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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCan your dog or cat go blind during the eclipse? Heres what NASA says
In case you were wondering if you needed to take special precautions for your pets.
Its no different than any other day, said Angela Speck, co-chair of the National Solar Eclipse Task Force, in an Aug. 21 NASA media briefing. On a normal day your pets dont try to look at the sun and therefore dont damage their eyes, so on this day theyre not going to do it either. . . .
Patrick Pirotte, optometrist at Child & Family Eyecare in Wichita, said that animal eyes are nearly identical to human eyes, but animals have basic reflexes that would make them never look directly at the sun.
Some people are still taking precautions, however. Indian Hills Animal Clinic plans to keep its daycare dogs inside during the eclipse.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article168265427.html#0
MineralMan
(146,345 posts)They're smarter than people, see. They just don't do that. Ever.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,947 posts)Come to think of it, so do some people.
MineralMan
(146,345 posts)if they go out the dog door on a full-moon night. I'm not sure why that is, though. But, not the sun. They don't look at the sun. It's too bright for them, so they just don't.
Besides, beagles and other hounds never really look up, anyhow. They're too busy sniffing the ground. Ours love to try to chase rabbits, but they'll walk right by one that is sitting still. They don't see them unless they move or run away. The rabbits know that. Often, on our walks, we'll walk right past a rabbit not 6' from the sidewalk. As long as they freeze, the dogs don't see them. It's the funniest thing.
bettyellen
(47,209 posts)But I locked them away from the sunny window just in case.
Phentex
(16,334 posts)they hate the heat and would rather lie around on the cool tile.
BainsBane
(53,112 posts)I somehow doubt the eclipse will interrupt her nap.
Retrograde
(10,175 posts)When the felines are busy resting up for their major activity of the day - the afternoon snooze.
The fog hasn't burned of yet anyway.
musn't tire them out before the next nap
Weekend Warrior
(1,301 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)Can you get a sunburn during an eclipse?
Polly Hennessey
(6,812 posts)would never interrupt their after breakfast naps for a mere total eclipse of the sun and this is before their mid-morning naps. All of this is to conserve energy for their after-dinner runs around the property. Sigh!
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,947 posts)If they're not sleeping they're heads down, hunting and prowling through the grass and shrubbery, and not staring stupidly at the sun like dumbass humans.
BainsBane
(53,112 posts)so no eclipse to see.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,947 posts)As expected, the cats napped straight through it.
Orangepeel
(13,933 posts)BainsBane
(53,112 posts)I can't even count the number of times I've pointed to something only to have my dog keep looking at me.
meow2u3
(24,775 posts)But then again, I keep my cats indoors--where they can nap the eclipse away!