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.
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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