Animal Rest

Most animals, on the other hand, become over-stimulated and restless if they get too little rest. The animals that become quieter and slow are often careful enough to prevent problems. If your animal suddenly has much less energy, this is of course also a signal to arrange a check-up at the vet. A longer recovery time and the backward running of the condition can also indicate too little rest.

So the most important thing you see is non-sleeping. Are you in doubt? Put a camera down so that you can look back at what your animal is doing.

Underlying causes

There are also physical disorders of which restlessness can be a symptom. Think of dementia, disturbed thyroid gland, pain, cancer and heart diseases. An animal can also become hyperactive with structural overtraining and constant stimuli.

It can also save the other side: if an animal sleeps too much, there may be a medical reason. In addition to a necessary visit to the veterinarian, a shortage of certain nutrients must also be considered.

Immediate consequences for the body

  • risk of high blood pressure
  • more risk of heart and blood vessel disorders
  • greater risk of diabetes
  • immune system can function less well

being overweight; stress hormones that stay high due to lack of sleep make fat easier to store.

Sleep is also necessary for all kinds of recovery. Thus the growth hormone is created in the first part of sleep. If you do not sleep well, optimal recovery is therefore not possible.

Two other important hormones are cortisol and melatonin. Cortisol is a stress hormone and melatonin is needed to get and stay asleep.

Cortisol forms a kind of “seesaw” with melatonin. If the cortisol level is high due to stress, the melatonin level remains low and it will be more difficult to fall asleep.

Too much stress and pressure during the day, therefore, cause poor sleep, in addition to the other adverse effects of a chronically too high cortisol level.