So our 14 week old puppy sometimes has a hard time falling asleep. She will toss and turn and breathe very heavily and very fast. I have this idea that it may be growing pains. Has anyone here had that? Or what are your pups pre-sleeping rituals? Ours likes to grab one of our slippers to lay on.
When my dogs were pups, they usually passed out pretty quickly, but often had puppy dreams/nightmares that would cause them to stir and breathe heavier. That's very typical.
Is she tossing, turning and breathing heavily while she's asleep, or before? It's possible that it's growing pains, or it could be some sort of respiratory or tummy upset. I'm assuming she's been to the vet for general checkups and they haven't noticed any sort of respiratory problems or illnesses? If you haven't already done so, take a poop sample in for a test. I recommend this with any new puppy just to make sure they don't have any random parasites lurking and causing pain.
Growing pains are caused by rapid growth, so depending on what and how much you're feeding, backing off on the food can help. When Peabody was a pup, I gave him glucosamine, fish oil and vitamin c to help prevent joint swelling, along with feeding monitored amounts of a balanced, giant breed food (holistic select) and never really had any problems with him. This is something you can talk to your vet about if you do think it's growing pains. I've heard some people suggest MSM as well, but I have never used it.
our pup totally crashes out...she is snoring within minutes. She sometimes lies on her back with her legs spread...it's quite cute! I do hear her dreaming but think that's normal for all dogs, little whining and feet quivering. She gets hiccups alot and our vet explained that is totally a normal growing pattern for puppies as the "tube" (not sure of the medical name) that goes in to their stomachs does not grow as fast as their bodies. I'm finding I have to wake her in the morning often...even if she's awake I'll open the crate door and she'll continue to hang out in there and rest..guess I have a sleepy gal ! LOL She likes to hug pillows, and her toys as well...heck if I could fit in her crate I'm sure she'd LOVE that ! We haven't broken down to inviting her in our bed....yet.
(05-10-2010 06:27 PM)Marley and me Wrote: [ -> ]our pup totally crashes out...she is snoring within minutes. She sometimes lies on her back with her legs spread...it's quite cute! I do hear her dreaming but think that's normal for all dogs, little whining and feet quivering. She gets hiccups alot and our vet explained that is totally a normal growing pattern for puppies as the "tube" (not sure of the medical name) that goes in to their stomachs does not grow as fast as their bodies. I'm finding I have to wake her in the morning often...even if she's awake I'll open the crate door and she'll continue to hang out in there and rest..guess I have a sleepy gal ! LOL She likes to hug pillows, and her toys as well...heck if I could fit in her crate I'm sure she'd LOVE that ! We haven't broken down to inviting her in our bed....yet.
You just reminded me how Ozzie used to lay in the crate after we opened the door in the morning. We used to have to drag him out (gently) by his front legs. It seemed to take him forever to realize that he could get out of the crate himself. I usually go into the bedroom to watch TV at night, and the dogs are allowed to be on the bed while we watch, then Ozzie goes in his crate. He doesn't mind at all. He yips and his feet go a mile a minute in his sleep, it's funny. When he wants to get up on the bed he stands with his front legs on the bed and looks pitiful until you 'help' him up. No one was more surprised than Ozzie was when he galloped into the bedroom and went to put his feet up but the momentum drove him all the way onto the bed, LOL. He prefers that you help him though. He will never be allowed to sleep on the bed all night because he is a total bed hog. 82 pound Zoe, the labradoodle, can curl herself up down at the end of the bed, no problem, but Ozzie is not a compact model of dog, even if he is/was a teacup mastiff. LOL.