Why Animals Love Infrared heaters! Myth Buster Ep. 3

Why Animals Love Infrared heaters! Myth Buster Ep. 3

The internet is an incredible learning resource. It makes thousands of articles sharing one common topic easily accessible by the click of a button. Information from professionals, scholars, and enthusiasts can all be shared faster and wider than ever before. All information is accessible in seconds because of this. However, this same reason which makes the internet the most superior learning tool of this generation, also makes it the most untrustworthy at the same time. Whilst we would like to think that all information we come across online is backed up by research of its own or screened beforehand, this is not the case at all. Due to this, it is incredibly easy for inaccurate information to be spread across a larger platform than it usually could be.

One of the biggest areas to fall victim to this is that of new technology. Misinformation about new technologies such as Far Infrared (FIR) are spreading despite the many articles out there discussing the real benefits and issues of the product.

Through a series of topical blogs, we will address the largest myths regarding Far Infrared technology and hopefully finally quash these misconceptions for good. By using a question-and-answer method, these blogs will aim to cover the most asked questions created from misinformation and will give evidential or scientific answers to satiate these queries.

 

Episode 3: “Will my pets get along with it?”

As a nation, the Brits love their pets. In both 2019 and 2020 it was recorded that around 41% of households in the UK reported owning at least one type of pet. On average, the population of the UK spends £10bn on their dogs every year and £8bn on their cats. With these kinds of statistics, it’s no wonder that one of the main concerns encountered regarding Far Infrared technology is the effect the heating will have upon pets within the property.

Whilst Far Infrared has proven health benefits in humans, many people are unsure of what these effects will mean when their pets are exposed to the rays. The short answer is FIR rays are good for our furry friends too! Dependent upon the animal, FIR’s benefits aid each pet differently.

For example, small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, hamsters etc. struggle to maintain a consistent body temperature, even more so when they are asleep or under general anesthetic. Because of this, many veterinarian practices use Far Infrared heating devices to help animals maintain a steady body temperature during surgery. One study which monitored the body temperatures of guinea pigs under anaesthetic with and without FIR heating pads, found that the guinea pigs asleep without the FIR heater and exposed to regular convection heaters had a significant loss in core body temperature. However, the guinea pigs anesthetized and exposed to the FIR heat pads maintained a steady body temperature throughout.

It is for this reason that many animals bathe or ‘bask’ in the sun, as the FIR rays emitted help them to maintain basal body temperatures which enables them to preserve energy. In addition to this, all warm-blooded creatures emit FIR light themselves which is how they can be detected by thermal imaging cameras and by snakes.

Alongside how beneficial FIR is to maintaining body temperatures, the rays are also clinically proven to have a positive impact on the bodies of humans and animals for a long list of reasons, including:

Soft tissue benefits-
  • Relieving arthritic pain
  • Warming and relaxing muscles before adjustments
  • Relieving muscle aches, spasms, and strains
  • Reducing swelling and inflammation
  • Speeding up healing and repair of degenerated tissues and cells
  • Improving elimination of waste, chemicals, and toxins
  • Stimulating blood circulation and lymph flow
  • Balancing body PH
  • Pre-event warming up

Because of this, many horse owners use FIR therapy on their horses both before and after a show or race as it helps their muscles prepare. It is also commonly used upon show dogs to make sure they are prepared for the trials during the event. By applying the FIR rays to the animals, the waves penetrate the muscles and warm the muscle fibres, relieving tension, spasms, and soreness.

FIR heat therapy looks to restore lost heat inside the body through Far Infrared waves. The waves warm the deeper muscle tissue, stimulate blood flow, and quicken the healing process. To do this, the waves are applied to colder or uninjured areas and begin to increase the body temperature. Healing will then begin in the affected areas as the temperature gradually raises there.

When exposed to FIR rays, the waves speed up cellular metabolic rates by stimulating the activity of mitochondria and triggering enzyme activity, killing many pathogens, fungi, viruses, bacteria, and parasites. FIR energy strengthens the immune system as it increases the production of white blood cells (leukocytes) in the bone marrow and killer T-cells in the thymus gland. Because of this, FIR is proven to be a factor in strengthening the body’s resistance to infectious diseases by increasing the production of leukocytes and neutrophils.

Just as plants photosynthesis, animals require FIR radiant energy to send electrochemical impulses to the pineal and pituitary glands to produce healthy hormones that are passed through the central nervous system to all the cells of the body. Therefore, FIR heat is vital to the functioning of our entire endocrine system and is not just safe, but massively beneficial to the health of humans and animals.