GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich. (WPBN/WGTU) — On April 8, the skies turn dark. And for the first time in nearly 70 years, some Michiganders will get a glimpse of a total solar eclipse.
It can be alarming if you don't know what's going on, like the sun going out, suddenly getting dark and then bright again.
So we wondered what pets think about this and what owners should be prepared for.
When you ask Breanna Gingrich at Long Lake Animal Hospital why she loves being a veterinarian, the answer is simple.
“I obviously love animals,” Dr. Gingrich said.
But when I asked her how the upcoming solar eclipse would affect them, she said,
“That's a difficult question,” she said.
Because while Dr. Gingrich knows just about everything there is to know about pets, no one really knows what pets do for them.
“We can't say with certainty what will happen due to the lack of concrete answers and the fact that there is little animal behavior or scientific research behind eclipses,” Dr. Gingrich said.
Of course, there have been total solar eclipses before, but this time it was not the first total solar eclipse in a long time.
Dr. Gingrich said, “I'm not too worried about this eclipse. You know your animal better than your veterinarian.”
This means that if you have a pet that has had environmental factors like fireworks or storms in the past, that animal may be a little more sensitive to the effects of a solar eclipse.
“We can best prepare for eclipses and stressful situations based on past experience and other animals we have. Make them comfortable,” Dr. Gingrich said.
Her prescription for dogs whose problems can occur during the few minutes of sudden darkness and light again is very easy to follow.
“Just snuggle up next to them and make them comfortable,” says Dr. Gingrich.
She said we may wear dark glasses, but when it comes to our pets, there's no need to worry.
“I mean, let's be honest, what do you do if it suddenly gets dark? I don't think they're looking up at the sun thinking that's the reason, they might be looking around, or We might treat it like another day,” Dr. Gingrich said.
It turns out that gazing where the sun used to be can make us more human.
“On the other hand, they won't be as interested,” Dr. Gingrich said.
So while some pets may need a little more love, comfort, or distraction during the day, no pet actually needs eye protection.
But the biggest impact on your pets and how they deal with an eclipse, or really any situation, may have more to do with how we deal with it. I don't know.
“So if they feel it, whether we're excited or scared, they can feel it too, and how we react to what's in front of us and what's going to happen. You may get excited or scared based on what's going on.'' “So the best thing we can do is stay calm,'' Dr. Gingrich said.
For most pets, this is not as interesting as it is for us.
If you have a nervous four-legged friend, include them in your plans, be loving, and take precautions. Keep them close and calm.
“Just act like it's a normal day, enjoy the view, take it all in and have them there,” Dr. Gingrich said.
Again, the solar eclipse will occur on April 8th.
They can be seen here in northern Michigan, but the best view in our state is in a small area of Monroe County.
