Buffy, my ten-year-old cocker spaniel hates rain more than anything else. I’ll open the door and she’ll stick her nose out and then back up. “No way,” she seems to be saying. “I can hold it. I don’t have to go potty.”
Does your dog act like this?
Does she act more lethargic and not want to go outside, even when it’s dry but still cold?
Some dogs act like many of us, more tired, less apt to go outside, gaining weight (between Halloween, Thanksgiving, then Christmas) with just a little extra treat – that soon adds up to pounds for both us and our dogs. Now the clocks are set back an hour for the end of Daylight Savings Time, so it gets dark around 4:30 in the Chicago area.
It’s dark, it’s cold, and sometimes it’s snowing or raining—and all your pet and you want to do is curl up under a warm blanket and nibble on snacks.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
You’ve probably heard of SAD, which affects many people in northern climates. It can also affect dogs. In my last blog, I talked about cold, dreary weather getting us down and the best solution is to spend time outdoors every day.
But Seasonal Affective Disorder is due to the lack of sunlight and not necessarily cold weather. I know I need the sunlight and couldn’t imagine living where there is little winter sunlight, like in Alaska. In the Chicago area, our winters are often very cloudy.
Lack of sunlight causes our bodies to produce more melatonin, which makes us sleepy. Daylight stimulates the hormone serotonin, which boosts our mood and helps us stay calm and focused. Serotonin is often called the “feel good” hormone. Comfort foods like cake and chocolate can also stimulate serotonin. When we lack serotonin, we tend to eat more.
A Psychology Today article noted that 40% of dog owners saw a decrease in their pet’s moods during the winter. Half of the pet owners felt that their dogs slept more, and about 25% noticed an increase in appetite.
I wondered how sunlight affects dogs with no eyes, like Buffy, who lost hers from glaucoma about a year and a half ago. Although blind people have been studied for circadian rhythm alteration (our day-night cycles), and some have their rhythms off due to their blindness, I couldn’t find any studies related to dogs with no eyes. My guess is that Buffy goes by the household activity to determine when we will get up in the morning and when we will come home from work. Of course, her stomach also guides her when her next meal is due.
How to ease the effects of SAD for people and dogs
- Any time it is sunny, let the sunshine into your home by opening blinds and drapes. This also helps to warm the room. You may want to place your dog’s bed in the sunlight.
- Take your dog outside during the daylight for walks. Exercise is much better than letting them just hang out in the yard.
- Put a coat or a sweater on your dog if the weather is poor and she gets cold.
- Use a specialized lightbox to combat SAD. Or you can buy lights that state “full-spectrum” or “daylight” bulbs. Have these lights on for at least an hour a day and make sure your pet is awake while it is on to expose their eyes to the light, which is the key to combatting SAD.
The extra light from being outside or by using special artificial lights may help boost your mood for both you and your pets.
Do you or your pet suffer from SAD?
For more information:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201301/do-dogs-have-winter-blues-or-suffer-sad
https://www.intermountainpet.com/blog/is-your-pet-sad-seasonal-affective-disorder-and-your-dog
I live in the South, but when the weather turns cold and dark, I experience SAD. I haven’t noticed a difference with the way my cats act.
I think it would be interesting to learn more about circadian rhythms in dogs. Louie seems to get severe jet lag when we travel. It must be hard for them to understand what is going on.
I absolutely suffer from SAD. I never thought about whether or not my cats had it too. I have a “happy light” but I keep forgetting it. This is a good reminder to get it out and set it up for this year. Maybe the cats will like it too.
My dogs don’t seem to be affected, but I am very sensitive to lighting and can’t stand using an incandescent bulb during the daytime. I need to try full-spectrum lighting. I am terrified of slipping on the ice in the winter, so I tend to stay inside more than I should.
No, my dog doesn’t suffer from SAD, she suffers from MAD. LOL As the weather gets colder, she gets more and more active. When it’s really cold, she serves zoomies. And having a yard full of free ice cream is also awesome.
That’s what happens when you have winter dogs. My springer loved to make snow angels!
I didn’t know it affected dogs but, yes, it makes sense. I have a SAD lamp and it is a life saver. Even two hours a day with a lamp makes a big difference.
I like your tips a lot. Some people may not think that a simple thing like moving a pet bed into the sunshine might help and, yes – much as I dislike the cold and damp – a walk can make big difference.
Thank you for your great comment. A walk can make a big difference.
I love walking in the rain, the cool weather so am quite happy to be outdoors but Layla hates the rain so we deal with it by waiting for a lull in the rain or putting her in her backpack and carrying her a couple of blocks and then taking her out and making her walk home. She walks under the eaves of the buildings LOL. I
It is hard and I know being cooped up more than normal I have found doing what I do helps that and she might not be happy she is at least outdoors and getting some exercise.
I like that she walks under the eaves!