Have you ever seen your pet dog appearing to run in their sleep? Have you ever heard your cat meow while they were resting?
Some pet enthusiasts might wonder if these signs mean their pets are dreaming. Others might argue that such a statement is a product of anthropomorphism.
While we can never know for sure if our cat or dog dreams, below we’ll break down our analysis on the topic. Read on to learn more about whether your dog or cat dreams while they’re snoozing.
Do Animals Dream?
As you know, humans haven’t found out a way to communicate with animals yet. With that in mind, it’s challenging to answer the question — “do animals dream?”
One way that scientists have tried to find out is by analyzing animals’ brain patterns as they sleep. MIT researchers have found these patterns match humans’ brain patterns.
Both humans and animals go into a deep sleep and then into a REM sleep stage. Rapid Eye Movement sleep stages are where dreams happen. Animals go through this, so we can only assume they’re dreaming!
Signs That Suggest REM Sleep in Senior Pets
Are there any clear, visible signs that your pet is dreaming or in the REM sleep stage? Yes! Here are a few common things that pets do when they’re in the REM stage of their sleep cycle:
- Whining
- Cats leaping up to their feet
- Hissing
- Purring
- Cats arching their backs
- Dogs appearing to run
- Meowing or moaning
- Body twitches
- Growling
- Stalking behavior
- Irregular breathing
- Startling awake
We can only assume that these signs and brain patterns mean dreams are happening.
How to Help Your Senior Pet With Sleep and Dreams
Do you dream at night, too? If so, then you already know that not every dream is a good one! In fact, both humans and pets are more likely to dream during highly emotional times.
Your senior pet could be having bad dreams if they’re not comfortable. It’s possible that your pet is in pain, and this disturbs them while they rest.
What’s more, they may be struggling more with their emotions as they get older.
If you suspect your dog is experiencing this, consider Ellevet. Ellevet is a hemp oil that provides calming relief to your pup.
You can use this product before bed to help your baby sleep better and have better dreams.
Dog Dreams: Fact or Fiction?
So, is your senior dog dreaming of chasing down squirrels in the middle of the night? According to current research, dog dreams are likely a reality. What’s more, cat dreams are, too!
Any pet enthusiast could spot the signs of dreaming, but science is now confirming the theory.
As your senior pet gets older, they might struggle to sleep and dream. The good news is that you can help them keep their mind sharp with senior supplements.
Check out our Senilife supplement now to help keep your pet having good dreams long into old age.