Low sunlight, low energy? Tips to uplift your pet’s mood this winter

Written by: Deepa Reviewed by: Dr. Swati Mishra 8 December 2025

[{"selector":"#anim-9e590518-f327-4af1-8290-b257add35e47","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc670459-161f-4018-88c6-a2bf620dd3e1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 148.95425%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Do you find yourself having to deal with the winter blues? Pets can also experience low energy levels due to reduced availability of sunlight, much like people. Photo Credit: Freepik

[{"selector":"#anim-600ba6c1-590c-4b74-9c54-285c6dd6f650","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-041dcb0b-99c5-4f6a-a639-3aa2c3f249ac","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 176.21671%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Fortunately, there are many ways that you can improve your dog or cat’s mood. Let's explore them! Photo Credit: Freepik

Sunshine

[{"selector":"#anim-a8c6c837-51c0-4783-ad6c-150185da6fde","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-82257333-688f-4b49-a997-92321ead21ac","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.09298%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-265be977-3905-4da2-a17f-64108db2c668","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ebaee2b6-c8bd-41e7-b7ea-2424750488db","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 756.17314%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] You must take your pet out for a walk during daylight hours. A short walk of 15 to 20 minutes will help improve your pet's mood and provide them with added energy throughout the day. Photo Credit: Freepik

Indoor Playing

[{"selector":"#anim-aeaccbc1-0e5e-4117-9baf-a6a9ba358214","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff144037-71c2-4c84-ac9f-231aa7b50ac8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 124.09298%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-66c930ad-cc3d-4d0f-a092-cd7c2d45634c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7da96130-48e0-4668-8d5a-c78d05b14488","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 756.17314%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Since taking your pet out for a daily walk may not always be an option during the winter months, you can create engaging games and toys to help keep your pet's brain active and healthy. Photo Credit: Freepik

Cuddling While Exercising

[{"selector":"#anim-9001a70b-4216-4128-bc38-2a1e9c726da3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2616bd2b-17b4-4fce-89ff-7305217d3539","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 111.51929%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-443c4114-cebd-4622-9591-30e39adbfb10","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0edf3f0-cda6-4b0c-b71a-1b82538d798c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 495.85423%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] By taking a few minutes each day and playing short indoor games such as fetch or using stairs to get exercise, you will help keep your pet healthy, happy and able to produce their own endorphins which can help prevent depression. Photo Credit: Freepik

Social Interaction

[{"selector":"#anim-d9bc66b6-8144-4936-8ee0-8ab9925e4213","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c3a5971f-e125-402a-a11d-d1e3edcfc4f2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.1933%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-143515d0-b540-4882-8323-6cfd02c0f0d2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-efdbd62f-62d3-4ef6-94d5-449fb4ee95a0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 645.06201%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] When you spend extra time holding your pet, giving them love and forming a stronger bond, you are lifting their spirits on cold and dark days. Photo Credit: Freepik

Diet & Nutrition

[{"selector":"#anim-142eed11-c963-4219-b29f-6772ce256cf8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1605fc98-8fa1-4d67-a6d3-f53df7477e49","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 129.19501%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca491abe-dd16-46b2-9347-3ed8f5768d0f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-44b24b20-ec7f-4928-8ef9-469206f11cbb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 783.95105%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Make sure you are feeding your pet a balanced diet with enough protein, omega-3s and vitamins. If your pet seems lethargic or lacks energy, consult with your veterinarian. Photo Credit: Freepik

Brighten Your Pet’s Winter Days

[{"selector":"#anim-53d758b8-6e8a-406f-8407-72ee958cb41e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-932b517b-2404-41f3-8fe5-f4cf4dffd4a7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 119.71193%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3aa59ca3-643d-4dc7-811b-037750a052de","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5429d91e-9258-4af2-96f5-fec2e123b294","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 567.49605%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Just because the sun is low on the horizon doesn’t mean our pets will be as low-energy as that! With plenty of exposure to sunlight, fun indoor activities, and good care, your pets can thrive and continue to be their happy selves all through the winter! Photo Credit: Freepik

If you found this helpful,

[{"selector":"#anim-2f028245-2837-4151-9c94-853e86f7df2b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0015b480-1e3b-4e5f-bc6e-a9b2aa1cc000","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 179.61058%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d4cd2316-ab60-4a5e-829f-b94cc1d7f05c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9912a5b4-7238-4c6f-a6ae-db0af27c42cf","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, -2448.9724%, 0) rotate(270deg)","rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(270deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Tap on that love ❤️ button. Stay tuned for what’s coming next! Video Credit: Tata 1mg Arrow