However, veterinarian Gerardo San Agustín from HGVET Spain offers a reassuring perspective and clears up numerous doubts that have spread on social media.
According to San Agustín, "Our friends, dogs and cats, have no problem" during an eclipse. Unlike humans, pets lack curiosity about astronomical phenomena; they do not feel interested in the effects of the Sun, the Moon, or the stars. Therefore, recommendations to protect their eyes, avoid walks, or even put on special glasses are senseless. The expert is clear: "There is no need for glasses, no precautions are necessary because they will not look at the Sun".
The greatest risk, explains the veterinarian, does not lie in the eclipse itself, but in the reaction of the owners. The disturbance or excitement of people can be perceived by pets, causing a response in them. Therefore, he emphasizes that "we create the disturbance".
Regarding a possible change in the behavior of dogs and cats, the answer is a definite no. Companion animals are accustomed to light fluctuations, such as those experienced when changing habitats, entering doorways, or going outside. The decrease in light during the eclipse will be a "natural process" for them. Additionally, the event will coincide with sunset, when light intensity would already be decreasing as usual.
Although some wild species, such as bats or certain birds and insects, may adjust their routines to dusk, this behavior does not apply to domestic pets, whose routine is more linked to human habits.
In conclusion, owners can carry on with their normal activities with their pets during the eclipse. It is safe to go for a walk and even visit viewpoints to observe the phenomenon. The key is for owners to enjoy the spectacle without transmitting nervousness to their animals. For dogs and cats, the eclipse will be just like any other afternoon that, like many others, ends in night.