5 Fun and Vet-Approved Winter Activities To Keep Your Pets Happy and Healthy

The winter blues don’t just affect humans — they affect pets too. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression that occurs most commonly in humans during the cold, dark days of winter. It is often the result of a lack of sunlight and outdoor activity and fewer hours of daylight. Though symptoms of SAD are most obvious is humans, a survey found that as many as one in three dog owners noticed that their normally cheerful companions become subdued, lethargic and less playful during the dreary winter months. The good news is that the cure for SAD in pets is similar to, if not the same as, the cure for you: Sunshine and good, old-fashioned outdoor play.

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder

In humans, the winter blues can affect everything from sleep patterns to mood to whole body health. Symptoms may include apathy, anxiety, loss of interest, appetite changes, fatigue, irritability and social isolation. In animals, symptoms may look more or less the same. In fact, many people who said their dogs exhibit signs of SAD report seeing the following physical and behavioral changes in their furry family members:

• Aggression

• Neediness

• Frequent barking

• Lethargy

• Clawing at furniture and chewing

• Reduced appetite

• More accidents in the house

• Sleeping more than usual

• Loss of interest in playing, walks or activities they once enjoyed

If you notice that your pet isn’t acting like itself lately, it may be time to get up and move.

Winter-Approved Activities for You and Your Pet

From frolicking in the snow to playing hide and seek indoors, there are dozens of things you can do with your pet to keep it active, healthy and happy. Below are just five vet-approved activities you can try this winter.

1. Climb the Stairs

There’s a reason they say, “Take the stairs…” When it comes to burning fat and boosting energy, climbing the stairs is one of the best exercises you can do. In addition to helping your pet stay lean and muscular, climbing the stairs is a great workout for its cardiovascular system. If you live in an apartment complex, take your pooch out for a walk, and then take the stairs back up to your unit. If you live in a multistory home, race your dog or cat up the steps a few times a day to get its heart pumping.

If Fido just isn’t into the stair climb, throw his favorite toy to the top. He’ll be up to retrieve it faster than you can say “fetch.”

2. Play Fetch

Speaking of playing fetch, you can’t go wrong with this classic. Provide your pooch with both physical and mental stimulation by tossing a brightly colored ball, disc or frisbee around in the yard. If you live in a climate that gets ice or snow, make sure your pet is dressed for the weather. While some dogs are naturally equipped with fur that shields them from the elements, others, such as greyhounds, whippets and bulldogs, may need cold weather gear, such as doggie sweaters and booties. If it’s icy out, forego fetch altogether, as your pet can sustain a serious injury if it slips and falls on the ice.

3. Go On a Winter Hike

A winter hike through the woods — or even just a romp around the neighborhood — gives your pooch a chance to exercise its senses and explore new surroundings. Not only is a winter hike a great way to beat the winter blues but also, it can provide a host of health benefits, including improved concentration, stress relief and enhanced creativity. These are benefits that both you and your pet can benefit from.

4. Make a Snow Maze

Snow mazes for dogs have been growing in popularity in recent years, ever since a video went viral of one carefree owner doing it for his or her pet after a heavy snowfall. A snow maze is a great way to let your dog burn off much-pent-up energy and exercise its creative thinking capabilities. To create a snow maze, simply take a shovel and carve paths in the snow. Make sure to include plenty of twists and turns to really keep your furry friend on its toes.

A word of caution: Keep the perimeter of your snow maze within a fenced-in area. If your dog does get lost in the maze, you can at least have peace of mind that it won’t get lost in the big, wide world.

5. Go to an Indoor Dog Park

Some winter days will be too cold and, therefore, too treacherous, for you and your pooch to play outside. On these days, look up dog parks or pet day cares in your area. Both allow your dog to run around and socialize all while avoiding the dangers of extreme cold and icy conditions. While these options aren’t free, it may comfort you to know that extreme weather days are the exception, not the norm, and you may only have to visit an indoor dog park a handful of times each season.

The Bottom Line

In a nutshell, the best thing you can do for yours and your pet’s mental and physical health is to keep moving during the winter months. Though you might struggle to find the energy or the motivation to play fetch, go for a hike or visit an indoor dog park, once you get up and go, you will quickly discover that the planned activity is precisely what you needed to boost your moods and energy levels.