Georgia Dixon
Family & Pets

The reason why some pets are so clumsy

Bondi Vet’s much loved veterinarian, Dr Chris Brown reveals why some pets are so clumsy. As it turns out many of our pets actually need glasses...

If your mate seems a little relieved today, this might be the reason. Their inability to catch balls, tendency to trip over themselves or reluctance to return to their owners in the park could all be in their eyes. Scientists now agree that a large number of our pets are short sighted. This means that while they may see very well just in front of their face, objects in the distance (like a ball or a bemused owner) seem blurry and often unrecognisable.

In fact, while people strive for 20/20 vision, many dogs are graded at 20/80, meaning an object (like a ball) that we can see at 80 metres, is virtually invisible until it's just 20 metres away for them.

So what can you do about it? Well until cat or canine contact lenses are invented, the best hope of preventing pet short sightedness may lie in an accepted human treatment; exposure to sunlight at an early age.

Have you ever thought your pet's vision wasn't quite right? Tell us the clumsiest thing they’ve ever done in the comments below!

For more tips on your pets, follow Dr Chris Brown on Facebook here.

Related links:

The truth about pets and chocolate

Why pets give you the side eye

What to do when your pet is a fussy eater

Tags:
pets, dogs, Cats, Dr Chris Brown, clumsy