Neurologic dog becoming more restless at night UPDATE post 10

[NorCalDressage]

My eldest Doberman has started to become more restless at night - usually around 1 or 2 in the morning. Not vocal at all, but pacing and ends up pooping when let outside. I know it can be common for senior dogs to have issues with restlessness at night, but wonder if this could be pain/nerve related for her?

She’s regular about going poop before bedtime - around 10, and is regular (not loose), but I’m not convinced that it’s her just needing to go out again. She’s normally let out for potty again at 5:30 or 6AM.

She’s been diagnosed with dancing doberman disease - which my understanding is similar to peripheral neuropathy in people. Also thought she may have another secondary neuro issue. Other than age related arthritis and being lax in her hocks, she is in quite good shape, still runs and plays a lot but does take a lot of old lady naps!

She’s been and is currently on Gabapentin (900mg every 12 hours) and Meloxicam 3.75mg every 24 hours. Since I’m wondering if this could be pain/nerve related I’ve thought about doing a trial of Tramadol with her to see if the restlessness improves. Vet and I have discussed in the past that if her pain level increases with time/age that Tramadol is something we could add to her regime. Or I believe that her Gabapentin could be upped to every 8 hours, but trying the Tramadol seems like the better solution. Thoughts?

I don’t want to be unreasonable about adding too many pharmaceuticals, but also want her to be comfortable. I’m also very realistic that once things become too much for her it’s time to call it - but I don’t think we’re there yet. Still seems to be overall happy and playful. How many days would it be to see the effect of the Tramadol trial?

The DDD mostly presents itself as holding a hind leg up and constantly re positioning her feet/legs at times. Also some muscle facilitation in the hind quarters. She’s 11 1/2 and gets regular bloodwork/liver/kidney since she’s currently on meds. Has had a lifetime heart murmur but never has been an issue. Low thyroid but not treating at this time due to minor physical symptoms - and it’s so common in the breed.

Any thoughts or suggestions for the restlessness would be appreciated!

[Horsegal984]

In older dogs the middle of the night restlessness is often associated with declining cognitive function. I would look at adding in lots of Omega 3 fatty acids and a cognitive function supplement like Senilife or Selegelline.

You certainly could add in tramadol at night, but I think the hope there would be to sedate her more so she doesn’t wake up and get anxious. It would be ususal for an animal to be much more painful at a certain time than others, without a reason to be.

[csaper58]

My dog is 2 yrs and when his irritable bowel disease is flaring up he will pant and pace and act stressed at around 2-3 AM, and poop when let out. It sound like your dog just really needs to poop.

Can the neuro condition affect the nerves in the dogs bowels? So that she can’t hold it as long?

I might try adjusting the feeding time and adding something like Endosorb so every one can sleep thru the night. (clear with vet)

www.prnpharmacal.com/endosorb/

Valley Vet sells it, no prescription required. Also on Amazon.

[Beckham03]

It sounds like you have a good med protocol. I’ve only seen one DDD and our neurologist said its not painful.

However, you could try tramadol or Xanax at night. Not uncommon in older and especially neuro dogs.

[eclipse]

My 14,year old lab is like this only she usually doesn’t poop just restless. She’s on medicam and clomipramine. I am tired from her restlessness but she’s given me 14 years and is still in amazing shape and eating well so I’m living with it! It’s hard when they get old

i also keep the fan on, background noise seems to help keep her calm plus she likes it cool in her old age (I tell my hubby that she’s 86 she’s allowed hot flashes LOL)

[NorCalDressage]

Horsegal - Cognitive problems definitely makes sense! Reminds me of old people who sit in their chair in the dark wide awake just acting nervous/paranoid. I’m going to order the Senilife and see if we notice a difference. I think we’re pretty good on the Omegas - she gets 2 large fish oil pills and platinum performance (flax based) plus her joint supp has some additional. I could total them all and see if I should try adding more though…

csaper - I don’t know if the neuro affects the bowel nerves or not. She poops a little odd - doesn’t squat down like a normal dog - just keeps walking in a hunched position as they fall out, LOL. But I’ve attributed that to being weak behind. She never has accidents in the house so seems to have good control.

Beckham03 - thanks - My observation has been that the DDD doesn’t seem to cause pain - it’s more of an annoyance or tingling feeling in the feet maybe. Which is why so much re-positioning, shifting of her legs/feet when she’s laying down. She doesn’t like them touched either. She’s gone through stages over the years, where she was more the classic shifting left to right “dancing” and then back to it mainly always the same leg held up. When it first started it was also mainly the right. Vet thought it was an orthopedic problem at first, which started the down the path of trying to figure out what was wrong. But, as a Doberman I feel she’s pretty lucky to have made it to this age. But I hear her mom lived to 12 and her brother from the same litter just passed, so good age genetics I guess!

Thanks everyone - My plan is to try the Senilife first and see if I notice a change in the nighttime pattern. If no change there - try the Tramadol trial. And also look into her current total of Omega 3s and see if I should up.

[Beckham03]

Your dog is lucky to have you! I hope you guys get more sleep soon.

The dancing Doberman we saw was young. My neurologist said he hadn’t seen many in his career. She was also happy and loved dog!

[Rain]

@NorCalDressage;8383396

csaper - I don’t know if the neuro affects the bowel nerves or not. She poops a little odd - doesn’t squat down like a normal dog - just keeps walking in a hunched position as they fall out, LOL. But I’ve attributed that to being weak behind. She never has accidents in the house so seems to have good control.

This comment reminded me of my elderly Golden Retriever. In his last years (probably 18 months or so) he would do what you describe. He also gradually lost muscle control in his butt (sphincter?), so he started having poop accidents. It was almost like he didn’t know he had pooped. He was not particularly arthritic, so it wasn’t a joint problem.

What time do you feed dinner? Maybe make her mealtime earlier in the day, so she has time to poop twice before 10pm.

[NorCalDressage]

Just an update -

She’s been on the Senilife for 2 weeks now. Only have had 1 incident of morning pacing since starting - so it definitely seems to be making a difference for her!

Happy it seems to be working for her and for us too!

[danceronice]

It really does sound just like ‘old dog.’ Puff didn’t have any pain issues besides some mild arthritis, but he definitely reached a point where no matter where he was lying he’d get restless (except outside, where he seemed calmer, so we left him out during the day as much as possible.) Hope the Senilife keeps improving things! I did not enjoy my two AM wake-ups. He had less issues pooping (a very awkward posture, but things kept going) but he’d sometimes not have great bladder control and the pacing often went with it, so as soon as I heard him, out we went…