Should Dogs Sleep in the Dark or With Lights On? Health and Well-Being Benefits Explained

 

The key to keeping your pet healthy is having a good sleep routine.

Just as sleep is important for human beings, it is also important for animals, since this allows them to recover energy and have good physical and emotional health.

However, there are several factors that can influence the quality of your dog's sleep, from activity level that you have during the day to the environment in which you rest.

The specialized pet portal 'Dog Cancer' explains that dogs' sleep patterns are regulated by circadian rhythms, a natural system that adjusts to their behavior in a 24-hour light and dark cycle.

“Circadian rhythms are part of a complex system of genes, neurons and hormones that help regulate behaviors during a 24-hour light and dark period”, explains the portal.

When your pet sleeps in a dark environment it is of great benefit for the rhythms to function properly and to promote healthy sleep.

The website also comments that melatonin, a hormone that dogs produce at night, is key in this process. “Deep, restful sleep in a dark environment for 7 to 8 hours straight allows the body to produce normal levels of melatonin. Lights at night can decrease melatonin levels and disrupt natural deep sleep”.

These are some of the recommendations so that your dog has a better rest.

The best recipe for your pet to have a good sleep is exercise, natural light during the day and a dark environment so that it can sleep at night, the portal recommends. In addition, there are another series of activities that you can do so that it has a better night's rest.

• Adequate exercise during the day: a technique that may work for you is for your dog to do enough physical activity during the day, in order to release energy. Interactive toys and puzzles are recommended to stimulate your mind.

• Make sure it receives exposure to natural light during the day: It is important to be careful with high temperatures or humidity if your pet has respiratory or health problems.

• It is important that you create a nighttime routine with a specific order in which you can take him to the bathroom for the last time, give him a biscuit, and finally go to bed.

• Use blackout curtains to create a dark space if necessary.

• It is important that you eat three or four hours before going to bed.

• Don't turn on the TV or computer before going to bed.

• You can also use relaxing or classical music so that your pet can fall asleep better.

It is important that the dog sleeps adequate hours. These are some of the tips that the portal specialized in dogs gives so that they have a deep sleep, since darkness is important to prevent them from staying up late. When you can't do this, it can lead to diseases, such as cancer..