Why does my dog whimper and cry in his sleep? Is he dreaming?

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Vito is acting 100% normal during the day: eating, drinking, playful, not limping, jumping and not crying out and ONLY is whimpering and crying when asleep then it is normal. Dogs dream like we do. My dog, a few times a week, will wake me up at night crying in his sleep and either moving his legs or jerking his body. I hope this helps! If he otherwise not normal during the day or is awake and crying out I recommend an exam with your Vet. I wish you and Vito the very best!

Hi there and thanks for your post. It is not uncommon for puppies as well as dogs to dream. Sometimes they can howl or cry/whimper in their sleep when they are experiencing a dream. As far as tear production goes, dogs do not cry (produce tears when upset or for emotional reasons) like we do. I hope this helps and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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.

Sleep paralysis is not a recognized syndrome in dogs. Most dogs will dream and have some twitching and even whining while they sleep. We assume they are dreaming but since they can't tell us no one knows for sure. If you dog is twitching in his sleep and won't wake up I would be more worried it is seizure activity. If he does it again I suggest you video the behavior with your phone and show it to your vet.

This could be due to a behavioral change (anxiety, fear, etc.) or it could be caused by an underlying health problem. Pain and discomfort due to a variety of causes can make dogs vocalize and seek human attention. I recommend taking him to your vet for a health evaluation to make sure that there is not a physical cause of this behavior change. Your vet can talk with you about ways to change the behavior if it turns out there is no underlying medical issue.

It is not uncommon for dogs, especially puppies and younger dogs, to make noises or have movements (such as moving the feet/running/breathing rapidly for a moment) in their sleep. We assume they are dreaming, and most dogs don't seem to be negatively affected by this!

Unfortunately puppies are very fragile, and some out of a litter may not survive. It is very important for the mother to eat so she can provide enough milk for the puppies, and it's possible that if she is a bad eater, she does not have enough energy to produce enough milk for the puppies leading those two to die. She needs to be on a high quality puppy formulated food to meet her nutritional needs when nursing puppies, and I would put her on a puppy food right away. You will slowly have to mix it in with her regular diet over a couple of days so she does not get sick from the sudden change in food. Weigh the puppy daily, and if it's not gaining weight each day, you will need to supplement it with puppy formula. You can get that from a pet store or grocery store, and I recommend KMR. You would know if the puppy was hungry if it was crying all the time, not just whimpering in its sleep. Puppies and dogs dream, and they can make nosies in response to their dreams, so that may be why he's whimpering. A vet visit for both would also be a good idea just to make sure everything is ok. I hope this helps!