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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2017)
Wednesday, November 15, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon serotonin, a brain chemical that affects mood, might play a role in the disorder. Scientists have also dis- covered that the change in season can disrupt the bal- ance of the body’s level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood. Common symptoms include feeling depressed, having little energy, or sleep- ing too much. What sets this condition apart from other Jodi Schneider McNamee forms of depression is the Columnist symptoms will naturally go away on their own during the brighter and warmer months of the year. Since this is a very real problem in humans, it’s understandable to wonder if Just about everyone has pets are also susceptible to heard the phrase “winter mood shifts with seasonal blues.” Some individuals changes. are negatively affected by According to Steve Dale, the shift into winter. Serious a certified animal behavior depression of this nature is consultant, “The definitive known as seasonal affective answer is — maybe.” disorder (SAD), a condition Dale says we share much that affects one to 10 percent of the same brain chemistry of the population depending with dogs, including hor- on the specific location. mones melatonin and sero- The reduced level of sun- tonin. So, it’s conceivable that light in fall and winter may pets can get SAD, but there cause winter-onset SAD. could be other explanations. The decrease in sunlight may The People’s Dispensary disrupt your body’s internal for Sick Animals (PDSA), clock and lead to feelings of the United Kingdom’s lead- depression because a drop in ing vet charity, found that Paw Prints Seasonal changes can affect your pet, too NOW BOOKING HOLIDAY APPOINTMENTS approximately 40 percent of dog pet parents saw a con- siderable decline in their pet’s moods during the win- ter months. In addition, half of the pet parents felt that their dogs slept longer, with around two in five reporting their pets to be less active. The PDSA states that ani- mals who suffer from SAD are likely to display symp- toms very similar to that of humans, such as depression, lack of energy, and fatigue. And according to Dr. Nicholas, a veterinary behav- iorist and professor at Tufts University in Maryland, “Everything in the psycholog- ical or psychiatric arena that affects people is eventually discovered to affect domes- tic animals. Knowing this, it would be very surprising if SAD didn’t exist in animals.” So, what can you do if your pet is showing signs of this seasonal disorder? If you’ve noticed your furry friend acting a little more down than normal at this time of year and you want to take action to help prevent any blues from set- ting in, the good news is there are definitely way you can help. The first is to keep your dog active. While you’ll want to protect your pet from harsh PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER MCNAMEE Your dog may get down when the days grow short. weather conditions, taking your dog out for a walk is proven to release endorphins and ease any stress. And if your pooch seems to have a really tough time when the seasons change and you’ve gone to your vet- erinarian to rule out any other medical conditions, it may be worth investing in a light box. This type of treatment is a common option for people struggling with SAD. You can actually find a device known as the Sol Box that is spe- cifically designed for dogs. Since there is not enough data to support a definite diagnosis of SAD in pets, lack of energy, lack of appe- tite and other SAD-like symptoms that may occur during this time of year can also be attributed to other factors. Taking a few simple steps like bonding with your furry friend, promoting exer- cise, increasing lighting, and ensuring a proper diet, can go a long way to promote the health of your pet – not just during colder months of the year. Complete Thanksgiving Dinner! November 23 at Noon Let our chef cook for you! No stress, no mess, just delicious food. Our Thanksgiving dinner always sells out, call early to reserve space for you and your loved ones. 541.516.3030 Tim & Ronnica Westcott Jenny Duey 541-588-6611 541 588 6611 220 W. Cascade Ave. 9 lakecreeklodge.com
