A pet owner has revealed what it'southward like to accept a Doberman with narcolepsy, as she films her dog literally falling asleep on the ground during walks.

Ruach Ford is a few months onetime, and was one of nine puppies rescued from a "drug firm" and adopted into a loving family.

His owner has been sharing his journeying online, under TikTok business relationship @ruachthenarcodobbie, but she soon began to realize that something wasn't quite right with their pup.

Sharing the definition of canine narcolepsy, and associated condition cataplexy, website PetMd said: "Narcolepsy and cataplexy are disorders of the nervous organization. Narcolepsy occurs when an animal suffers from excessive daytime sleepiness, lack of free energy, or brief losses of consciousness.

"The episodes are brief and go away by themselves. Cataplexy is characterized by sudden musculus paralysis without loss of consciousness. The brute remains alert and tin can follow movement with its optics throughout the episode.

"Cataplexy is similar to narcolepsy in that the episodes are spontaneous, brief, and reversible. These disorders are relatively common in dogs."

It seems Ruach's mid-walk naps are what have gained him international attention, after a video shared clustered more than one.5 million views.

The clip was posted on Wednesday, as the on-screen captions said: "Trying to walk a dog with narcolepsy."

In the groundwork Ford says: "We just started our walk, and already we're too excited. C'mon, wake upward. And you're awake."

File photo of sleeping Doberman.
File photograph of sleeping Doberman. An owner has revealed what information technology's like to walk their dog, who has narcolepsy. bruev/Getty Images

After a few premises Ruach sits down again, while he has a couple more than episodes.

Another video also demonstrated how tough information technology tin be heading out, which was captioned: "Walking a dog with narcolepsy tin can exist tricky."

Although in the comments, Ford wrote: "Our other two dogs accept care of him when he's down though."

In i of the get-go clips of Ruach, shared concluding month, Ford said in on-screen captions she initially thought her puppy was "sleepy and clumsy."

Every bit his symptoms continued, they took him to a cardiologist, as they suspected something could be wrong with his heart.

She managed to catch more "episodes" on camera, maxim: "We have no idea what's going on. Information technology's scary to come across this happen to your pup!"

But afterwards the cardiologist couldn't find annihilation wrong, Ruach was referred to a neurologist, equally another video explained: "At that point we decided to start doing enquiry on narcolepsy."

Every bit they seemed to finally find what was wrong with their puppy, further clips identified his triggers.

One said: "Ruach having a narcoleptic episode. He is triggered by excitement from food or play."

Other clips bear witness him asleep in his nutrient, dropping to the ground mid-play session, and becoming wobbly as he ate treats.

While in another video, Ford explained Ruach besides had "cataplectic" episodes.

Responding to numerous questions, in the comments Ford claimed "he unfortunately won't grow out of it only they say information technology may subtract equally he ages."

She confirmed he'due south starting medication soon, as she claimed his episodes don't hurt him "but equally he gets heavier I worry about it."

Numerous people commented on the video, with Ryan proverb: "Vivid side is at least if he always gets loose he won't make it far. Glad he'south with a loving possessor and friendly pups."

The Whitney-Jolie commented: "It'southward him fully passing out mid run for me." Sarah McBride said: "I have literally never fifty-fifty heard of this in dogs! Wild." I similar dogs more than you sympathized: "I too need many naps during cardio." Gupcakes wrote: "I feel so bad for chuckling at that third prune. Male child just clocked out on the grass."

B admitted: "I never knew that dogs could get this... Other than him just dropping into asleep is everything else salubrious with him?" Mylifesamess commented: "Stop it's then sad but then cute and I'yard and then happy he has understanding owners." While Not ya business added: "This is the most adorable thing and hilarious."

Explaining more than near how to live with a pet who has these conditions, and what happens during, PetMd continued: "This is non a fatal disease, but it is 1 that requires attending and awareness.

"Narcoleptic and cataplectic episodes can concluding from several seconds upward to thirty minutes, ofttimes occurring when the dog is eating, playing, excited, or is engaged in sexual activity.

"During a narcoleptic episode, the affected dog will collapse onto its side or stomach, its muscles slacken, and all concrete movement briefly ceases. It is just as if the dog has suddenly fallen into a deep sleep. Airtight eye movement continues, equally if the canis familiaris were in the phase of REM sleep.

"During a cataplectic episode, the dog is in a paralyzed state, although its eyes remain open, and information technology has control over its eye movement.

"The domestic dog remains aware and conscious of what is going on around information technology during this type of episode. Typically, the domestic dog will come out of an episode in response to other external stimuli, such as when it hears loud sounds, or when it is petted."

Newsweek reached out to @ruachthenarcodobbie for comment.