It can be distressing to hear your dog crying or see them shaking at night, especially when they seem comfortable during the day.
Nighttime changes can sometimes have a simple explanation, but they may also signal pain, anxiety, illness, or changes associated with aging.
The reason may be easier to identify by looking at what your dog does before settling down, whether they wake repeatedly, and how they behave during the daytime.
New or worsening nighttime shaking and crying deserves attention rather than being automatically dismissed as a behavioral problem.
Table of Contents
Dog Shaking and Crying at Night: Here's Why
A dog may shake and cry at night because of anxiety, pain, discomfort, changes in sleep patterns, age-related cognitive changes, needing to urinate, or an underlying medical condition.
Some dogs become more unsettled when the house becomes quiet and dark, while others may experience discomfort that is more noticeable when they are trying to rest.
The timing can provide useful clues. If your dog repeatedly wakes, paces, changes sleeping positions, or seems confused, it is important to consider both behavioral and physical causes.
Dog Shaking and Crying at Night: Common Causes
Stress
Some dogs become more anxious at night when their surroundings are quiet and there are fewer distractions. Changes in household routines, unfamiliar environments, loud noises, or previous stressful experiences can contribute.
An anxious dog may tremble, whine, pace, pant, or repeatedly seek their owner’s attention.
If the behavior is associated with a clear environmental trigger, anxiety may be contributing.
However, sudden nighttime anxiety can also occur when a dog is experiencing pain or illness, so a new pattern should not automatically be considered behavioral.
Read more: Dog Shaking and Crying in Sleep (Causes and when to worry)
Pain or Physical Discomfort
Pain can become more noticeable when a dog lies down and tries to rest. Arthritis, muscle discomfort, dental problems, abdominal discomfort, or another painful condition may cause a dog to shift positions, tremble, or cry at night.
Stiffness when getting up, reluctance to climb stairs, difficulty jumping, limping, or sensitivity when touched may be noticed.
Pain that repeatedly interrupts sleep deserves veterinary attention.
Older dogs in particular may hide discomfort during the day and show more obvious signs when trying to settle at night.
Arthritis and Age-Related Joint Problems
Senior dogs commonly experience joint stiffness and discomfort. After remaining in one position for a while, getting comfortable again may be difficult.
A dog may shake, whine, pace, or repeatedly get up and lie down. During the day, you may notice slower walking, difficulty rising, or reluctance to use stairs.
These changes should not simply be considered a normal part of getting older. Veterinary assessment can determine whether joint pain is contributing to the nighttime behavior.
Related: Dog Shaking and Crying (Causes and when to worry)
Cognitive Changes in Older Dogs
Older dogs can develop changes in sleep-wake patterns and awareness. A senior dog may become confused at night, wander around the house, vocalize, or appear unable to settle.
During the day, there may also be changes in interaction, house-training, sleep patterns, or recognition of familiar routines.
Nighttime confusion can have several possible causes, including pain and other medical problems. A veterinarian should evaluate a significant change in an older dog’s behavior.
Need to Urinate or Defecate
A dog that needs to go outside may become restless, whine, pace, or wake their owner during the night. This can become more noticeable in dogs with increased urination, gastrointestinal problems, or age-related changes in bladder control.
You may notice accidents in the house, increased thirst, more frequent urination, or changes in bowel movements.
If nighttime bathroom needs suddenly become more frequent, veterinary evaluation can help determine whether an underlying condition is responsible.
Gastrointestinal Discomfort
Nausea, gas, abdominal discomfort, or digestive disease can make it difficult for a dog to sleep peacefully. A dog may pace, shake, whine, lick their lips, or repeatedly change positions.
Vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, reduced appetite, or unusual bowel movements may also occur.
Persistent nighttime discomfort accompanied by digestive symptoms should be assessed, particularly if your dog is not eating or drinking normally.
Medication Effects
Some medications can affect a dog’s sleep, behavior, appetite, or activity level. Depending on the medication, a dog may become restless, sleepy, or otherwise behave differently at night.
If the nighttime shaking and crying began after starting a medication or changing a dose, tell your veterinarian.
Do not stop or alter prescribed medication without veterinary guidance.
Other Underlying Medical Conditions
Various medical conditions can cause nighttime restlessness, trembling, vocalization, or changes in sleep. Problems affecting the heart, lungs, nervous system, digestive tract, or other body systems may become more noticeable when a dog is resting.
Other signs might include coughing, breathing changes, weakness, reduced appetite, weight changes, vomiting, or altered behavior.
When nighttime symptoms are new, persistent, or accompanied by other changes, a veterinary examination can help identify the underlying cause.
Related: Dog panting excessively and shaking (Causes and when to worry)
When to Call or Visit the Vet
Occasional nighttime restlessness may have a straightforward explanation, but repeated shaking and crying should not be ignored. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice:
Frequent or worsening nighttime episodes
Signs of pain, stiffness, or difficulty moving
Persistent panting or breathing changes
Loss of appetite, vomiting, or diarrhea
Increased thirst or urination
Confusion, weakness, or significant behavior changes
Difficulty settling despite being comfortable and having access to water and a bathroom area
Collapse, severe distress, or rapidly worsening symptoms
Dog Shaking and Crying at Night: Treatment
Veterinary treatment for a dog that is shaking and crying at night starts with a thorough examination to assess pain, mobility, neurological function, and overall health.
The veterinarian may recommend blood tests, X-rays, ultrasound, or other diagnostic testing when appropriate to identify problems that are not visible externally, while additional testing may be needed when pain, organ disease, or cognitive changes are suspected.
Treatment may include prescription pain relief, anti-inflammatory medication, treatment for an underlying illness, behavioral support when appropriate, or other targeted therapy based on the diagnosis.
Key Takeaway
A dog shaking and crying at night may be experiencing anxiety, pain, arthritis, gastrointestinal discomfort, the need to urinate, age-related cognitive changes, medication effects, or another underlying medical condition.
Nighttime behavior can sometimes make discomfort easier to notice because there are fewer distractions and your dog is trying to rest.
A sudden change in sleep behavior, especially in a senior dog, should not automatically be dismissed as aging or attention-seeking.
If your dog repeatedly shakes or cries at night, arrange a veterinary examination to determine the cause.
If nighttime distress is accompanied by breathing difficulty, severe weakness, collapse, or rapidly worsening symptoms, seek veterinary attention promptly.