Does your dog seem a bit down lately? Has he started raiding the biscuit tin? Hogging the bed more than usual? Are you wondering what’s got into him?
A survey carried out by the PDSA might hold the answer. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects lots of people but apparently might also affect our pets. One in three owners report depression of their dogs’ mood during the winter, one in two report an increase in sleep, one in four report an increase in appetite and approximately two in five dogs show decreased activity levels. Even cats seem to be affected with one in three owners reporting similar symptoms.
It is believed that SAD may be caused by low amounts of light causing a reduction in mood altering chemicals in the brain and hormone disruption. Because of the poor summer this year, this might already be happening.
So what is the advice to help our pets beat the winter blues? A senior veterinary surgeon for the PDSA, admitting that the lowered mood might just be down to reduced opportunities to be outside with the onset of colder weather, recommends a programme of regular exercise, good nutrition, talking to, playing with and comforting our pets.
Business as usual then!
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