Like humans, dogs can suffer from certain sleep disorders. This is what canine behavior experts say, since the sleep cycle of these animals is very similar to ours. Hence, although there are currently no conclusive studies on the subject, the fact that a dog can be a sleepwalker is not ruled out.
What is sleepwalking?
It is a sleep disturbance that leads us to realize physical activities during sleeping hours, such as walking or talking, all unconsciously. Today it is a still unknown field in dogs, although experts do not rule out at all that sleepwalking also affects dogs.
In fact, research shows that, like us, these animals exhibit high-intensity motor activity during their deep or REM sleep phase. During it, they can move their legs, moan, cry, etc., which makes us think that their dreams and nightmares are similar to ours.
Possible causes
Being a field still unexplored by science, cannot be determined exactly what are the causes that can lead a dog to sleepwalking. It can be stated that sleep disturbances occur more frequently during the puppy stage and in old age, and that both physical and psychological factors can influence them. It can be said, for example, that senile dementia favors the appearance of these types of problems.
How to treat it
A sleepwalking dog runs the risk of accidentally falling or hitting itself while sleeping, so we must take certain precautions. It will be of great help, in this sense, keep the house tidy, without obstacles for the movement of our dog. It is also essential to close the path to terraces, balconies or windows through which the animal could fall.
In any case, if we notice any type of sleep disorder in our dog we must go to veterinarian for your review and advice on what to do. In severe cases, the administration of medications is necessary.