Sunglasses: Are They Really Necessary for Your Dog?
By Cheri Lucas
Who's that behind those Foster Grants? Nowadays, it may not be the guy sipping his latte at the dog park…it might just be his DOG! You may find this look hip, cool, or downright ridiculous, but the question remains—do sunglasses provide actual protection for your dog's eyes, or are they just a frivolous fashion accessory?
Those of us who love our dogs will stop at nothing to keep them happy, balanced, and healthy. In this day and age, there are millions of products available for dogs, from organic dog food to nontoxic nail polish. Our job, as a responsible pet owner, is to discern which products are necessary and which appeal to our tendency to humanize our dogs.
Let's look at this first from the perspective of a veterinarian and healthcare professional. According to our veterinarian and my friend, Dr. Timothy Bell, very few problems in veterinary medicine are the result of direct solar exposure. "The exception is a solar-induced eye condition called Pannus, a problem that is not uncommon in German Shepherds. This condition is addressed with medication, not sunglasses," says Bell. "If you notice any redness around the sclera (whites of the eye) or excessive tearing or mucus, make an appointment with your veterinarian right away."
At a practical level, every breed of dog has a differently shaped head. Getting a pair of sunglasses to actually fit a dog properly is a challenge considering these variations. Additionally, most dogs dislike the unnatural feel of glasses, hats, and other paraphernalia and will struggle to remove them.
Dogs that are brachycephalic have short muzzles, small skulls, and protruding eyes. Some dog care professionals advocate the occasional use of goggles for this type of dog because the unnatural proportions of their features make injury to the eyes more likely to occur. However not allowing your dog to ride in the back of a pickup truck or put his head out the window of a moving vehicle will prevent debris from harming your dog's eyes in the first place.
Keep in mind that one of the primary reasons we humans wear sunglasses is we have to face the sun while driving. Dogs on the other hand can simply turn their faces away if they want to avoid the sun's glare, and they do so automatically.
My preference is to let my dogs be dogs, and I feel certain if given a choice, they would opt to go au naturel in lieu of wearing sunglasses. What do you think? Do your dogs wear sunglasses? And if so, why do you have them wear sunglasses?
