When a solar eclipse occurs, people around the world prepare themselves to witness this natural phenomenon without harming their eyes. However, many people overlook the potential impact of the eclipse on their dogs. If you have ever wondered if your dog can safely observe an eclipse with you, we have the answers for you!
Unfortunately, a solar eclipse can be extremely harmful to your dog’s eyes.
However, this is unlikely to be a concern for your dog as they are not inclined to look directly at the sun. Dogs are influenced by their daily routines and their owners’ sunlight schedules. This means that if your dog is indoors or follows your schedule, they are unlikely to seek out the sun and expose themselves to potential damage. However, if you leave your dog outside during an eclipse, they may suffer from eclipse blindness. If you want to learn more about eclipse blindness and how to protect your dog, continue reading!
Signs of Eclipse Blindness or Eye Damage in Dogs
While solar eclipse blindness is not common, it can happen to your dog. If your dog is left outside during an eclipse, they may mistake the eclipse for twilight and continue staring at it, leading to damage to their retinas. This damage primarily affects the lens of the dog’s eyes, similar to looking into the sun’s rays with a magnifying glass, potentially scorching their retinas if they are unprotected.
You can usually tell if your dog has suffered eye damage from an eclipse.
They may have poor vision, bump into furniture, stumble, trip, or collide with people or other animals. Your dog may also see spots or dots, experience blind spots, or have issues with color perception. They may become more sensitive to light and experience metamorphopsia, a condition where colors appear disrupted or distorted. Excessive tearing, bleeding, pus, or dryness of the eyes can also occur.
Body Language
Here are some body language cues your dog may exhibit if they are dealing with eclipse blindness:
– Lack of focus
– Avoiding eye contact
– Tail tucking
– Dilated pupils
– Whale eye (showing the whites of the eyes)
Other Signs
Here are some additional signs to watch out for if you suspect your dog’s eyes were damaged during an eclipse:
– Spotty vision
– Whimpering or whining
– Bleeding eyes
– Cloudy eyes
– Dry eyes
– Watery eyes
History of Eclipse Effects on Dogs
Historical records show that eclipses can affect dogs in various ways, including emotionally. For example, during a major eclipse in 1932, the Boston Society of Natural History recorded data suggesting that around half of the nation’s dogs were emotionally affected by the eclipse. This often manifested as fear or nervousness, but for some dogs, it caused severe terror, leading them to hide, run, or panic.
The Science Behind Eclipse Retinopathy in Dogs
If you are wondering why eclipses can be so damaging to your dog’s eyes, we have the answers. Consider your own eyes. What happens when you stare at the sun? You likely cannot do it for long (and we do not recommend that you do) before looking away. This is because your eye lenses act as magnifying glasses, and looking at the sun can scorch your eyes.
When you or your dog look at an eclipse, you can cause solar retinopathy damage to the retinas at the back of the eyeballs. This damage can be immediate and permanent or reversible. It is also possible for the damage to be delayed and not occur immediately after looking at the eclipse.
Training Your Dog to Avoid Solar Eclipse Blindness
When it comes to training your dog to avoid eclipse-related eye damage, the responsibility lies with you. Although dogs can sense various supernatural events, they are unlikely to understand the significance of an eclipse.
While your dog’s instinct will likely prevent them from directly staring into the sun (how often do you see your dog doing this?), there is still a possibility of eye damage if your dog is left outside during an eclipse. We suggest a few training techniques to keep your dog safe:
– Crate training: Teach your dog basic obedience commands and ensure they are comfortable in their crate. This way, a simple “no” or “stay” will keep them indoors during an eclipse.
– Sunglasses training: Gradually introduce your dog to wearing sunglasses or eclipse glasses. Start by allowing them to sniff and become familiar with the glasses. Then, slowly and with plenty of treats, put the glasses on them and reward them for cooperating. Continue this training until wearing the glasses becomes routine.
Training your dog to avoid solar eclipse blindness is crucial for their eye safety. By crate training, teaching basic obedience commands, and gradually introducing them to wearing sunglasses, you can ensure that your pup stays protected during this natural phenomenon.
Tips & Things to Know
1️⃣ Protect your dog’s eyes during a solar eclipse: Dogs can suffer from eclipse blindness if they stare directly at the sun during an eclipse. Keep your dog indoors or on a schedule that avoids exposure to the eclipse to prevent eye damage.
2️⃣ Watch for signs of eye damage: If your dog is left outside during an eclipse, look for signs such as bad vision, bumping into furniture, sensitivity to light, and changes in color perception. Excessive tearing, bleeding, or dryness of the eyes can also indicate eye damage.
3️⃣ Train your dog to stay safe during an eclipse: Crate training your dog and teaching basic obedience commands can help keep them indoors during an eclipse. Gradually introducing your dog to wearing sunglasses or eclipse glasses can also help protect their eyes during an eclipse.
Frequently Asked Questions, Answered ✅
1. Can a solar eclipse damage my dog’s eyes?
– Yes, a solar eclipse can be incredibly damaging to your dog’s eyes.
2. How can I tell if my dog has suffered from eclipse blindness?
– Signs of eclipse blindness in dogs can include bad vision, bumping into furniture, stumbling, tripping, running into people or other animals, seeing spots or dots, blind spots, interruption in color or tint perception, sensitivity to light, and metamorphosia (distortion of colors).
3. What are some body language cues that my dog might display if they have eclipse blindness?
– Body language cues of eclipse blindness in dogs can include lack of focus, averting eyes, tail tucking, dilated pupils, and whale eye.
4. What are some other signs of eye damage from an eclipse that I should look out for?
– Other signs of eye damage from an eclipse in dogs can include spotty vision, whimpering or whining, bleeding eyes, cloudy eyes, dry eyes, and watery eyes.
5. How can I train my dog to avoid solar eclipse blindness?
– Crate training your dog and ensuring they know basic obedience commands can help keep them indoors during an eclipse. Gradually training them to wear sunglasses or eclipse glasses can also be beneficial.
