Q&A: Have you ever seen a dog with narcolepsy?

Dogs are infamous for their long, and frequent, napping habits. While these deep naps are normal for most of our pets, some owners wonder whether their dog might nap too much, possibly suffering from narcolepsy. “Narcolepsy” refers to excessive daytime sleepiness, lethargy, or brief periods of collapse and unconsciousness that resolve spontaneously. It is a specific medical condition that involves much more than simple sleepiness.

Narcolepsy has been diagnosed in many dog breeds and has a proven hereditary component to its cause. Predisposed breeds include Labrador retrievers, Poodles, Dachshunds, and Doberman pinschers. Clinical signs usually appear before 6 months of age. The main clinical sign of narcolepsy in a dog is that it suddenly falls into what appears to be a deep sleep during the daytime. The onset usually is rapid, and the episodes usually last only a few seconds to a few minutes, although they can last up to 30 minutes or more.

Signs usually are characterized by collapse into lateral (lying on the side) or sternal (lying on the stomach) recumbency. Movements or twitching of eye and other muscles as normally are seen during REM sleep episodes are commonly seen with narcolepsy as well. Narcoleptic episodes often occur during times of regular activity, such as eating, playing, or other times of excitement. For example, a dog playing ball might suddenly fall to the ground in an apparent “deep sleep”, and then waken and begin playing again as if nothing happened.

Narcolepsy in dogs is also characterized by a condition called “cataplexy,” which involves brief episodes of muscle paralysis with loss of reflexes that are completely and spontaneously reversible. The dog may develop weakness in its legs, the facial muscles may go slack and droop and the neck muscles may tremble, with the head “falling down.” After a period of time, the pet will spontaneously recover. Most affected dogs will be aroused by loud noises, petting, calling or other external stimuli.
The frequency of narcolepsy symptoms depends upon the severity of the condition. Some dogs experience only a few narcoleptic bouts each week or month, while others may experience dozens of narcoleptic episodes daily. Signs of narcolepsy can mimic signs of other more serious conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or epilepsy. If you notice any of these signs in your dog, make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible. Narcolepsy can be managed, and there are measures that a dog owner can take to keep their narcoleptic friend safe.

The primary goal of treating canine narcolepsy is to reduce the frequency and severity of the cataplectic episodes. Treatment for narcolepsy is generally only considered if the dog is experiencing multiple episodes which interfere with its quality of life. This is uncommon. Narcoleptic dogs that cannot be regularly supervised should also be placed on management therapies; while the episodes themselves do not hurt the dog’s health, they can occur at inopportune times, causing harm to the dog.
The current medical treatment protocol for narcolepsy in dogs is to use tricyclic antidepressants, which act by blocking cellular uptake of the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine. Other stimulant medications are available to treat excessive sleepiness. Of course, new medications are being researched all the time.
Narcolepsy and the associated cataplectic attacks are generally not life-threatening. While there is no “cure,” the clinical signs can be minimized with treatment. Sometimes, the signs resolve on their own.
I hope that I have been of some help to you.

Everett