Circadian Rhythm
Here comes the warm season, and that sweet smell of spring breeze. It’s such a refreshing time for us and our pets to start walking around!
This spring is definitely a busy season and just like us, humans, our pets also have their own body clock, and believe it or not, the one-hour change in our schedule can cause some confusion on our pets.
Pets have this biological timekeeper and we also call this “circadian rhythm. this is the 24-hour cycle that is part of the body’s internal clock, running in the background to carry out essential functions and processes. One of the most important and well-known circadian rhythms is the sleep-wake cycle.
The pattern of light affects sleep cycles, hormone levels, brain wave activity, and body temperature, all of which have an impact on behavior. Dogs certainly have a natural circadian rhythm with activity peaks in the mid-morning and early evening.
Usually, we humans are the ones who set our pet’s routines, so when you set your clock forward an hour this week, make sure to remember that your pets also need a little paw-holding during the time change. It is highly advised to change their routines minute-by minute rather than changing it the whole hour at once.
Cheers,
Dr. Ruth Roberts
