It ’s All Part of the REM Stage
We ’ll never be intimate what our dogs dream about , but when their limbs begin twitching mid - slumber , it ’s clear that whatever is go on inside their heads feel real . Perhaps they ’re blistering on the tail of a squirrel , greeting you at the door , or simply scratch up an scabies .
Is your dog twitching in his eternal sleep ? commonly , it ’s no crusade for business organisation , as this is common behavior during speedy optic movement ( REM sleep ) sleep .
Photo: Ana Rocio Garcia Franco / Getty
The Dog Sleep Cycle
" Dogs experience sleep phases like masses and other mammals . REM sleep sleep is important in humans fordreaming , memory , and worked up processing , " suppose Bonnie Bragdon , DVM , co - founder of theIndependent Veterinary Practitioners Association . " centre movement , change in respiration , stage movement , and articulate can be observed in both people and dogs during sleep , indicating the REM phase angle . "
A distinctive sleep cycle for hound ( and humans ) is wakefulness , REM , and non - rapid - eye - bm eternal sleep . However , dogs differ from humans in the amount of time they expend in REM sleep . They commonly enter this stage after about 20 minutes of nap , and it lasts for just about five arcminute . Humans do n’t strain this stage until about 90 minutes into sleep , and we live it for roughly 60 bit .
Why Do Dogs Twitch in Their Sleep?
mammal have an area of the brain base called thepons , which regulate automatic functions such as respiration and the sleep - wake cycle . It ’s also responsible for for muscle control . During paradoxical sleep rest , the pons relaxes the body ’s posture and limbs so multitude — and dogs!—don’tact out dreams .
Unless your pup spasms violently or becomes rigid , occasional kick and twitching accompanied by little noise is completely normal behavior during the rapid eye movement sleep microscope stage , as is maverick breathing .
" If you abide by twitching and vocalizing during nap , it ’s better to get your wiener finish his or her REM Hz and dream and not intervene , " Bragdon enunciate . Completed REM round are an important component of timbre slumber and overall wellness because even though dogs doze an norm of 12 hour day by day , their quietus cycles are shorter — about 45 transactions , which means they ’ll likely only have one abbreviated REM stage per nap .
Bragdon adds that while all ages of dogs twitch in their eternal rest , pup and senior domestic dog exhibit more movement during REM eternal rest than adult . This is often because the pons is n’t fully formulate in pup and does n’t turn as effectively as it used to in older doggy .
When Should I Be Concerned About Dog Twitching?
Bragdon says if you notice your dog twitching and vocalizing excessively during eternal rest , these could be symptoms of paradoxical sleep sleep disorder and may actually put him — and you — in danger . “Excessive " in this case means your favorite might kick violently , barque , growl , howl , chew , and even bite while benumbed . She adds that the condition is rare and can be treated .
But take billet : While twitching is typical behaviour during rapid eye movement sleep sleep , it should n’t occur when your pup is awake . " This is n’t normal and mayindicate your andiron is experiencing a seizureor be a sign of certain neurological toxicities or other neuromuscular diseases , " Bragdon says . " Dogs seldom have seizures while catch some Z’s — theyexperience seizure after wakingfrom eternal rest and wo n’t answer to noise , speck , or other stimulus . "
If you hap to call your weenie ’s name while he ’s sleep , Bragdon says he ’ll quickly wake , stop twitch , and act normally . However , if a dog is experiencing a seizure , twitch will go forward " with no plain reply or acknowledgement of the stimulant . " A weenie with a neurological disease or neurologic toxicity return " may acknowledge the noise or other stimulus , but wo n’t be able-bodied to stop jerk " either . If you notice any of these symptoms , arrange for a veterinary test instantly .
Rapid Eye Movement Sleep . ScienceDirect .
Bódizs R , Kis A , Gácsi M , Topál J.Sleep in the Canis familiaris : comparative , behavioral and translational relevance . Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences . 2019;33:25 - 33 . doi:10.1016 / j.cobeha.2019.12.006
