A vet has issued a stark warning over a viral TikTok development the place homeowners trick dogs with lemon slices. The #DogVSLemon development dangers placing dogs in critical hazard, Dr. Anna Foreman of Everypaw Pet Insurance has warned.
Videos going viral present canine homeowners throwing the bitter fruit into their pet’s mouths. But Dr. Anna mentioned: “Many dogs will eat something thrown at them (or seize any meals on the ground and many others.) with out a second thought, typically not even sniffing or tasting it first.
“This can be good in a few scenarios, for example with giving a dog a tablet, however, it can be quite dangerous in many others.” She added: “Sour citrus fruits equivalent to lemon and lime have a tendency to not be palatable to dogs, nonetheless if eaten in something greater than minimal portions may cause gastrointestinal upsets or extra extreme scientific indicators like collapse.
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“Throwing food at a dog for them to catch is a choking hazard, particularly if the piece of food is too large to swallow whole.” She mentioned: “After catching and tasting the lemon, this canine might do the identical factor once more if repeated, nonetheless after a few repeats, the canine will affiliate the implications of their actions. They will then sniff the lemon first earlier than attempting to eat it, and can be delay from the odor alone.
“The dog has essentially been taught to hesitate before eating something.” She went on: “Whether or not it’s animals put in tense or harmful conditions for leisure, animals sporting garments or being dyed, or regarding behaviours or traits being normalised, it’s in regards to the reputation that these movies obtain.
“Many members of the public do not understand animal behaviour, and are unable to recognise the signs of stress and aggression that they exhibit. This puts not only an animal in a dangerous position, but also those around it.”
