NGD Care | Seasonal transition
Wintertime and cold: why your dog or cat will feel different
For us it is only one hour. For your animal’s body, the entire day and night rhythm shifts.
NGD Care | Stefan Veenstra, DVM
The transition from summer time to winter time seems to us to be only one hour. But especially for animals, it means that their entire day and night rhythm shifts.
Read along for the tips, which you can also apply to yourself.
The biological clock is controlled by light, temperature and day length, and determines much more than just sleep. It affects:
| → Appetite | → Hormone production |
| → Digestion | → Mood and stress processing |
| → The immune system |
Due to the abrupt shift of one hour, the control center in the hypothalamus (the control center of the biological clock, in the brain) temporarily becomes unbalanced. This makes many animals temporarily more sensitive to stress, sleeping problems, behavioral changes and physical complaints.
What many owners notice around winter time
Many dogs and cats are treated during this period:
- More restless, or sluggish
- Hungry at “wrong” times
- Less able to fall asleep or stay asleep
- More sensitive to stress or separation anxiety
- More irritable during walks
- Suffering from skin or intestinal complaints more quickly
These are complaints that occur more often in the autumn anyway, but winter time can strengthen and accelerate this.
Why does this happen?
1. Less daylight, different hormone balance
In the autumn, the day length decreases rapidly. This results in less serotonin (the hormone for mood, rest and appetite) and more melatonin (the hormone for sleep, recovery and slowness).
This hormonal shift can cause behavioral changes, sleep problems, and a lower stress threshold. Sensitive or fearful animals react most strongly to this.
2. The microbiome changes with the season
Research shows that the microbiome of animals changes seasonally. Less exercise, more sitting indoors, cold and less light:
- Reduce the diversity of the microbiome
- Decrease the immune system
- Can trigger diarrhea or stress-sensitive intestines
- Intensify skin problems and itching
3. The transition to colder weather puts extra strain on the body
This should certainly not be missed, because many owners notice it every year. Cold weather causes additional complaints:
- More stiff joints
- Increased itching, dry fur or flakes
- More airway sensitivity
- More recurrent ear or skin infections
- More abdominal complaints or flatulence
- More tension or stimulus-sensitive behavior
The combination of winter time, cold and less light causes a temporary dip in resistance. Both the immune system and the barrier functions of the skin, intestine and respiratory tract are under pressure during this period.
What can you do to support your animal well?
1. Restoring plenty of daylight and rhythm
- Walk in the morning when it is already light. This resynchronizes the biological clock.
- Maintain fixed eating and sleeping times.
- Change times in small 10- to 15-minute increments a day whenever possible.
- Avoid too much blue light in the evening when your animal sleeps in the same room. This can inhibit the production of melatonin.
2. Adapt nutrition and supplements to the season
Choose warmer, easily digestible meals such as steamed meat, pumpkin, or carrot. Add seasonal vegetables and avoid cold food for sensitive intestines during this period.
Natural supplements that are now extra valuable
- Supports the immune system
- Protects against low-grade inflammation
- Supports the intestinal barrier
- Helps with seasonal abdominal discomfort
- Rich in beta-glucans (immune-boosting sugar molecules from mushrooms)
- Strengthens the immune response without overactivation
- Supports chronic complaints such as itching, allergies and tumors
- Supports skin, coat and mood
- Has an anti-inflammatory effect
- Ideal for joint stiffness due to cold
- Strengthen the microbiome
- Improve bowel movements, stress resistance and immune function
- Support stress regulation
- Help with restlessness due to hormonal fluctuations and less light
When to use protocols?
Recurring complaints due to winter time and colder periods, such as diarrhea, itching, stress or ear problems, almost always involve an underlying chronic imbalance. Then a protocol is often more effective, because it helps the system structurally recover instead of just fighting the symptom.
| Bowel protocol · for intestines, allergies, resistance and stress |
| Stress protocol · for separation anxiety, sensitivity to stimuli and winter blues |
| Skin protocol · for itching, hot spots and allergies |
3. Provide warmth, peace and security
According to Chinese medicine, winter falls under the Water element: a phase of slowing down, inner peace and saving energy.
- A warm, quiet place
- Regular moments of rest
- Fewer stimuli on days with low light
- Aromatherapy, such as Earthing Support, to Grounding: to Earthing Support →
- A chakra blossom for balance, such as Inner Alignment Essence: to Inner Alignment Essence →
This helps body and mind to make the transition to winter smooth.
Summary
The transition to winter time, and the cold that comes with it, is a vulnerable period for many animals. Their biological clock, immune system and microbiome have to reset.
With good daylight, a warm and regular rhythm, seasonal food, natural support such as lactoferrin, mushroom mix 1, omega-3 and probiotics, and sufficient rest and security, your dog or cat will stay in balance.
Physically and mentally.
Are you unsure which support or protocol suits your animal?
Biorhythm
Microbiome
Seasonal Support
Stress
This text is intended as general information and does not replace individual veterinary advice. If in doubt, always contact your veterinarian.
NGD Care | Stefan Veenstra, DVM