Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Sleep Disorders in dogs: A Pathophysiological and Clinical Review.
- Journal:
- Topics in companion animal medicine
- Year:
- 2021
- Authors:
- Mondino, Alejandra et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Anesthesiology · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Sleep is very important for dogs, just like it is for humans. When dogs have sleep problems, it can affect their overall health, including how well they think, move, and fight off illness. Common sleep issues in dogs include narcolepsy (sudden sleep attacks), REM sleep behavior disorder (acting out dreams), and sleep breathing problems. These sleep disturbances can also be signs of other health issues, making them worse. The review discusses how these sleep problems work, how to diagnose them, and what treatments are available, while also pointing out that more research is needed to improve care.
Abstract
Sleep is a fundamental process in mammals, including domestic dogs. Disturbances in sleep affect physiological functions like cognitive and physical performance, immune response, pain sensation and increase the risk of diseases. In dogs, sleep can be affected by several conditions, with narcolepsy, REM sleep behavior disorder and sleep breathing disorders being the most frequent causes. Furthermore, sleep disturbances can be a symptom of other primary diseases where they can contribute to the worsening of clinical signs. This review describes reciprocally interacting sleep and wakefulness promoting systems and how their dysfunction can explain the pathophysiological mechanisms of sleep disorders. Additionally, this work discusses the clinical characteristics, diagnostic tools and available treatments for these disorders while highlighting areas in where further studies are needed so as to improve their treatment and prevention.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33556640/