Why does my dog twitch, go limp, unresponsive, and breathe strangely in sleep?

Dogs dream just the way we do, so increased respiratory pattern and sometimes vocalizing happens as well. As long as it is transient and goes back to normal then I would not be worried. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Puppies do tend to sleep very deeply and they do dream more than adult dogs. I recommend to record one of these episodes. Start filing before you begin to stimulate her and then record the entire session until she is fully awake. Show it to her veterinarian. This will help to give a better idea of pathology or not. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

It is normal for dogs to go someone limp and have rapid eye movement while in deep sleep, just like with people. In some cases, you may see your dog whimper or even twitch their limbs if they are dreaming or deep in REM. If your pup seems in distress, or this happens often or when she isn't asleep, a vet checkup is always a good idea.

His doesn't sound like anything to be concerned about. She is getting older so it is udnerstandsble that she may not rouse as easily as she once did in her younger years. Also the description of events suggest she was having very vivid dreams and the eye twitching is normal when a pet is asleep. This is an indication of REM sleep. Also pets are often limp when they are completely asleep. However if you still are concerned about Precious, then there are no issues with taking her in to your vet for a standard physical exam to ensure she is in healthy condition.

He needs to be examined by a veterinarian right away. Your vet can take an x-ray of his chest to evaluate his lungs and airway. He could have pneumonia, asthma, heart disease, or fluids in his chest. Please call your vet immediately and schedule an appointment.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds as though your dog is in respiratory distress and should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Breathing problems are a medical emergency and should not be ignored. There maybe a life threatening problem.

If this breathing heavy is only occurring when Tater is resting, it could be that he is dreaming and his breathing is changing in response to the dreams. Dogs dream and they can show behaviors such as barking, leg movement, and breathing changes in response to their dreams. Given that he is fine otherwise, I would monitor him for now, but certainly it's okay to have him seen by a vet just in case to make sure everything is ok health wish with him :-)