Dogs and cats should be gradually accustomed to the movement of the hands, anticipating the time of the previous days meal or walk. The other consequence is that the number of accidents increases with the time change: between 30 and 40% more accidents are recorded in the first three days after the time change, and the risk of animals being run over increases
In the night of Saturday 25 to Sunday 26 March, summer time will start. So the hands of the clock move forward, resulting in an hour less sleep. A change that, as is well known, disrupts people’s circadian rhythms, and not only that: the time change also affects pets, which can be affected by the stress of summer time.
All animals, both wild and domestic, explains an article in La Zampa in the press, tend to follow solar time. There are benefits for all living things compared to daylight saving time, but the move to standard time creates incredible problems for nocturnal animals, such as deer. In fact, a University of Washington study revealed that in the United States alone, DST would prevent the deaths of about 36,550 deer, 33 people, 2,054 injuries, and $1.19 billion in costs, due to collisions between deer and cars due to poor evening street lighting.
Road accidents are on the rise
In fact, with the transition from solar time to summer time, accidents increase: worldwide between 30 and 40% more accidents are registered in the first three days after the time change. This is confirmed by a study conducted by the University of Padua on the effects of summer time on driving performance due to disorientation and reduced reflexes due to sleep deprivation. A minimal change that can have cascading effects on our metabolism. And it increases the risk of animals being run over.
Gradual change of pace
Pets are used to the routine, characterized by the same times, for example for the morning or evening walk. They may therefore suffer from the “jet leg” dictated by the change of time in their altered rhythms. To make sure this change isn’t too stressful, Zampa recommends getting them used to the change gradually, changing their habits already in the days before the daylight saving time change, for example moving dinner time forward by 10 minutes, then twenty, until they do not slowly get used to the movement of the hands. In dogs and cats, however, it is the felines that suffer less from the stress of the time switch: in fact, they regulate their wake/sleep cycle based on external light.
Source: TG 24 Sky
I am Mary Kenneth, a professional news writer and editor with 5+ years of experience in the industry. I specialize in crafting compelling stories that capture the attention of my readers. As an experienced journalist, I have had the privilege to cover some of the most trending topics in today’s society, ranging from politics to business.
