The summer has passed and so, we turn our sights to darker nights and a colder climate. while some people love the onset of winter, there are still more that are severely affected by Seasonal Adjustment Disorder (SAD), writes Kate Murray

Also known as winter blues or seasonal depression, SAD occurs at the same time every year with symptoms often beginning in the autumn and continuing throughout the winter months.

So, what are the symptoms? Fatigue and erratic mood swings are the most common. However, SAD can also occur in the spring and may continue on throughout the summer.

SAD can begin to affect people in their teenage years or early adulthood and occurs more often in women than men. Symptoms may include an increase in appetite and as a result weight gain, increased sleep and fatigue throughout the day.

They may also include a decrease in energy, a decrease in the ability to concentrate and a loss of interest in work and other activities.

Healthcare professionals can help you manage SAD, while simple steps such as taking long walks during daylight hours can increase intake of vitamin D. Regular exercise can increase the release of endorphins also, which can help alleviate symptoms. Avoiding social isolation is vital for beating SAD.

Social interaction not only helps keep your mind off of the condition but also helps maintain a normal routine. Light therapy, which uses a special lamp with a bright florescent light to mimic light from the sun, is a non-intrusive way of dealing with SAD. it is recommended to be used for approximately thirty minutes every day under doctor’s instructions and symptoms should improve within three to four weeks, but there are side effects so it should only be attempted under a doctor’s supervision.

It is important to contact a health care professional to diagnose the disorder and get treatment before the height of the effecting season as it works best in early autumn and early spring. Seasonal adjustment disorder often goes undiagnosed. 

The symptoms of SAD tend to start around September and get worse in December, January and February, when the days are shortest. By spring, most people with SAD will feel better and their symptoms usually disappear and while SAD can affect people at any age, it mostly affects women.

People are more likely to develop the disorder in northern parts of the world like Ireland, because of the change in the levels of sunlight between summer and winter. this lack of light increases the production of sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin, and reduces the production of ‘feel good’ chemical, serotonin, which can leave us feeling sluggish. People living close to the Equator are less likely to develop the condition, because they usually experience longer and brighter days.

To make the most of the wintertime and ease the symptoms of SAD, why not try spend more time outside, or sit near windows when you are inside? even if the weather is terrible, spend time in natural light.

Take exercise on a regular basis and eat a balanced diet with fish, chicken, nuts, seeds and green leafy vegetables to improve your mood. a healthy breakfast of porridge or scrambled eggs with brown bread will make you feel better on those dark mornings too.

Avoid putting yourself under stress, where possible and talk to your GP about how you are feeling. Management and diagnosis is vital. for more information such as this, check out spunout.ie.

My two puppies have been on the recalled food (canned Nutro Natural choice chicken, rice, and oatmeal puppy food) and have been very sick with vomiting and bloody watery stools. They have gotten better with veterinary treatment and since they are not on the food, but now one of them is drinking a lot and her urine is clear. does it mean that she is having problems with her kidney's? what are the symptoms of kidney problems?

I have already called the vet, but since it is after hours I am waiting for them to call me back. So please no "go to the vet" replies. there is not a 24 hour clinic in my area, so I have to wait for my vet. I will take her as soon as the vet calls, I am just worried now.

Here are some signs that your pups might be suffering from kidney infection:

Symptoms
• “Squatting” numerous times but not urinating
• Pain when the kidney area is palpitated
• Appearing listless or depressed
• Loss of interest in food
• Weight loss
• Blood in the urine

Kidney Disease in Dogs

Symptoms of Kidney Disease in Dogs

drinking excess amounts of water
frequent urination
dilute urine with little color or order
leakage of urine
vomiting
weight loss
anorexia
lethargy
muscle weakness
elevated BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and creatinine
significant protein in the urine
Treatment of Kidney Disease in Dogs

Treatments for the symptoms of kidney disease in dogs include a low protein and low phosphorus prescription diet. The predominant effect of the low protein diet is to minimize production of uremic toxins so that the dog with kidney disease feels better. Low protein diets may help extend life in dogs with kidney disease.

Phosphorus is more important in this regard, since high phosphorus accelerates renal failure, and restricted phosphorus slows it down. K/D is low in phosphorus, so it remains a good food for dogs with kidney disease in this condition. In addition to diet, IV fluids can be administered to correct disturbances created by the retention of uremic toxins. Epogen can be prescribed to treat the anemia of chronic renal failure, resulting in improving the quality, and probably the length of life.

Kidney dialysis for dogs is offered at several veterinary medical sites. The University of California, Davis, Veterinary Medical School is performing kidney transplants, but transplanted kidneys in dogs are commonly rejected, and involve an extraordinary expense and commitment. UC Davis will only do a renal transplant if the red cell cross matching and blood type is a perfect match. and if the tissue typing is also a perfect match.

Recipes for Dogs with Kidney Disease

Dogs with kidney disease may be fed using the following renal diet recipes:

Recipe 1

1 egg, large, cooked
3 cups potato, boiled with skin
1 tablespoon chicken fat
1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets (600 milligrams calcium)
1/2 mulitple-mineral tablet

Recipe 2

1/4 cup cooked chicken breast
3 cups potato, boiled with skin
2 tablespoons chicken fat
1 1/2 calcium carbonate tablets (600 milligrams calcium)
1/2 multiple vitamin-mineral tablet

Recipe 3

Rice, white, cooked*** 237
Beef, regular, cooked + 78
Egg, large, boiled 20
Bread, white 50
Oil, vegetable 3
Calcium carbonate 1.5
Salt, iodized 0.5
Total 390

Recipe 4

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
6 Tblsps. low sodium, low fat chicken broth
1/2 cup cold water
1 cup cooked vegetable (green beans, carrots or mixed)

Your puppies are showing signs of possible kidney problems! I watched an in depth interview with a vet on TV talking about the symptoms of kidney troubles and what your puppies are doing were mentioned symptoms. best of luck to you. God Bless!

poor puppy, call different vets so you can get multiple answers and maybe one will call sooner, til then good luck

I think difficulty urinating is one of them. it just depends on whats going on. Drinking a lot and urinating a lot CAN mean a bladder infection although I think that's the least of her worries.

I am a nurse although I dont work with animals clear urine is a good sign the kidneys are working if your pup was not peeing or just a little and it was very dark Id worry even more -when my patients have kidney failure they dont pee and if they do just a small amount and its very dark