sleeping disorder in dogs
Understanding Sleeping Disorder in Dogs
Remy JirekSleeping disorders in dogs can be just as serious for your canine friend as it is for people. Many people suffer from sleep related problems, but so do dogs and they can have the same negative impact on their health as well. Dogs can suffer from narcolepsy, which makes them prone to irritability and fatigue. They can also suffer from sleep apnea, a disorder that mainly affects English bulldogs. A veterinarian can prescribe medications that will help the dog sleep, but they must be carefully monitored by the owners for side effects.
While millions of people across the world suffer from sleeping disorders, there is in fact also the problem of sleeping disorder in dogs. A sleeping disorder in dogs occurs when a dog experiences some form of problem that is restricting them from receiving the proper or decent amount of rest.
Most Common Sleeping Disorder in Dogs
The most common sleeping disorder in dogs is that of sleep apnea, a condition that is also one of the most popular sleeping disorders among humans. English bulldogs are considered as being most susceptible to this particular form of sleeping disorder in dogs. Narcolepsy is another common sleeping disorder that pets experience, and the inheritance pattern of narcolepsy in dogs is absolutely distinct from that of humans and is in fact much better defined.
When dogs experience narcolepsy, they do in fact experience some of the same symptoms as humans who suffer from this disorder do, such as: Insufficient nocturnal sleep, constant tiredness, and anxiety. There are certain stimulants that are prescribed for those who suffer from narcolepsy, which include: Methylphenidate, modafinil, dextroamphetamine, and pemoline. The major side effects of medications such as these are irritability, anxiety, a quickened heart rate, hypertension, substance abuse, and, paradoxically in some cases, disturbances of nocturnal sleep.
The study of narcolepsy in animals, including obviously that of dogs, has in fact illuminated links with human narcolepsy and the information that has been found here is being used in research in order to try and find the actual underlying cause of the sleeping disorder itself. A comparison between the human gene map and the genes of dogs who suffer from narcolepsy has in fact fortunately led to the discovery of a literal and mutual deficiency in hypocretin, which is a chemical that is found in the brain that when absent seems to lead to the narcolepsy disorder.
Other studies have shown that genetics plays an important role in the development of narcolepsy in dogs, although for the most part, a narcoleptic - whether dog or human - will in fact have no close relatives that share the disorder, and usually even if there is an identical twin involved even they will not suffer from the disorder. Proper treatment can help to decrease and relieve the suffering of narcolepsy, and the most important and often most difficult dilemma in this entire situation is that of a proper diagnosis.
Most Common Sleeping Disorder in Dogs
The most common sleeping disorder in dogs is that of sleep apnea, a condition that is also one of the most popular sleeping disorders among humans. English bulldogs are considered as being most susceptible to this particular form of sleeping disorder in dogs. Narcolepsy is another common sleeping disorder that pets experience, and the inheritance pattern of narcolepsy in dogs is absolutely distinct from that of humans and is in fact much better defined.
When dogs experience narcolepsy, they do in fact experience some of the same symptoms as humans who suffer from this disorder do, such as: Insufficient nocturnal sleep, constant tiredness, and anxiety. There are certain stimulants that are prescribed for those who suffer from narcolepsy, which include: Methylphenidate, modafinil, dextroamphetamine, and pemoline. The major side effects of medications such as these are irritability, anxiety, a quickened heart rate, hypertension, substance abuse, and, paradoxically in some cases, disturbances of nocturnal sleep.
The study of narcolepsy in animals, including obviously that of dogs, has in fact illuminated links with human narcolepsy and the information that has been found here is being used in research in order to try and find the actual underlying cause of the sleeping disorder itself. A comparison between the human gene map and the genes of dogs who suffer from narcolepsy has in fact fortunately led to the discovery of a literal and mutual deficiency in hypocretin, which is a chemical that is found in the brain that when absent seems to lead to the narcolepsy disorder.
Other studies have shown that genetics plays an important role in the development of narcolepsy in dogs, although for the most part, a narcoleptic - whether dog or human - will in fact have no close relatives that share the disorder, and usually even if there is an identical twin involved even they will not suffer from the disorder. Proper treatment can help to decrease and relieve the suffering of narcolepsy, and the most important and often most difficult dilemma in this entire situation is that of a proper diagnosis.