When dogs suddenly behave restlessly, it is usually due to fear, stress or excess energy. In individual cases, injuries, stomach pain, parasites, toothache or even poisoning can also be responsible.
If your four-legged friend is primarily restless at night, then this is usually due to dreams, a strong waking instinct, separation anxiety or existing pain.
In many cases, the physical restlessness is also accompanied by other atypical symptoms, which allow conclusions to be drawn about the potential cause.
Further symptom: Typical causes: trembling, fear, Cushing's syndrome, poisoning, panting, toothache, stress, breathing problems, unfulfilled longings, whining, injuries, fear, poisoning, toothache, waking instinct, walking around, dementia, poor eyesight, waking instinct, stress, unfulfilled longings, smacking, poisoning, toothache, stress, unfulfilled longings [1]
Below you will learn about the 12 most common causes of physical restlessness, the symptoms and what to do in specific cases.
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#1 Stress and anxiety
When your dog feels stressed or becomes afraid, stress hormones are automatically released. Primarily cortisol and adrenaline.
On the one hand, these two hormones ensure that your dog is very strong or can escape in a potentially life-threatening situation.
On the other hand, these hormones also cause your dog to be upset and hardly able to calm down. Typical triggers for such a distribution are:
- Lack of socialization
- loneliness
- Violent handling
- presence of strangers
- Loud noises [2]
In addition to physical restlessness, such emotions are often manifested by slight trembling, constant yawning and licking of the lips. Other symptoms include:
- Dog avoids eye contact
- Stooped posture
- Heavy panting
- Ears laid back
- Retracted tail
- Dog is hiding
- Intimidated look [3]
In this case, the cause must first be identified. If the trigger cannot be removed, you should gradually accustom your dog to the trigger.
When stressed or afraid, dogs behave increasingly restlessly. In most cases it is because they were not adequately socialized at a young age. In addition to the nervous behavior, affected four-legged friends also often start shaking and panting.
#2 Injuries
After cancer, injuries are one of the most common causes of death in dogs, accounting for around 21%. So this is not something to be trifled with. Typical triggers here are:
- Jump from a height
- Swallowing sharp objects
- Car accidents
- Splinter in the paw
- Bites from other animals [4]
The symptoms can vary depending on the injury, the severity of the pain and the individual pain tolerance. Typical signs of mild pain are:
- Flat-set ears
- Constantly changing the lying position
- restlessness
- Quiet moans
- Loss of appetite [5]
In most cases you can also tell if the dog is very sensitive to touch. Signs of severe pain include:
- Aggressive behavior
- Dog doesn't want to get up
- Constant beeping
- Face contorted in pain
- Heavy panting
Accepting pain in silence is a trait that dogs inherit from wolves. If you suspect this, you should consult the vet immediately.
If dogs behave unusually restlessly, this may be due to existing injuries. Above all, sudden aggressiveness, constant running around, constant whining and whining are strong indicators of pain.
#3 Excess energy
Physical activity is one of the basic needs of every dog. Active breeds in particular need both physical and mental activity every day.
If you don't get enough of it, hyperactivity usually occurs. You can tell if the dog runs around restlessly, whines constantly or starts digging in the house.
In many cases it is due to the fact that active breeds are kept in small apartments without a garden or in densely populated residential areas without wide meadows.
In rare cases, diet can also be responsible. This is particularly the case if the dog gets too many carbohydrates to eat. [6]
The solution? Exercising your dog every day. In addition to a long walk, the following tips can also help:
- Organize play dates with neighbor dogs
- Order a ball throwing machine for indoors and outdoors
- Use Frisbees, balls and other throwing toys
- Walking with a long leash instead of a leash
- Get chewing bones made from coffee wood
- Get a second dog or other pet as a play partner
I recommend purchasing appropriate aids, especially for busy people. It couldn't be easier to exercise a dog.
If dogs don't have enough exercise and activity, their excess energy usually becomes noticeable through physical restlessness. This is often the case, especially with active breeds such as sheepdogs and hunting dogs.
#4 Stomach pain
Dogs are originally descended from wolves, which are primary carnivores. However, through domestication, dogs became more and more omnivores.
