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LED lights are predominantly safe for dogs, and the benefits they offer far outweigh any small risks that may be present.
We check out the pros and cons of the use of LED lights in homes around dogs, using studies from the Univeristy of Exeter and a publication from the National Library of Medicine.
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One potential risk is the intensity of the light as LEDs can be very bright and cause eye strain or discomfort, and therefore bad for dogs eyes if they are exposed to them for long periods.
It’s important to make sure your pet has a place to escape from direct exposure, so make sure their bed is not directly under a light fixture.
Research into light and melatonin levels suggests that exposure to bright blue-enriched LED lighting may hurt a dog’s mental and physical health.
Blue-enriched lighting used in LED lights can disrupt their circadian rhythm and lead to depression, insomnia, and other health problems.
This is the same for humans, so the whole household including your pets should avoid blue and very cool white colored light in the evenings so your bodies can prepare for a good nights rest.
Dogs love chewing. Some dogs will chew on anything particularly when just a pup.
So chewing on a power cable can of course be dangerous for all pets. Like all lighting products, it’s important to keep these out of your dog’s reach at all times but that is not always easy.
Cable tie trailing leads from table lights to table legs to keep them tidy and hidden.
The playful nature of a dog will just love pulling on the end of a cable or see a loose end of LED strip, so keep these hidden away safely and out of reach.
Make sure power cables are running out of sight and out or temptation!
UV or ultra-violet light is emitted by LED BUT the phosphor coating over the LED chip to create the specific color blocks the UV emission. Only blue LED allows a very small amount to escape but not enough to cause concern and is still safe for your dog.
Black lights are fun and emit UVA to makes objects glow, they are still classed as safe to use indoors for humans and pets despite emitting some UV radiation.
LEDs offer several advantages when it comes to the wellbeing of your dog.
RGB LED strip lights can mix a diverse range of millions of colors, which is an incredible tool to create mood and well adjusted lighting in the home.
Whilst studies show that dogs do see color differently to humans, they do still appreciate the blend of colored light and can tell that the lighting levels have changed, so coloredv LED lighting remains beneficial for your dog as it sets the mood.
If your dog is a little nervous at times, LED lighting can create a scientifically proven sleep inducing calming atmosphere for them from the amber and orange enriched extra warm whites of light. This is particularly helpful if they can be left alone for long periods of time.
Smart LED lighting can be remotely controlled through a phone app, so you’re able to set the light’s color, brightness,and times for when it should turn on or off.
For example, if you have pets at home and need to leave them alone for periods of time, you no longer have to your dog in the dark if you returned home late.
Also, by connecting PIR motion sensors to your LED lights, you can create a system that automatically turns on the lights as your dog enters each room.
Installing LED lighting correctly results in very little heat gain, making it a much safer option for your dog. With legacy incandescent lighting, there is always the risk of burns due to the high levels of heat generated from its poor power to light efficiencies.
This means there are more options for you to install LED lighting at physically lower levels and create better lighting designs.
Yes but as with all lighting products, it’s important to keep the cables and lights out of your dog’s reach at all times.
LED strip lighting and marker lights can often be installed along kitchen toe kicks or under kitchen cabinets, so it’s important to make sure these locations are inaccessible to your pet by installing them in a profile with a polycarbonate diffuser.
No, the sound produced by most LED bulbs is far too low for a dog to hear, and any noise made by the bulb is typically too low frequency for them to detect.
If you can hear it then your dog can too, which will usually mean it’s time to change that bulb for a new one.
LED lights do not disturb a dogs visual perception.
A study into how flickering light effects the biology of animals, measured the ‘critical fusion frequency’ in dogs, the threshold in which light becomes a continuous stream rather than as a series of flashes.
Richard Inger’s study, from the University of Exeter (UK), showed the domestic dog had a CFF of 75 hertz in high light levels, operating at a higher frequency with a high flicker index not visually perceptible from properly working LED lights.
Richard’s result’s proved that a properly working LED strip or any LED light source would not be bad for your dog.
However, if you can see that an LED does flicker caused by a faulty installation, bad connection or ageing bulb, dogs may feel unsettled too by the sudden changes in brightness levels.
Overall, LED lights are safe and beneficial for dogs if used correctly with consideration of their needs and preferences.
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