I think the above question ranks second in the Frequently Asked Questions category after “What happens if it's cloudy?” Pets are like our children, so it's natural to express concerns. After all, we humans need to take precautions, right? Why are pets different?
First of all, the main precaution that people need to worry about is wearing appropriate glasses. This need is driven by the fact that we are this way. Intentionally Trying to stare at the sun. Eliminates the intent to stare and essentially eliminates the need for special eclipse glasses. please think about it. The sun during a solar eclipse is just as dangerous as any other sunny afternoon. The only difference is that we don't usually look at the sun. why? Because it hurts. If you do it once as a child, you quickly learn not to do it again. Animals similarly hate seeing the sun. They don't do that on an afternoon walk in the park, so it's very unlikely they'll change their minds on the day of the eclipse.
That being said, you can help ensure that it stays that way. Your dog won't be staring at the sun on the day of a solar eclipse, but it's a different story if you're outside pointing at the sun or pointing the sun at your pet. Imagine you're hosting an eclipse party and all your friends are pointing at the sun overhead and cheering. It's certainly possible that your pet will get caught up in the excitement and look up for a moment. They'll probably flinch because it's unpleasant and something to avoid. There is no need to keep your pet indoors during the eclipse, but if you are concerned about the above and don't want to take the risk, keeping your pet indoors will eliminate that problem.
In summary:
-Your pet does not need eclipse glasses.
-The sun on eclipse days is not as dangerous to pets as on other days.
-There is no need to keep pets indoors on the day of the solar eclipse. If you are concerned, there is no harm in keeping it indoors.
While all of the above should be reassuring for pet owners, it does not mean that your pet will be completely immune to the effects of a solar eclipse, especially a total solar eclipse. Throughout history, humans have been thrown out during total solar eclipses. This is weird and going from daylight back to darkness in less than 5 minutes can make your body go crazy. In fact, your pet may act strangely or experience increased anxiety. Fear of this prospect may prove to be the most reasonable reason to leave your pet indoors during the eclipse. When I experienced totality in 2017, one of my more vivid memories was hearing how many dogs were barking and howling in the distance.
In addition to recording every moment of what you see during totality, we recommend that you also pay attention to what you hear. Within about three minutes, all kinds of wild animals come to life. It just adds to the atmosphere of the whole experience. However, if your pet has anxiety, it may not be the most enjoyable experience for them.
