Undoubtedly, we all feel the discomfort that afflicts our legs after sitting in one position excessively long. The medical community uses the term “transient paraesthesia,” though most people describe the sensation as limbs “falling asleep.” Fortunately, the feeling due to the phenomenon lasts only a few minutes and generally disappears when we stand up and walk around.
Your maylegs could fall asleep during their nap or if they’ve sat at their desk working on a bone or playing with KONG toys for many hours. Sure, your pet may experience the dreadful pins-and-needles sensation, but it’s not something you should suffer from often.
Learn what causes limbs to fall asleep, which warning signs to watch out for, and which illnesses could appear as sleeping limbs.
What Causes Limbs to Fall Asleep?
The reason dog and human legs sleep is due to the pressure placed on a nerve in the peripheral region 1. The pressure acts as a squeezing of the nerve or reduces the blood flow, hindering the nerve’s ability to communicate with the brain and stopping the nerve from sending sensory signals. We experience the familiar and uncomfortable needle sensation if we ease the tension.
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What Are the Signs in Dogs?
A few of the more common indications that your dog is struggling with a limb that is sleeping include:
- Limping
- Shaking the paw
- Licking the leg or paw
Awareness of the signs that could signal different medical issues is essential. As it does to us, that tingling feeling will pass to your dog shortly after altering their posture and circulation. If your dog suffers from pain or your pet’s symptoms persist after a few minutes, then it’s excellent to speak with your veterinarian to diagnose any possible issues.
Is It Normal for a Dog’s Leg to Fall Asleep?
There shouldn’t be any indications of a sleepy leg on your pet regularly or over long periods. If it is a frequent occurrence, you must take your dog to their veterinarian to discover why they display these signs.
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What Can I Do to “Wake Up” My Dog’s Limbs?
It is pretty stressful when your pet wakes up and does not enjoy all the functionality in their legs. We’ve all experienced how uncomfortable a slumbering arm or leg could be once the animal “wakes up,” but we can understand why it occurs, and it can restrict how we move our legs until that feeling returns. However, it’s difficult to advise our dogs to remain calm and wait it out, and they’ll be left with no clue as to what’s happening or why.
There’s a good thing that any discomfort caused by the limb being awake is only temporary. It is possible to encourage your dog to move around to increase their circulation. However, they will return to the average pace within a few minutes.
What Else Could Be Causing These Signs?
Other things can cause your dog to limp or prefer a particular leg as they get back from their nap after a position for long periods.
Arthritis
Arthritis, also known as osteoarthritis (OA), is a prevalent and progressive joint condition for canines. The disease develops when the dog’s joints get inflamed and begin to change, which can cause the pain of limping and aching. Joint injuries may cause OA, malformations of joints, and damage to joints.
The dogs suffering from OA are prone to showing a range of symptoms that could be misinterpreted as a sleeping leg. This includes lameness and modifications in their walking. Other indications of OA are:
- Stiffness
- Activity levels are declining
- It isn’t easy to navigate staircases
- Loss of muscle
- Behavior changes
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Injuries
The limping of your dog could be because of injuries. These injuries vary in extent, so if you observe them limping for a long time and are concerned about it, make an appointment with your vet. The cause could be a mild strain that is not too serious and requires minimum attention, or it could be more severe than the case of a ruptured Cruciate Ligament.
Other indicators that your dog may be damaged are:
- Yelping
- Behavior shifts
- Swelling
- Lethargy
- A lot of licking
- Walking problems
- Panting
Orthopedic Problems
The most common orthopedic health issues in dogs are conditions, illnesses, or injuries affecting the skeletal structure (bones, joints, tendons, bones, and joints.). The most frequent ailments found in canines are hip dysplasia, luxated patella, intervertebral disc disease, and elbow dysplasia.
The signs that your dog is suffering from problems with the joints. These are:
- Normal posture
- It isn’t easy to stand up
- The difficulty of laying down
- Limb favouring
- Limping
- Stiffness
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Final Thoughts
When laid in a particular place for a long time, they may feel sensations of pins and needles associated with sleeping limbs. This isn’t something you need to observe frequently. Suppose your dog limps often and is prone to favoring one leg or shaking his feet usually. In that case, you should consider going to the veterinarian for an exam to rule out possible health issues that could be serious.