“You should let sleeping dogs lie.” Maybe a parent told you this piece of sage wisdom when you were younger, or you heard it on TV. It is a phrase that many are familiar with, and possibly even more should take heed. But when should you ignore the age-old adage and provoke the slumbering beast; or if not a beast, then perhaps your own snoozing pooch? When is it OK to not let your sleeping dog lie, and how much sleep is too much?
First, a baseline; compared to humans, even healthy dogs can be quite sleepy. On average, a dog sleeps 12-14 hours per day, far more than a normal person. Unlike humans, who usually do all or most of their sleep continuously during the night, dogs have no problem taking naps at any time. They will partially match their sleep schedule with other companions (either other dogs or humans), then pick up the rest of their sleep from naps throughout the day. However, not every dog is created equal. Much like humans, puppies and elderly dogs are require more sleep than normal, with puppies sleeping up to 18 hours a day or more in some cases. Large breeds also generally require more sleep than smaller ones do.
With how much dogs sleep, it can be hard to know if your dog is sleeping too much due to a medical condition or if its sleep patterns are perfectly natural. Generally, you shouldn’t worry about your dog sleeping too much; they do sleep quite often. However certain medical conditions, such as canine depression, diabetes and hypothyroidism, among others, have been linked to increased sleep in dogs. If you suspect your dog is sleeping too much, especially if you notice a sharp change in its recent sleeping patterns, the best advice is to talk to your vet.
