Goggles for your dog?

Dogs from various breeds suffer with over-sensitivity to sunlight. They will show their discomfort by squinting or pawing at their faces. Sunglasses for canines may seem like a silly gimmick or quirky fashion statement but that's ignoring the benefits that a pair of pet dog goggles may offer. As soon as we pop out into the bright sunlight we quickly grab our sunglasses for comfort and protection against the harmful effects of UV light. It only seems reasonable to offer that same protection for our beloved dogs.

Dogs share a lot of the same eye diseases as we do, especially once our eyes reach a certain age. Eye diseases like macular degeneration, cataracts and photokeratitis are commonplace in dogs. Certain breeds of dogs can also suffer from a condition called “pannus,” which is a chronic superficial keratitis or inflammation of the corneas. It is a disorder which primarily affects dogs aged 4 to 7 years that live at high or low altitudes where there is an increased levels of exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Predisposed breeds to the affects of Pannus include German Shepard,Belgian Tervuren, Belgian Sheepdog, Greyhounds, Huskies,Dachshunds, Poodles, Border Collies and Labrador Retrievers.

It is not just ultraviolet radiation that can damage your precious pooch's vision. Dogs that ride with their heads out of the car window or run through brush are also at risk to eye damage.

Perhaps, if you haven't considered eye damage prevention for your dog previously, goggles that function as sunglasses could offer all round eye protection. As always, prevention is better than cure, especially when you consider the potential bill from the Vet!