'SAD' pets now have their own light to boost a blue mood
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PORTLAND, Ore. – Here in the Northwest you've probably heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. It's where you get depressed during the gray, winter months. But have you heard of SAD in pets?
A Portland man says the condition exists, and he's created a treatment – a light-box for your dog or cat. It's the first of its kind to be made specifically for pets.
The light itself is the same as the human versions, but it's all about the design that makes it different. It's small, portable, has safe corners and it easily sits on the ground.
Max Marvin is the founder of Pawsitive Lighting. He said he got the idea when he was having sleep problems and a specialist suggested a light-box for him. But he was surprised when his golden retriever, Luke, like it just as much. Now they both use the light.
"It does give him that boost of energy in the morning as it does myself," he said. "Instead of maybe crawling back into bed and going back to sleep, he's anxious to go out and go jump around in the water."
Marvin said the recommended dose of light is 30 to 45 minutes a day; and it can't hurt to let your dog be in the light for longer.
Portland animal behaviorist Dr. Christopher Pachel said there aren’t enough studies to know for sure if Seasonal Affective Disorder really exists in pets.
"It's theoretically possible. I see no reason to suggest why it couldn't occur. I just don't have any reason to say it does. I'd be curious to see how animals would respond to it," he said. "Certainly we’re willing to reach any and all options for helping some of the pets that we see for behavior disorders."
Marvin is selling his pet-friendly device around the world for $200.
He said: "The response has been overwhelmingly 'pawsitive.' Pardon the pun."
Erica. Spell and grammar. Check.
I have a light therapy lamp for treatment of my SAD and my cat will sit in front of the lamp all day long. My apartment ia almost a basement so I get very little daylite. My lamp was issued thru my mental heath dr at the vaÂ
Not if Your dog is lucky
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A couple chunks of my Beef Jerky ALWAYS cheers my dog up.....
can I get a medical marijuana card for my dog?!!
 @LostSoul Not if your dog is lucky
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@LostSoul Hmmm... not so sure it is illegal for your mut to smoke dope! Just don't let him drive; can't afford the fine! 1,283 bones for driving 1 block? But officer, I don't have that many bones! Well, then it is 30 days in the kennel with ye!
Bright lights make me sad. Someone could make a fortune on tinted glasses.
I certainly hope the owners of these dogs are in TREATMENT also for their SERIOUSLY MENTALLY ILLNESS of believing this nonsense!
@August100 I would be sad if I was dumb enough to waste 200 on a light!
To be fair, I wouldn't be surprised if it does work.
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If the average pet owner thinks his dog is happier, it is certainly conceivable that the dog would pick up on that emotion...and actually show signs of being happier. "Oh look, Rover is so happy now that he has his SAD lighting that he always wants to play ball. See?"Â
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And really, what's the harm? If you think a light bulb makes you happy, it probably does. If you think another light bulb makes your pet happy, you probably treat him like he is happier, and the net result is a happy dog.
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This is a PhD thesis waiting to happen.
My cats are über needy.I wonder if this light would bring the neediness down a notch or two?
Who's to say animals don't get SAD just like humans? Pets can have depression, separation anxiety, hyperactivity, etc just like human. Good for this guy for coming up with an idea to help pets. I had a cat that had bad separation anxiety and there was nothing for her but tranquilizers which I didn't feel was dealing with the issue but just drugging her up. So I did whatever I could do for her instead:  a super soft blanket on the bed with my perfume scented on it for her, TV on all day, her favorite wet food for breakfast, and always lots of love before I left for work and when I got home. She never was good with me being gone from her  for as long as she owned me but I did try and she seemed to be able to cope with it better in her older years. Bless her heart. She lived until 16 and I hope that I gave her as much comfort as I could in her life. If this does help our pets/furry children deal with depression, why not use it? After all, they look to us to take care of them the best way we can and emotional health is just as important as the physical.
It's disgusting how negative the comments on this website are. Katu, can you just ban comments? It's apparent that no one that visits this site on a regular basis had a mother who taught them if they couldn't say anything nice, not to say it at all.
@Lisa Well, lucky for you, This is, to a point, a free country. If you don't like what you read, don't read it. You actualy have to scroll down to get to the comments on these stories, so, unless someone is pointing a gun at the back of your head, no reason for you to read them if you don't want. In actuality, there is still some news sites that have no comment section, (I think) or there is always the newspaper. Don't try to take something away from all people just because you don't like it. This is still the United States of America; I, many of these posters and readers, and COUNTLESS others have fought and will continue to fight for your right to choose even such a small thing as what you want to read.
 @Lisa Was your mother Bambi? Let's just ban all negativity-we could include it with all the gun bans that are coming. We'll all react negatively to your negativity, just pass a law and it will all be fine and we can all sleep better. The King has decreed that nothing will be negative! And some 'animal behaviorist' will now give psychic readings for your kitty; probably covered under Obamacare.
 @LisaÂ
Let's just ban free speech.
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Don't like the comments? Don't read them.
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Personally I find the comments mind provoking and entertaining. It gives me insight as to how others perceive things and opens trains of thought that I have not considered.
I applaud this guy. Â He's come up with a gimmick to get you to buy a desk lamp for your pet. Â And the funny thing is? There are enough of you here in Portland to buy these things up and make this guy a very comfortable living. Â That's what's keeping his spirits up this winter, a fat wallet.
I have full spectrum in my home anyway as half the lighting in the LR and the parrots' room is all full-spectrum, per the avian vet's Rx. Â (gotta metabolize that Vit D in them). Keeps us all happy all winter long. Except I Â need chocolate too.
 @whirledworld Lots and lots of chocolate, thank you! =) Â
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Our dog lays at the front window. I know she loves it there, as it helps her mood out. When she is shooed away for any long length of time, she is grumpy.
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I hate the CFLs. They actually make the mood worse in my house. Anyone who thinks lighting doesn't matter doesn't realize the full extent of the brain and the chemicals it produces.Â
 @whirledworldÂ
We have windows that let in a lot of light. Unfortunately it does block most UV radiation but we also sit outside a lot during the winter.
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All of out lights are full spectrum because they are incandescents. A little heavy on the 3000k side but the do produce full spectrum lighting.
That explains it. I saw a bunch of coyotes around one of these and wondered what they were doing. They had gone to Amazon and chipped in to get one. Smart animals. They were just trying to prevent from getting SAD.
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I am amazed at how animals survived before we got here.
 @RalphCramden I wonder if Acme makes SAD lights for coyotes?
@RalphCramden As P.T. Barnum said ....
 @I812  @RalphCramden Or, even more in line with the theme, probably didn't say... http://bit.ly/kyYCxk - though there are lots who'd like to believe it.
@RalphCramden that just made me laugh... thanks
Here is a free cure. Take your dog for a walk. Play tug of war with him. Love him up, Talk to him. The result is a happy dog.
 @LuckylucyÂ
And the owner has more money in their pocket.