'I've had plenty of comments from passers-by like "Why's your dog wearing sunglasses?" and "Oh your dog's wearing ski goggles." 'Now he is much more accepting and has two pairs – a tinted pair for sunny days and when he goes to the beach and a clear pair to protect his eye on more shady days.
'At first, though, Duke did not want to wear them and tried everything to get them off, including rubbing against my leg, the sofa, the floor and shaking his head. The dog owner from Shaftesbury in Dorset said: 'It's vitally important to protect Duke's left eye, so when Ida recommended RexSpecs I thought "Whatever you say, you are the expert!" The polarised sunglasses are coated with a chemical filter that blocks light waves bouncing off horizontal surfaces to cut glare.Įxperts at the veterinary hospital have recently helped two dogs recovering from eye surgery try out a pair of protective specs.Īmy Wilson says Duke, her six-year-old Siberian Husky-Malamute crossbreed, has suffered with cataracts and other eye conditions since he was just 18 months old and has already had his right eye removed. They provide an alternative to the inflatable or cone collars that stop dogs from pawing at their injury - the latter made famous as the "cone of shame" from Disney Pixar's Up. 'Dogs with such conditions may be able to reduce the need for topical medications if sunglasses or a visor is worn.' 'There are certain conditions in dogs which worsen from exposure to UV light such as pannus, an immune-mediated condition affecting the cornea or clear part of a dog's eye. Ida Gilbert, head of ophthalmology at Eastcott, said: 'Sunglasses for dogs may seem peculiar but it is a viable solution to help pets in situations where their eyes need protection or may need that extra bit of support because of surgery or a previous trauma. The dogs should have a specially designed visor or sunglasses fitted to their head, so they can enjoy the sunny days outside safely. Vets from Eastcott Veterinary Referrals in Swindon are recommending owners to pick up a pair of sunglasses if their dog is sensitive to bright light or has recently had eye surgery. We all know that it is important to keep our dogs feeling cool on sunny days - but it turns out they should be looking it too!