Dog Sleep

　　We know that “deep sleep” is an indispensable best way to eliminate fatigue, but the situation for elderly dogs is: with the decline of body and functions, the natural sleep time increases, but most of it is fragmented sleep, meaning basically there is no guarantee of high-quality sleep.

　　If they cannot achieve deep sleep, naturally they cannot properly repair damaged nerve tissues, nor can they regulate normal physiological activities such as metabolism well, nor secrete hormones that activate body functions, accompanied by irritability and stress reactions, which are unfavorable factors for the body. In addition, elderly dogs often suffer from metabolic disorders and low body temperature, so it is necessary to pay attention to the surrounding environmental temperature.

　　Giving dogs frequent command signals to keep their emotions active, such as issuing simple commands like drink water or sit down during meal times, can help the dog’s mind receive command signals and activate the brain, thus improving sleep quality. However, this method does not work for some elderly dogs. Therefore, elderly dogs can also engage in moderate exercise to let their brains receive more external stimuli, ultimately achieving the goal of deep sleep.

　　Furthermore, a suitable sleeping place is also very important. Dogs can be allowed to choose according to their preferences, or be arranged a quiet, non-irritating smelling and stable place like a bed or a crate. At the same time, if the dog’s body temperature is low, deep sleep cannot be achieved either. By touching their toes, if it feels cool, a towel can be used to keep the body temperature and adjust the room temperature, keeping it at 18-20 degrees Celsius for best results.