The sun is shining outside, the birds are chirping and the temperatures are topping one high after another. Just the right time to go for long walks with your dog and enjoy nature. But your four-legged friend seems to be stressed, tired and listless? Does he stroll several meters behind you when you go for a walk and doesn't seem to show much interest in nature? You can hardly get him out of his basket and after a few rounds of fetching he gives up tired? It's quite possible that he's caught spring fatigue. The transition from winter to spring not only takes its toll on us humans, but can also be very pronounced in dogs. In this article, we reveal the causes of spring tiredness in dogs and how you can best support your four-legged friend.
Causes and symptoms of spring fatigue
The cold season is finally over and the first rays of sunshine are calling us outside. Even if flexibility is somewhat limited this year due to the current restrictions, many people are still drawn to the great outdoors. Body functions are slowly waking up from hibernation and melatonin levels in the body are falling. This is also the case for your four-legged friend. Because in the dark season, your dog's levels of the sleep hormone melatonin also increase and tiredness sets in. In addition, many bodily functions run a little slower in winter, as our dogs generally spend less time outside. The metabolism is slowed down, your four-legged friend's energy production is at a low level and there may also be a serotonin deficiency. All of these processes need to get going in spring. So it's not surprising that the change from cold to warm is hard on your pet. Your dog sleeps a lot and seems tired and listless. Sensitive dogs in particular often find the change from winter to spring more difficult.
Change of coat - costs energy, strength and nutrients
With the first warmer temperatures, the change of coat is just around the corner. While the thick undercoat protects the dog from the cold in winter, it is a burden in the warmer months and therefore has to make way for the lighter summer coat. However, this is also a process that can take several weeks. As temperatures rise rapidly, your four-legged friend may become too warm and need to rest regularly and look for a place in the shade.
The change of coat is also accompanied by some metabolic stress, your dog's body needs a lot more specific nutrients and the immune system can also use some support. The animal's biorythm has to constantly readjust to the changing seasons, which takes a toll on the body.
Goodbye winter fat
It is not uncommon for dogs to come out of winter with a little more flab on their hips than they should normally have. This is because owners like to keep their walks short when the weather is dingy, but the food ration and energy intake are not reduced. What's more, four-legged friends like to have a few more treats, and not just during the festive season. This results in one or two extra pounds, which of course have to come off first. This process also needs to be set in motion and contributes to your four-legged friend's sudden tiredness.
How you can help your dog with spring tiredness
But as a pet owner, you are not simply at the mercy of your dog's spring tiredness. With just a few simple steps, you can effectively support your dog during the lethargic phase and counteract fatigue.
Adjust nutrient intake
Due to the numerous metabolic processes in your four-legged friend's body, an adapted nutrient intake is necessary. We two-legged friends also eat differently depending on the season. To help your dog's coat change in particular, you can add high-quality oils to their daily food. Linseed oil or salmon oil are important sources of omega-3, which not only strengthen your dog's coat, but can also help to keep their skin healthy. Although the essential fatty acids are a component of the cell membrane, they cannot be produced by the body itself. An increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids is therefore recommended, especially during the shedding period.
A balanced vitamin balance can also reduce the symptoms of spring tiredness in dogs. The vitamins of the B group play an important role here. As co-factors, they are involved in many metabolic functions and are the firewood for energy metabolism and many synthesis processes in the body. Unfortunately, your dog cannot store these vitamins over a longer period of time as they are water-soluble and the excess is excreted. To avoid having to resort to synthetic products, you can give your dog natural brewer's yeast. It is rich in vitamin B, especially biotin, which supports coat growth and rebalances the dog's vitamin levels.
Variety on the walk
Many dog owners tend to take their dog for a routine walk with little variety. The dog is already busy enough with sniffing, marking and meeting other dogs. However, the daily walk can also become a habit for your four-legged friend. A bit of variety can lure your dog out of his shell and motivate him anew - especially during the springtime doldrums.
To give the walk a little pep, you can try out the usual commands and perhaps even learn new ones. If your dog sometimes walks off the lead, you can leave him sitting and slowly walk a few meters away. Only when you have his full attention, of course. Then call him to you and reward him. You can repeat this several times. Search games can also be integrated quickly and easily when walking your dog. Drop a treat or two every now and then and send your dog off on a search. These little interactions will get your pet out of his spring rut and also strengthen your relationship.
However, the occasional change of environment with new impressions, unknown paths and different smells is and remains the pick-me-up among the walking tips. After all, we two-legged friends also need to get out of our familiar surroundings and see, smell and taste "something new". It's no different for our dogs. Exploring unfamiliar paths, sniffing out new smells and meeting strangers can give your dog a new lease of life and encourage his thirst for adventure.
Conclusion
It's not just us humans who can be overcome by spring tiredness, our dogs also struggle with the change in weather from time to time. A new biorythm, faster metabolic processes and, of course, the recurring change of coat can cause even our otherwise agile four-legged friends to go limp. However, our pets are not left to their own devices. With our support and, of course, lots of love, the symptoms of spring tiredness in dogs can be reduced and the lethargic phase can even be shortened.
