If your animal seems off, the winter months can affect their moods and behaviors.
By Cat Malkin, MA — The Animal Muse
Wintertime can feel long and dark for both people and pets. If your pet doesn’t seem right to you, it’s always best to check with your veterinarian first. Even if there are medical issues, seasonal changes may also be at play. The tips below can still make a difference. Here are common ways pets respond to seasonal shifts, along with how to help them feel more balanced this time of year.
1. Holiday Aftershocks Are Real
The shift from holiday hubbub to the quiet of January can be disorienting for pets. When family members return to work and school, pets may feel anxious or unsettled, or experience separation anxiety.
What helps:
Create a predictable routine and ensure your pet gets sunlight to help them feel more secure and hopeful during winter.
2. Less Light, Less Energy
Fewer daylight hours can mean lower enthusiasm, slower engagement, and changes in sleep or appetite.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a mood shift linked to reduced daylight in humans. Pets can experience similar changes. While they’re not craving carbs or reaching for the remote, they may show subtle shifts in mood and energy, especially during the darker months.
You may notice:
- Low energy or sleeping more than usual
- Changes in appetite
- Less interest in play or walks
- More withdrawn or quiet behavior
- Clinginess or staying closer to you
- A general sense that something feels “off”
What helps:
More sunlight is the best remedy. When possible, offer them extra daylight and fresh air. Move their bed to a sunny window, take a short walk, or let them sniff around the yard.
3. Quiet Time Together
Pets can feel lonely or anxious when the house feels quiet or empty after the holidays.
What helps:
Spend a few quiet moments each day with your pet to help them feel safe and loved, strengthening your bond.
4. Playtime and Enrichment Matter More in Winter
When cold weather limits outdoor time, pets can get bored, which often shows up as chewing, pacing, restlessness, or sleeping more than usual.
What helps:
Engage your pet with short, fun activities, such as food puzzles or indoor games, to lift their spirits and show you care.
5. Chase their Blues Away with Reiki
If your pet remains anxious, withdrawn, or shows signs of health issues despite these strategies, consult your veterinarian or a pet behaviorist. Professional support can help address underlying concerns and ensure your pet’s emotional health during winter.
Distant Reiki is a gentle form of energy healing that promotes deep relaxation and balance. It helps calm their nervous systems, feel more grounded, and process stress in a safe, noninvasive way. It also complements any medical care they’re already receiving.
Animal Communication uses telepathy to give your pet a voice, which helps you better understand what your pet may be feeling, needing, or trying to tell you. Like human counseling, talking with your pet can offer insight into the root causes of mood changes or behavior shifts. It also empowers animals by making them feel heard and understood.
The Bigger Picture
Winter doesn’t have to feel heavy. With a bit of extra light, connection, and comfort, your pet can feel more like themselves again.
If they need deeper support, Reiki and Animal Communication can help ease their stress, bring clarity to what they’re feeling, and restore emotional balance.
Book an Animal Communication and Reiki session at www.animalmuse.com and help your pet chase the winter blues away.
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