02/06/2026
Week 23. All about sleep.
At the recent - Veterinary Osteoarthritis Alliance conference I attended many interesting lectures but the one that really stood out to me was about sleep and how not getting enough sleep can influence the pain that our arthritic dogs experience.
For dogs living with osteoarthritis, sleep is far more than simple rest. It is an essential part of their health and comfort. Just as people feel better after a good night's sleep, dogs rely on quality sleep to help their bodies recover, manage pain, and support healthy brain function too.
When a dog sleeps, the body shifts into repair mode. Muscles relax, tissues recover from the stresses of the day, and the nervous system gets a chance to reset. For dogs with osteoarthritis, this recovery period is especially important because chronic joint inflammation and pain can be physically and mentally exhausting.
Sleep also plays a vital role in maintaining brain health through a process known as the Glymphatic Washout. This is a fascinating process and one that I had no idea happened until attending the conference. Yes, I knew that sleep was important but how it happened!
The Glymphatic Washout occurs during deep sleep. Fluid flows through the brain and helps wash away waste products such as unwanted proteins and neurotoxins that accumulate during waking hours. A useful way to think about this process is to imagine the brain as a washing machine. During deep sleep, the glymphatic system starts its "rinse cycle," flushing away these unwanted substances and leaving the brain refreshed and ready for the next day. Without enough quality deep sleep, this important cleaning process becomes less effective which leads to heightened pain levels the following day. If a dog can get a good nights sleep he is able to cope with his arthritic pain much better the following day.
Good bedding can make a significant difference to both sleep quality and pain management in dogs with osteoarthritis. Supportive, orthopaedic bedding helps distribute body weight more evenly, reducing pressure on sore joints such as the hips, elbows, and knees. It can also help maintain body warmth, which may ease stiffness and improve comfort. Whilst fluffy, squashy doughnut type beds may look nice they can actually be quite detrimental do a dog with osteoarthritis as they can be difficult to get into and out of and do not support or cushion the joints. When a dog is comfortable, they are less likely to wake repeatedly because of pain, allowing them to spend more time in the deeper stages of sleep where physical recovery and glymphatic "washout" occur.
Providing a quiet sleeping area and a supportive bed is therefore more than a comfort measure—it is an investment in your dog's overall wellbeing. By helping an arthritic dog achieve restful, uninterrupted sleep, you support pain management, physical recovery, and the brain's natural overnight cleaning process, all of which contribute to a better quality of life.
If you want to know more about sleep and how it impacts dogs it is worth following Dr. Lauren Davis from VetRelieve . Known as The Sleep Vet, she knows everything about sleep that you could possibly want to know and also has a range of beds specifically designed for support and care of osteoarthritic dogs.
