Q&A for How to Know If Your Dog Is Dreaming

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How do you know if your dog is having a seizure?

Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD
Veterinarian
Dr. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1998.

Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Seizures show symptoms like: losing consciousness, collapsing to the ground, falling to the side, paddling limbs, jerking, tremors, twitching, stiffening limbs and muscles, drooling or foaming at mouth, and chomping and tongue chewing. They will frequently defecate or urinate during a seizure.

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Question

How do you know if your dog is having a seizure?

Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD
Veterinarian
Dr. Nelson is a Veterinarian who specializes in Companion and Large Animal Medicine in Minnesota, where she has over 18 years of experience as a veterinarian in a rural clinic. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota in 1998.

Melissa Nelson, DVM, PhD

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Seizures show symptoms like: losing consciousness, collapsing to the ground, falling to the side, paddling limbs, jerking, tremors, twitching, stiffening or limbs and muscles, drooling or foaming at mouth, and tongue chewing. They will frequently defecate or urinate during a seizure.

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Question

What do dogs dream about?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Dreaming is a way of processing sights, sounds, and experiences that the dog encountered during the day. We can't know for sure, but it seems likely that dogs dream about doggy things such as chasing a ball, barking at intruders, or even suckling milk from their mother.

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Question

I don't get the seizure stuff. Please can you clarify?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Sometimes a dog having a particularly exciting dream that involves chasing can look a bit like a dog having a seizure. Whereas a dog having a dream is nothing to worry about, if your dog has a seizure then afterwards, he should see a vet. In both cases (whether its a dream or a seizure) do not wake or disturb the dog. If you are unsure which is which, then video the event on your smartphone and show it to the vet.

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Question

How do you know if your dog is having a bad dream?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Look for signs of distress in their body language and whether they seem agitated or not. Dogs can have nice or nasty dreams just like people.

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Question

Are you supposed to wake up a dreaming dog?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

No, leave them to sleep. Dogs have similar sleep patterns to people and dreaming is a normal part of how they process what happened during the day.

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Question

Is my dog having a bad dream or a seizure?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Bad dreams tend to include barking, growling or changes of facial expression. The dog's body will be mostly relaxed, with just the paws moving. However, a seizure is more generalized with all the muscles tense.

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Question

How do you know if your dog is having a seizure?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Seizures are quite distinctive and, once seen, are never forgotten. They are much more violent than a bad dream. If you are in doubt, video the episode and show it to a vet.

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