A woman has shared the incredible story of how her dog's seemingly irritating nightly habit turned out to be a life-saving medical alert. What she initially perceived as annoying behaviour was actually her pet's desperate attempt to wake her when she stopped breathing during the night.
The Annoying Habit That Was Anything But
For several weeks, the woman found herself waking up feeling completely unrested and increasingly frustrated with her Shih Tzu Maltese mix. The little dog had developed a pattern of waking her at around 2am by persistently licking her face.
"I was wondering why doesn't she just sleep instead of being playful so late!" the woman explained on Reddit. The constant interruptions to her sleep left her feeling exhausted and irritable, unaware that her beloved pet was engaged in a rescue mission each night.
The Life-Saving Discovery
Determined to understand what was happening, the woman decided to set up a camera in her bedroom to document the nocturnal disturbances. The footage revealed something startling: every time she stopped snoring, fell silent, and stopped breathing, her dog immediately got up and began urgently licking her face to rouse her.
This pattern pointed directly to obstructive sleep apnoea, a serious sleep disorder where the airways become too narrow during sleep, preventing normal breathing. The NHS confirms that untreated sleep apnoea can lead to severe health complications including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.
Understanding Canine Medical Detection
Science Direct research attributes dogs' remarkable ability to detect medical issues to their exceptional olfactory abilities and sensitivity to human cues. Studies have shown that dogs can distinguish between epileptic seizure and non-seizure sweat samples, likely through detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
In this case, the dog appeared to be detecting subtle changes in her owner's breathing patterns or body chemistry that indicated dangerous breathing interruptions.
Taking Action and Public Response
Following her discovery, the woman received overwhelming support and advice from the Reddit community. Many commenters urged her to seek medical help immediately, with one person advising: "Please do get a sleep study. Sleep apnoea is hurting your heart and WILL lead to heart disease."
Several users recommended getting a CPAP machine, with one sharing: "Get a CPAP, they are life changing IMO." Another added their personal experience: "I had pretty severe sleep apnoea, and I can't tell a difference in how rested I feel at all, but the snore prevention was a winner."
The consensus was clear: this canine hero deserved recognition. "Good doggy! Give your pup a hug from this internet stranger for being a good friend!" one commenter wrote.
The NHS advises anyone suspecting they might have sleep apnoea to book an appointment with their doctor for proper testing and treatment planning. Early intervention can prevent the serious health consequences associated with this sleep disorder.
