Here’s a fun fact for you, adult dogs need between 14 and 18 hours of sleep in every 24-hour period. Just have a think about that for a moment.

If I’m lucky, I will get a straight seven hours of sleep at night and be able to function well during the daytime. (Last night I was on call, so it was only about five hours, lovely!)

But dogs need twice as much sleep as their owners and as a vet, I’m noticing the signs of them not getting enough.

Dogs need sleep for many of the same reasons we do, to regenerate cells and tissues, improve overall immune function, and for mood coordination.

Lack of sleep can cause restlessness or hyperactivity, lack of motor skills or clumsiness, poor concentration, irritability and even aggression. Chronic lack of sleep is also bad for their long-term health, their obesity levels, and it can increase stress.

So why are our dogs not sleeping enough?

There have been many changes over the last few years to the way we manage our animals.

Many of us are working from home more, which can interrupt the sleep patterns of our pets.

There has been a rise in the services of dog play and dog walkers to entertain our dogs whilst we are out. This can be great if the dogs get plenty of quality time to nap as well.

Dogs that snore when they sleep, such as short-nosed dogs, have been shown to struggle to get good REM sleep as they tend to wake themselves up a lot, in the same way people that snore do.

So how can you help your favourite pooch get a good night’s sleep and have happy naps throughout the day?

Firstly, make sure they are comfortable on their bed in a quiet environment with a nice ambient temperature. Locate your dog’s bed away from road noise, footpaths and other pets that might interrupt their sleep.

Keep disturbances to a minimum whilst they are napping. The school holidays are always a time that dogs start to miss their naps as there is often a lot more going on at home.

Ask the kids to leave the dog when he is sleeping and have some quiet time themselves. Give your dog enough exercise during the day so that they can get a full night’s sleep, but be mindful that they also need naps throughout the day so leave time for these.

Get to know your dog’s sleep patterns using an activity tracker to allow you to build a routine around these naturally restful times.

In older dogs, pay attention to their pain levels which can be due to arthritis or muscle stiffness. If your dog is in pain, they will reposition frequently when sleeping, which disturbs their sleep patterns.

Speak to your vet if you see this, or if your dog is panting a lot through the night as they may need some help with pain control.

So, make sure your dog is getting enough good quality sleep and speak with your vet if you need advice. Remember the old saying ‘Let sleeping dogs lie,’ they will be happier and healthier if you do.

• Lucy Richardson graduated from Edinburgh University in 2005. She started CedarTree Vets in August 2012 with her husband, Mark. They live at the practice with their two children, Ray and Stella, and their dog, two cats and two guinea pigs. Dr Lucy is also the FEI national head veterinarian for Bermuda