Compared to our digestive system, that of four-legged friends is relatively primitive. They therefore get stomach pains significantly more often than we do. Typical causes here are:
- Intolerances
- Dog eats too quickly
- Spicy food
- Food allergies
- Leftover food from people
- Eating grass [7]
You can usually recognize it when the dog suddenly vomits, behaves restlessly, gets diarrhea, starts whining and constantly changes its sleeping place.
If you suspect food allergies, I recommend that you have an allergy test done by your doctor. Here it is important to adjust your diet accordingly.
In order to get individual food recommendations, I recommend doing such a food check. There you will also receive a complete box with free food samples.
When dogs struggle with stomach pain, they often start whining or behave unusually restlessly. In most cases it is due to the dog gobbling while eating or getting leftover food from people.
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#5 Unfulfilled desires
When babies don't get what they want, they immediately start crying. Dogs are similar here. But instead of screaming, they become restless instead.
In most cases it is because they urgently need to go outside. Other typical causes are:
- Hunger and thirst
- Strong sex drive
- Longing for the master
- Attention
Dogs become very restless, especially during their period. However, it only occurs around twice a year and only lasts around 2 weeks. [8]
In the case of uncastrated male dogs, however, this is more of a permanent condition. Because their high production of testosterone also increases their sex drive.
Panting, on the other hand, primarily indicates thirst and running around in front of the door usually indicates a longing for someone. But there is no reason to worry here.
When a dog's desires and needs are not met, dissatisfaction and unrest arise. In addition to a squeezing bladder, the behavior can also indicate hunger, thirst, a strong sex drive and a longing for attention.
#6 Dementia
Dementia is a chronic disease that leads to a decline in mental performance. And yes, dementia is common in dogs too.
According to statistics, almost ⅓ of all dogs over the age of 11 and around ⅔ of all dogs over the age of 15 are said to struggle with this. [9]
It can usually be recognized by the dog running around in its own house out of confusion and constantly repeating the same behavior. Other typical signs of this are:
- Unusual irritability
- Dog is active at night
- Restless behavior
- Staring at the walls
- Dog constantly changes sleeping place
- Restless sleep
- Dog avoids social contact
- Disorientation [10]
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for this. However, with the help of intelligence toys, the spread of the disease can be slowed down.
Demented dogs increasingly forget their surroundings and even their families. The restless behavior here is simply the result of the associated fear. Because suddenly everything seems strange to her. A majority of old dogs are affected by this.
#7 Parasites
Parasites come in two different types. The endoparasites live inside, the ectoparasites live on the dog. The most common ectoparasites are:
- Fleas
- lice
- mites
- Ticks [11]
Fleas and ticks can usually be seen with the naked eye. However, some lice and mites are so small that they are only visible to people with good eyesight.
However, all of these parasites have one thing in common – they cause severe itching. Affected dogs also behave unusually restlessly. Typical symptoms are:
In most cases, such an infestation is annoying and unpleasant, but harmless. A spray like this from Amazon is completely sufficient for treatment.
When external parasites attack dogs, it causes severe itching. Affected dogs therefore behave unusually restlessly, constantly scratch themselves and often wake up at night. An anti-parasite spray is sufficient for treatment here.
#8 Poisoning
Unfortunately, poison bait is often mentioned in the news. In reality, most poisonings are caused by the owners themselves. However, not on purpose.
For example, many first-time owners don't know that even common home remedies can be toxic for dogs. This includes:
- Chocolate and cocoa
- Raisins and grapes
- The sugar alcohol xylitol
- Garlic and onions
- Hops and alcohol [13]
But swallowing other chemicals or plants can also cause poisoning. The most common symptoms of this include:
- Sudden tremors
- Nausea and vomiting
- Physical restlessness
- Profuse drooling
- Frequent whining
- Diarrhea
- Licking the lips [14]
If you suspect something, I advise you to go to the veterinary emergency clinic immediately. If left untreated, poisoning can be fatal, depending on the type and quantity.
Many household items are toxic to dogs and can cause poisoning if swallowed. Depending on the type of poisoning, symptoms may include trembling, physical restlessness, excessive drooling and sudden vomiting.
#9 Toothache
Although dogs behave and eat differently than wolves in many ways, their DNA is…