I realize this post might generate a collective eye-roll, but just thought I’d share my experience in case it may benefit others as well. Last year my Labrador sustained two separate eyeball lacerations while pheasant hunting, no doubt from crashing through brush, thickets, and cattails. The Vet put some special drops in her eyes and then viewed them with ultraviolet light in order to verify the cuts were there. Treatment was eye drops and a week to heal. Symptoms were redness and discharge. This kept us out of the field for several weeks, much to me and my dog’s chagrin, and we ran up a couple Vet bills and Rx as well. So, this fall I looked into eye protection of some sort and found these goggles. I think everyone’s initial reaction is “My dog would NEVER wear those things” but by following the training video recommendations on the web site I was able to get her to wear them just fine. Let’s just say a Lab is very food motivated. We have hunted several times this season through the usual ground cover and she does not seem to mind wearing them. She’s been swimming with them on as well. They fit well around the snout and provide adequate ventilation to they don’t fog up. The only time she’s tried to paw them off is when I didn’t have the straps cinched up tight enough and they slid down her face a little. Interesting things about the polycarbonate lenses is how scratched up they are, an indication of how nasty the ground cover can get. According to the vendor, these scratches don’t inhibit her vision, and I think that’s true based on looking through them myself. They are also replaceable. They do collect some grass bits and debris. Her eyes are protected, but her nose still ends up all bloody as usual. They were expensive at $85, but I’d have to say overall, it’s been a worthwhile investment – cheaper than Vet bills and time away from the field.
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