During the night from Saturday to Sunday this weekend, an hour will be lost. This annual phenomenon can disrupt your dog or cat.
The time change is for this weekend. The transition to summer time will take place on the night of Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 March. At 2 a.m., it will be 3 hours directly, the French losing an hour of sleep. This is why it is often advisable to prepare a little upstream. According to Inserm, the game of needles can indeed impact our internal biological clock and even induce “harmful effects on health”. The Institute notably cites sleep disorders, vigilance or even digestion concerns, particularly affecting young children and the elderly.
But other members of the household can be bothered. Pets can, in fact, undergo the consequences of the time change, even if they are not aware of the maneuver. Their biological clock can also be disrupted: “You may notice that your dog gets up earlier for his morning walk, or that your cat becomes more noisy while waiting for his morning feast. It is because their biological clock is temporarily deynchronized with that of humans, their schedule being modified,” said Doctor Jeffrey Kelu, researcher in Circadian rhythms London to The Independentconcerning the transition to winter time.
But for summer it is the same principle. Meal, ride or even return of the master’s home to the house are shot. The animal’s reaction will actually depend on the usual pace that its owner has given it. “Domestic animals have their biological clock strongly influenced by social signals, such as human interactions,” adds the specialist.
This sudden discrepancy can cause them anxiety, even stomach aches. Carlo Siracusa, specialist in canine behavior and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, claims to have treated dogs who presented anxiety after the time change. “If we look at reality from the point of view of the dog, it’s like: ‘Oh, everyone has gone crazy now, and they do things at a different hour’,” he explains as reports National Geographic.
It is possible to anticipate these repercussions by adjusting a few days before their routine. You can for example give them food for 15/20 minutes earlier every day, if you are used to keeping regular schedules. Pets can take a few days to completely adjust to this lag. The oldest animals will be the most sensitive to change.