their sleeping area or situation is very comfortable. Have a nice dog bed, one that is memory foam (good for the joints and bones) and maybe have a blanket and a cushion for them to lay on. If they sleep apart from you, try having them sleep closer to you since your dog maybe can’t sleep away from you. Make sure they get enough exercise throughout the day and are properly fed and have had enough water.

 

If all else fails, try a sleeping aid like valerian root or dog melatonin.

What is lumbosacral syndrome?

Lumbosacral syndrome or cauda equina syndrome which is Latin for “horses tail” is a spinal disease that affects both animals and humans. It is essentially a condition caused by the narrowing of the spinal canal and results in the compression of the nerves that exit the spine. Dogs with the disease will be visibly in pain. When pressure is being applied to their lower backs, they will cry out in pain or whimper. It will be hard for them to lay down or stand back up and appear to be doing so either very slowly or sharply.

Reasons why your dog suddenly jumps while lying down

1. Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis
   1. Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis happens when there is a large amount of liquid in your dogs tummy. It can be very uncomfortable and life threatening if it goes untreated. Symptoms include diarrhea, blood in stool, vomiting, general discomfort, dehydration and fever.
2. Arthritis
   1. Arthritis tends to flare up in dogs at night after the muscles have worked all day. Use pain medications and get your dog a very comfortable bed like a memory foam mattress and heating pads to help their nights rest.
3. Anal Glands
   1. Anal glands that need to be expressed can be very uncomfortable, making it hard to sleep at night.
4. Fleas
   1. Being itchy is the worst! It can be very distracting when you’re covered in itchy bugs to try and get some sleep, for dogs it is the same.
5. Having nightmares
   1. Dogs can have nightmares too!
6. Sleep Behavior Disorder
   1. Dogs have similar sleep to humans. So a lot of the sleep disorders people have, dogs can suffer from too. These include things like, narcolepsy, insomnia, sleep apnea, and REM behavior disorder
7. Slipped Disc
   1. The way a slipped disc sits in the back of a dog makes sleeping or sitting very uncomfortable. It’s important to spot the symptoms early so your vet can put your dog on anti-inflammatory medications and so you can make sure your dog isn’t moving around too much. If it goes a while without being detected, more intense treatments like surgery may have to happen.
8. High blood pressure
   1. Studies show that high blood pressure can cause insomnia in both dogs and humans. Symptoms of high blood pressure in dogs can be seizures, disorientation, blindness, weakness, heart murmurs, and nosebleeds.
9. Kidney stones
   1. The pain of kidney stones can make it hard to sleep.
10. Urinary tract infection
11. Alertness
    1. There may be something new in your environment or going on outside causing your dog to be on high alert. Dogs, especially guard dogs, will choose to be on alert instead of sleep to protest you, your family, property or their pack.
12. Gas
    1. A gassy dog is too uncomfortable to sleep. Your vet may prescribe or recommend an antacid to reduce your dogs farts.

 

 

My Dog Jumps While Lying Down?

We’ve looked at all the possibilities as to why your dog isn’t getting proper sleep. Before you come to any conclusions on your own, it is best to take your dog to the vet first to make sure there aren’t any major medical issues. It could be something simple like needing their anal glands expressed, or something very serious like Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis or kidney stones. Or it could be nothing at all! And your dog is simply having a hard time sleeping. Dogs are so much like humans in the realm of sleep. Sometimes all they need is a good bedtime routine or a comfier place to lay. Whatever the issue, here’s to happy sleep!

 

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5508344/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3500118/