A lot of people do. And our pets might, too.
SAD is short for Seasonal Affective Disorder, a.k.a. the winter blues. Itโs that low-energy,ย Down-in-the-dumps, not-quite-right feeling that we sometimes get this time of year when shorter days make sunlight tougher to find.
The science is pretty simple. When the sun hits our eyes, our brains produce twoย hormones: melatonin and serotonin. If thereโs not much sunshine around, we tend toย make more melatonin, which triggers sleep, but less serotonin, the โfeel goodโ hormoneย that boosts our moods.
For some of us, the changes barely register. But for others, SAD can ruin winterโs goodย times, and our pups are likely no different. After all, their brain chemistry is a lot likeย ours, and just like us they rely on melatonin and serotonin to regulate their sleepย patterns and their moods.
In a survey of pet owners by the British Veterinary organization PDSA, 68% said theirย pets were noticeably โgrumpierโ in the winter. Over 40% found their pets had lessย energy, and a majority saw their animal friends sleeping more during the darkerย months.
This could just be our pets reacting to our own light-deprived moodsโwe know thatย dogs, for example, recognize human emotionsโor it could be SAD. One thingโs for sure:ย if we notice our pets are withdrawn, sleeping more, not as interested in walks or play,ย have changes in weight, or are more demanding than usual when the days grow short,ย itโs time to help.
One big thing we can do is open all our shades as soon as the sun is up to let in all theย light we can. We can also put their beds in sunny locationsโaccess to sun-filledย windows so puppers and others can soak up those precious rays all day is key. Full-spectrum light bulbs can also give pets a boost, and a nice long daily walk in the daylight willย help out a lot. So does keeping everybody busy with some new toys, especially theย gotta-work-for-it kind with treats hidden inside.
Thereโs also evidence that CBD may be able to help with animal depression in the sameย way scientists are learning it might have benefits for people. Our CBD dog biscuits andย dog and cat CBD oils may be just the thing our pets need when winter darkens theirย spirits. Weโre pretty sure thereโs a whole lot of furballs around here who would happilyย agree!