Why is my 14-year-old dog restless and won't settle at night?

It does sound like your dog could be in pain, and that could be causing the restlessness at night. He simply can't find a position that he is comfortable in, and it hurts to curl up. He could have an injury to his neck, spine, hips, or limbs. I would take him into the vet today for an exam. He may also benefit from pain medications if he is in pain. Do not give him any human pain medications, many are toxic to dogs and fatal if given. The vet can prescribe him safe pain medications if needed.

I see that Stella is an old girl, and she could be suffering from canine cognitive dysfunction. This is related to aging in the dog's brain. It causes changes in their sleep cycle, where they are awake at night, and sleep the most during the day. I would take Stella into the vet for an exam, who can diagnose canine cognitive dysfunction, and discuss treatment options with you. There is no cure for it, but there are medications and behavioral things you can do to help improve her cognitive functioning.

Poor Gracie. She may be in pain or not feeling well. Keep an eye on her, and if she's still acting this way in the morning, have her seen by a vet. If she develops signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or a bloated abdomen, take her into an ER vet immediately. Best of luck.

This could be anxiety as you suggest, or it could be canine cognitive dysfunction (doggy dementia). CCG often includes restless/wakeful behavior at night and sleeping during the day. It can also include loss of house-training, failure to recognize family members and confused or wandering behavior. Melatonin and/or Benadryl are considered generally safe medications to give before bed to help promote sleep. There are also medications and prescription diets made especially for CCD if that is what’s happening to Sherwood. Talk with your vet to see if s/he agrees and to discuss options and doses.

If only Cookie could talk! It’s impossible to know if this related to pain or anxiety. I recommend to play it safe and have Cookie examined by her veterinarian today. Make sure they check her neck, spine and anal glands. The doctor may also want to check her for a urinary tract infection as well. It’s best to play it safe.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mugsy. As they age, some pets can experience something known as canine cognitive dysfunction. It is characterized by pacing, accidents in the home, vocalizing more, mixing up their days and nights as well as becoming disoriented. Some pets will get stuck under chairs, in corners or in small rooms such as bathrooms and closets. The disorder becomes increasingly common the older the pet gets. It is somewhat comparable to Alzheimer's disease in people. I recommend that Mugsy sees his veterinarian to see if this is the cause of his recent symptoms or if something else is bothering him. I hope this information helps!

This is pretty non-specific behavior, so it's hard to know exactly what's going on. Hero may be having some gastrointestinal issues at night, like vomiting or diarrhea, and is asking go outside to the bathroom. Or, she could be worried about something going on in the neighborhood like other dogs barking. Or, she could be having neurologic issues at night like a small seizure that wakes her up and worries her. Or, this could be purely behavioral, like if she is going into heat and there are intact male dogs in the neighborhood. I recommend a full exam by a veterinarian to make sure she looks healthy and has no underlying health concerns.