old dog won't sleep through the night

[Anonymous]

Suggestions for getting an old dog to sleep through the night? He has some cognitive degeneration and he walks around the apartment almost all night. He, of course, sleeps all day. Its like he's a puppy again with his days & nights mixed up! He is already on max dose of Gabapentin, but it doesn't touch this new restlessness.

[Anonymous]

Try and get him to ge more active during the day. I know that can be hard. I have a 13yo shepherd mix. You need to change the cycle.

[Anonymous]

This happened to my dog at the end. Vet said it was dementia. They get disoriented and confused. She would pace all night.

[Anonymous]

Gabapentin did not suit my dog. Ask your vet if they can try something else.

[Anonymous]

We have this issue with our 14 year old dog. It's exhausting. The best solution so far is to walk the heck out of her during the day so she's very very tired. We also give "Calm" brand sleepy treats.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the suggestions!

He has arthritis as well as degenerative myelopathy so I can't take him on long walks to tire him out -- but we do brief "smelling walks" to get him outside to empty his bladder. And if I wear his body out too much, his incontinence increases...

Someone suggested "calm" supplements. I've used a version of those with him before for agitation, but didn't even think of it now. (I am SO TIRED from these new all-nighters!)

I found a version called "NaturVet Senior Advanced Calming Aid Dog Supplement" that includes melatonin, which apparently does not have any negative interactions with gabapentin. Going to check in with the vet, of course, but visits are so hard to get. Anyone tried these?

[Anonymous]

OP, I'd also ask your vet about whether an antianxiety medication might help.

[Anonymous]

How many times a day do you feed the dog? I found giving a small meal late (like 10pm) makes them sleepy and they sleep longer at night. Before that I was being woken up a 4am because he (13 year old shih tzu) thought it was time to get up.

[Anonymous]

Ask your vet about melatonin, CBD oil and/or anipril.

[Anonymous]

I have been dealing with this for a couple years (yes, exhausted). My 16-year-old dog is still active and healthy and we walk a few miles a day. I have tried all of the above (melatonin, trazodone, food split into three meals, CBD oil, etc). Sometimes things work for a few days and then she goes back to waking up several times at night. But they are all worth trying.

I work from home so right now my new strategy is to take her outside every hour (or two) just to get her up and moving. I have a backyard so this is a lot easier for me than it might be for others. It seems to be helping. For the last week, she has been up once and then quickly back to bed--which I can live with.

[Anonymous]

Sundowner syndrome. Ask vet about melatonin and try to keep them awake at least part of the day.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP, any update?

I am one of the PPs and I thought we had a solution for a few days but it's not working any more. Spouse and I are so tired. Love our dog but this is low-key ruining our lives.

[Anonymous]

Yes! I ordered the supplements I mentioned from Amazon and they've been great. Chewy has them, too. https://www.chewy.com/naturvet-senior-advanced-calming-aid/dp/243205?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12791146288&utm_content=NaturVet&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KCQiAxoiQBhCRARIsAPsvo-x4tw2KIS5WztE39vKAa9BsbcpHKIoIAzoZ9wxzhDDDcoKAz5YHwVIaAjVaEALw_wcB

I give him a good-sized treat, 4 of the supplements, and a small bit of water, then half an hour later he goes out and comes in for bed. He zonks out until 6:30 or 7, which is really something. He seems much more refreshed and less confused in the mornings. And I feel like a new woman.

[Anonymous]

Anipryl, melatonin, L-theanine, CBD, Calming Care probiotic

[Anonymous]

OP it sounds like you’re close to the end here. There’s a point at which they are telling you it’s time.