Narcolepsy is an uncommon disorder in dogs that results in abnormal sleep tendencies (e.g. sudden onset of sleep), sleep paralysis, and cataplexy. One of the manifestations of narcolepsy is cataplexy which is characterized by a rapid onset of sleep, resulting in flaccid paralysis in dogs that lasts for a few seconds to a few minutes.
Dogs are famous for their long, and frequent, napping habits. While these long and deep naps are normal for our pets, some dog owners wonder if perhaps their extremely restful pet might perhaps have narcolepsy. However narcolepsy is a condition which has very distinct symptoms that includes more than frequent and long bouts of napping.
Treatment for narcolepsy is generally only used if the dog is experiencing multiple episodes which interfere with the dog’s quality of life. Narcoleptic dogs that cannot be continually supervised should also be placed on treatment therapies. Currently there are two medications that are used to treat narcolepsy in dogs.