Experts share how to treat dogs' seasonal affective disorder
10.12.2021In winter, people do not have enough sunlight. Because of this, people develop seasonal affective disorder in winter. Can SAD cause winter blues in dogs? Experts say yes, it can. Fortunately, you can help your dog overcome depression in cold weather.
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, it iis a type of depression that commonly occurs in humans, especially during the winter months. The reason is fewer sunny days, as a result, people spend less time outdoors. In humans, this disorder causes symptoms similar to depression. Similar symptoms are observed in animals, which indicates that in the cold season, for example, dogs also suffer from a lack of sunlight.
Short and cloudy days and long, cold winter nights cause seasonal affective disorder in dogs, as in humans. In dogs, symptoms of SAD manifest as lethargy and behavioral changes such as aggression, urinary incontinence, and stool disorder. Survey by the British Veterinary Organization PDSA showed that during the winter months, one in three dog owners notice their pet becomes less playful and appears depressed.
Symptoms that indicate that your four-legged family member may be suffering from seasonal affective disorder:
- aggressive behavior,
- uncontrolled urination and defecation,
- scratching furniture,
- inattention and apathy,
- unreasonable and frequent barking,
- a state of lethargy - unnaturally long sleep,
- lack of appetite, and weight loss.
How to deal with your dog's seasonal affective disorder?
In the same way as people do - by eliminating the cause - with the help of artificial lighting, the daily light time is increased. Lightboxes or lamps that simulate sunlight, which humans use to treat SAD, have also been found to be effective in treating dogs with mood disorder. Artificial sunlight helps to balance the production of melatonin, aka "sleep hormone", which regulates the cycles of sleep and wakefulness, and in general - improves the general well-being of the patient.
If you do not have a dog, but you want to improve your mood, we invite you to the contact zoo. Here you will learn more about yourself and about animals. And we believe that the more people know about nature, the more they care about it. Follow us on social networks:
