Texas A&M encourages pet protection during Monday's solar eclipse

Planning to see the solar eclipse on Monday?

With cloudy skies in the forecast for the start of the week, according to the National Weather Service in Corpus Christi, you should get brief moments to see the fascinating alignment.

Bill Nye the Science Guy said Austin Statesman people will still be able to see the eclipse even if it is cloudy.

“It’s always spectacular,” Nye said. “Generally, even when it’s cloudy, when you look straight in the direction of the sun, you still see the sun.”

While most are excited to see the solar eclipse, safety considerations are raised. Not only for humans, but also for animals.

In a statement, Kristina Paradowski and Isablle Louge, clinical assistant professors at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, said that pets may exhibit unusual behaviors because darkness could disrupt their internal clocks, leading to to confusion and anxiety.

Animals that have a history of anxiety, or storm anxiety, may exhibit additional behaviors such as crying, pacing, panting or hiding.

“Some animals rely even more heavily on light cues; birds are an example,” said Paradowski. “If a pet bird is out of its cage, it can return and find its perch as if it were night. Domestic animals in the path of totality will probably be more vocal in the earlier periods and after the eclipse, but silent during the peak eclipse.”

Maintain the daily routine or the interaction of your animals are encouraged so that they can feel a sense of normality and comfort during the eclipse. But if the animals still have unusual behaviors, the owners should provide additional comfort and reassurance.

“If pets are hiding, they may be too scared to interact, and forcing interaction can make them more nervous,” Paradowski said. “For pets that are food motivated, you can always talk gently to them, pet them and give them their favorite snack as a distraction. Those who are too stressed to eat can they crave physical touch, so you can sit quietly with them, talk and cuddle.

Those who have livestock should also be concerned and attentive to any confusion or erratic behavior, even if some have no reactions at all.

“Ideally, large animals should be kept in a familiar environment, because it will be easier for them to navigate as the light decreases,” Louge said. “In case the animals are frightened during the rapid change of light, the owners should keep them in areas free of dangers such as ravines, wells or other things that could trip or injure them.”

Texas A&M encourages pet protection during Monday’s solar eclipse

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