Can the Total Solar Eclipse Affect My Dog?

Jean Meeus, a Belgian spherical and mathematical astronomer estimates the mean frequency of total eclipse at a particular location on the globe to be once in every 375 years. The total eclipse we expect on Monday, 21st August 2017 is an occurrence that will be documented in history for generations to read. The amazing scenario comes with hazardous effects to the vision of both humans and animals. 

During the total eclipse, the moon’s shadow blocks the sun’s light which can literary burn any eyes looking up at it, even the eyes of a dog. The dog’s sensitive photoreceptor cells in the retina can get burnt by the powerful sun’s rays if it looks up at the total eclipse with its unprotected eyes. Most animals do not look at the sun as often, but the dog’s behavior is affected by the human routine. If the pet realizes the attention you pay to the total solar eclipse, its attention will shift to the sky, which in turn may lead the dog to look up, exposing it to the burning sun rays. As a result, its vision may get blurred or partially lost since, just as humans, it may turn away before a complete blindness occurrence. 

In order to avoid such a scenario, anyone that takes out a dog on this date must use on it NASA-approved eclipse glasses. These glasses used on the dogs will prevent them from partial or total blindness usually known as “eclipse blindness”. Besides “eclipse blindness”, the dog may become fearful due to the large crowds watching the total solar eclipse and may also get agitated due to the uncommon human behavior of wearing eclipse glasses. Keeping them indoors will protect them from exposure to the hurtful solar eclipse rays and in case you cannot observe this safety measure, kindly use eclipse glasses on any dog you take out in the open on this particular date.

Protecting the dogs during the total solar eclipse is important because it will ensure they do not suffer “eclipse blindness”. Fixing vision resulting from the burning sun’s rays is very expensive and almost impossible for to do on animals. Keeping visually challenged dogs too is expensive and time-consuming. Protecting these dogs from exposure to the eclipse rays assures that you and this pets’ institution practices healthy measures in protecting our animals against any avoidable health risks. We need to focus on transporting these pets as safely as we can to ensure that the dogs continue with its normal routine even after occurrence of the total eclipse. Your ability to observe the best safety measures on the dog(s) on 21 August 2017 will test your love for these adorable companions.

“Dogs and cats don’t normally look at the sun,” Dr. Evan Morse explained. “It’s something they don’t do under normal conditions, so I would not expect them to look at the sun during this phenomenon.”

People are advised to wear protective glasses, but as far as pets are concerned, vets say they’ll be pretty hard to keep on your animal.

The best advice they give is to keep your pets inside, with the blinds closed.

The whole eclipse is only expected to last two and a half minutes after all.

Dogs are animals whose behaviors respond to the human routines. Your routine on this day should positively affect the pet. Exercise maximum care in handling the dog on this date and the dog will respond to your routine by retaining its vision even after the total solar eclipse.

Click here to get the times in Charlotte NC for the total Eclipse 

Get Started

admin