How 19-Year-Old Dog Reacts to Bright Sunny Day Melts Hearts
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A senior dog from the United Kingdom has melted hearts among social media users, after a video of her unusual reaction to sunlight went viral on TikTok.
The clip, shared on Wednesday by @leahvstead2, shows the elderly pup slowly walking in her yard, suddenly halting as she reaches the sunlight, tilting her head back and making some strange movements, before going back to the shadows.
"Can anyone explain why my dog does this when she walks in the sunlight?" the poster writes in the caption.
The video quickly went viral on social media, receiving over 383,900 views and 45,600 likes on the platform at the time of writing, and some users jokingly suggested that the pup may be morphing into a vampire.
One user, Arianne Klarisse, said: "As a vet, this is a sign that she is evolving into a vampire."
Kuntry added: "She may have become a vampire without you knowing."
The poster clarified in the comments section that her pup is 19 years old, and that she also has cataracts in her eyes.
"We carry her inside and she just comes back out, I sometimes walk in front of her so my shadow covers her when she walks" she added.
In another video shared on Thursday, the poster suggested that her dog may actually be affected by photophobia, a form of hypersensitivity to bright light that can be caused by a wide range of different conditions.
Signs of bright light sensitivity could indicate conditions like conjunctivitis, uveitis, and several other eye disorders. These conditions can cause discomfort and potential vision problems if not treated promptly.
According to veterinarian platform VetEyeCare, sunlight can also worsen some eye conditions and actually harm your dog's eyes. It's even worse for senior dogs, who are more prone to develop conditions such as iris atrophy.
Pups who suffer from this condition may squint their eyes and appear to be in discomfort under direct, intense sunlight.
Using protective eyewear can help dogs who, like the pup in the viral clip, have cataracts in their eyes. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), some of the best options include goggles, visors, and hats.
A stock image shows a senior dog laying on the grass in her backyard.
A stock image shows a senior dog laying on the grass in her backyard.
getty images
Newsweek reached out to @leahvstead2 for comment via TikTok comments. We could not verify the details of the case.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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