Help! My Dog Suddenly Jumps Up from Sleep

It is surely a concerning situation when your dog suddenly jumps up from sleep in the middle of the night. Why is your pooch acting in such a way? It might be a sign of some hidden affliction and mustn’t be taken lightly. This article will shed some light on the possibilities for such behavior.

Why Does My Dog Jump Up from Sleep?

Following are some most probable causes that can make your furry friend jumps from sleep.

Anal Glands Issues

Your canine might be jumping from his//her sleep due to some affliction with his/her anal glands. If you see your canine scooting his/her butt or licking its backside, this might be a clue for you. Sudden pain in his/her anal glands might be disturbing your pup’s sleep.

Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis

This is quite a subtle disease that might be perturbing your little pooch as it is more common in younger dogs. Pains in your dog’s gut during nights might cause him/her to jump out of sleep and wander in anguish. If left untreated, this disease can ultimately cause the death of your dog. Some of the symptoms to look for are as follows: –

• Lethargic Behavior
• Diarrhea with blood
• Sudden Abdominal Pains
• De-hydration
• Nausea and Vomiting.

Arthritis

Older dogs are usually suffering from Arthritis that might be causing such behavior. For example, if your pooch sits in a position for too long his/her muscles and joints become stiff and painful. This will send them in a berserk mood and they will be running here and there to make their muscles relaxed. Arthritis-ridden doggies are stressed for life and can sleep no longer than two hours.

Fleas

Are there any fleas moving on your dog’s body? If yes, then this might be causing a disturbance in his/her sleep. Whenever fleas bite on their bodies, they will immediately wake up and try to lick wherever they were bitten. Hence, this is a common cause for them waking up from their sleep in the middle of the night.

Old Age

Jumping out from sleep is quite common in older dogs. Why it is so? It is because with growing age they are losing their mental capabilities and their perceptions are not what they used to be. Their senses have also taken a hit.

Owing to frail senses, your pup may take some normal sounds for alarming ones and jump out of his/her sleep as if there was an intruder. This is quite sad as problems occurring due to aging can’t be stopped.

Sleep Disorder

Sleep disorder is common not only in humans but dogs also. It can’t be detected through general blood tests and X-rays and requires a study of your dog’s behavior. This is another problem that is common in older canines.

Dislocation in Spinal Cord Discs

Dislocation of spinal cord discs is quite painful for us humans and dogs alike. The pain becomes magnified once the dog sleeps in a certain position. The onset of pain and stiffness will send your dog in a frenzy and it will jump out of its sleep to find relief. Sudden slip of the Spinal disc can also cause inner bleeding which can become life-threatening.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones can cause a lot of discomfort for your furry friend. You might not notice it but your pooch might be crumbling with pain deep inside. The situation becomes more dangerous once those kidney stones break as they cause a lot of abdominal pain and painful urination. The onset of pain late at night is quite a common symptom that can wake your dog up from sleep. Kidney stones are only detectable through X-rays.

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

You should always try to resolve the issue plaguing a furry friend to keep him/her comfortable. Here are some of the tips which you can use to prevent your doggo from jumping out of sleep.

Ensure Regular Checks with the Vet

You must visit the vet regularly to have checkups of your pooch. This will allow the vet to ensure proper diagnosis as you will perform a thorough examination of your dog.  Hence, you will know the reasons that are causing your dog jumps up from his/her sleep.

Increase the Physical Activity

For a good night’s sleep, you can increase the physical activity of your dog. This makes him/her quite tired and will cause a deep sleep at night. Therefore, it is highly recommended

Provide a Comfortable Sleeping Environment

 Make a comfortable bed for your dog and provide a warm blanket to heat his/her body to reduce any pain. Try not to sleep with your dog as it can cause you physical harm if it jumps in its sleep.

Use Valerian Root

Try to add Valerian root to your dog’s dinner. It is a nice and effective sleep aid and will make your dog enjoy a comfortable sleep.

Get your Dog’s Anal Glands Expressed

It can be quite troublesome for your dog if he/she is unable to express anal glands properly. If that is the case, make sure to visit the vet as soon as possible to release the discomfort.

Try Neural Drugs

Drugs like Phenobarbital can be used to treat epilepsy or anxiety in your doggo. This can help prevent your dog to jump from its slumber.

Treat Arthritis

If your old dog is suffering from arthritis, making a proper treatment plan from your vet is necessary. Consult a vet he may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, dietary supplements, and chondroprotective agents. It must be used to treat arthritis in your old dogs.