What this means
A sudden or new change in behaviour is a reason to have a vet rule out pain and illness first. At night the surroundings are quiet, so discomforts we miss in the day stand out: stiff joints, thirst, a need to urinate or nausea can stop a dog lying still.
An owner can write down when exactly the dog gets restless (soon after bedtime or before dawn), what it does (paces, pants, looks for a place, goes to the bowl or the door, whines), whether it asks to go out more often, and how much it drinks in the day. It is also useful to note whether appetite, weight or movement have changed.
Restlessness at night can also come from fear, for example of sounds, or from an older dog's confusion. This page gives no advice on "teaching" a dog to sleep, because health causes have to be ruled out first.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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Pain or stiff joints
Aching joints stop a dog finding a comfortable position, especially at night or on getting up. It may change place, pant or whine.
About the condition: Arthritis -
Increased thirst and urination
Some kidney or metabolic illnesses make a dog drink and ask to go out at night, so it cannot settle.
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Hormonal disorders
Some hormone disorders, such as an adrenal gland disease, can cause panting, thirst and restless sleep.
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Anxiety or fear
Sounds at night, being alone or a changed environment can cause tension, pacing and panting.
About the condition: Anxiety -
Age-related confusion
An ageing dog may mix up day and night, wander, stare into space or whine in the dark.
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Nausea or an upset stomach
An unpleasant feeling in the belly can make a dog pace, eat grass, drool or keep changing place.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- When at night your dog gets restless and what exactly it does
- How much it drinks and how often it asks to go out
- Whether it pants at night although it is not warm
- Whether getting up or lying down is hard for it
- Whether appetite, weight or the size of the belly have changed
- Whether there is vomiting, diarrhoea or confusion alongside
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if the night-time restlessness is new, keeps returning, or comes with more drinking, more frequent urination or difficulty getting up. Write down how much your dog drinks in a day.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Anxiety General health Anxiety is a state in which a dog feels tension and fear constantly or far too strongly, even when there is no real danger. It can be set off by being left alone, loud noises, new surroundings or strangers, and long-lasting anxiety wears down both the dog and the whole household. It helps to understand that this behaviour is not stubbornness or disobedience but a sign that the dog is struggling.
- Arthritis Bones and joints Arthritis is inflammation of the joints in which the cartilage gradually wears down, leaving the joint stiff and painful. It can develop with age, after an injury or because of joints that did not form properly. Ongoing pain limits how freely and comfortably a dog moves, so changes are worth showing to a vet.
- Cushing's disease Hormones and metabolism Cushing's disease is a condition in which the body makes too much of a stress hormone. This hormone affects many of the body's processes, so an excess gradually changes a dog's appetite, skin, coat and muscles. The changes come on slowly, so they are easy to mistake for simple ageing.
- Kidney disease Kidneys and bladder The kidneys filter the blood, remove waste from the body and help keep the balance of fluids and salts. When they are damaged suddenly, for example by poisoning or infection, or weaken gradually over a longer time, substances they should remove start to build up in the body. Long-term kidney changes can go unnoticed for a long time, because the healthy part of the kidneys takes over the work for a while.
Body systems: General health Bones and joints Hormones and metabolism Kidneys and bladder