URGENT WARNING TO DOG-OWNERS ABOUT DANGER OF WALKING DOGS IN WINDY WEATHER
Source: MyLondon (Extract)
Posted: January 31, 2022
Dog-owners are being urged not to walk their dogs on the seafront in windy weather, after the UK was battered by Storm Corrie this weekend.
Vets are warning that beaches, seafronts, and other sandy locations could present a serious danger to dogs in stormy weather.
Gusts of sand being whipped up in windy conditions are so dangerous to dogs’ eyesight they could even leave your pet blinded, reports the Telegraph.
This is because dogs, unlike humans, have nothing to protect their eyes from sandstorms, and are also much closer to the sand being kicked up from the ground.
The fast-moving sand can permanently scratch their eyeballs, leaving lasting damage if left untreated.
A spokesman for vetuk.co.uk said owners should check the forecast and wind speed before beach walks, and pick a pebbled or more sheltered alternative if the weather is going to be windy.
The spokesperson said it’s vital owners consider walks “from a dog’s eye view,” by considering how much more damaging it could be to have your eyes closer to the sand, even when the weather doesn’t seem too windy.
They said: “It can be a really shocking and scary situation for both pets and owners.
“On a windy day you’re doing the equivalent of putting their heads into a sand-blasting machine.”
The spokesperson continued: “It causes severe irritation, interferes with their tear film, and a vet will have to introduce eye drops – essentially false tears – to restore balance.
“I do think dog owners need to be better aware of the risks.”
So-called “sand-blast” injuries caused to dogs as a result of severely windy weather can end up costing owners significant vets fees.
After a weekend of severe storms which saw two people killed and around 80,000 people affected by power cuts in the UK, more bad weather is anticipated tomorrow.
The Met Office has issues Yellow weather warnings for wind for parts of the UK tomorrow (February 1), with areas of northern Scotland set to be worst hit by weather-related disruption.
