MORAINE — A historic total solar eclipse will be visible in the Miami Valley in just two weeks.
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As reported News Center 7 5:30a local veterinarian details how to keep your pet safe during this rare event.
Viewing a solar eclipse without proper eye protection can cause eye damage.
When it comes to the eclipse, MedVet emergency room veterinarian Suzanne Ellis said animals will have the same reaction as humans.
“It can damage the retina. I mean, it can damage the retina and it can damage anyone who looks at it,” Ellis said.
Although Ellis has been treating animals for more than 20 years, she has yet to treat an animal with eclipse-related injuries.
“If you do catch one, it's not a big deal if you just look for it for a few seconds,” Ellis said.
Pet owner Rochelle Savoy said she plans to keep her dog Trixie inside during the eclipse.
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“I didn't even think about it until I heard you mention the eclipse and the dog, and I thought, oh, okay,” Savoy said. “That way she'll be safe and warm.”
Ellis believes that if your pet stares at the eclipse for long enough, you'll be able to tell if something is wrong.
“Bumping into objects is usually the first clue to owners that something is wrong with their vision,” Ellis says.
Savoy said her dog Trixie can get nervous around large groups.Ellis said such problems are more likely to occur than retinal damage.
“Dog fights, food ingestion, vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal symptoms – if people are having a party, those things will show up within a few days,” Savoy said. “Differences in daily life can be stressful all the time.”
If you're concerned about how your pet will react to the eclipse, Ellis recommends keeping your pet inside the house.
