As winter sets in, shorter days, colder temperatures, and disrupted routines can quietly take a toll on household pets, particularly cats, dogs, and horses, according to Dr. Linda Hirzer.
As owner of the North Waterloo Veterinary Hospital, the veterinarian has focused on preventive health care and veterinary dentistry over her decades of practice.
One of the first animals Hirzer thinks about when it comes to winter stress is cats. She said there is some discussion, though not scientific proof, that cats may experience something similar to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during the winter months.