Rhiannon Ingle
There's yet another trend going round all over social media right now raising quite a few eyebrows.
Now, we've all seen how certain viral challenges can sometimes bring way more harm than good and the latest 'lemon slice' trend has proven exactly that.
In fact, it's caused such outrage online that one vet has since issued an urgent warning to dog owners over joining in on the 'dangerous' craze.
Advert
Unless you haven't seen it crop up online, the trend in question sees dog owners throw lemon slices into the mouths of their four-legged friend.
The online phenomenon is being referred to online as the 'Dog vs Lemon' trend, and it has since clocked upover 20 million views on TikTok alone.
Dr Anna Foreman, of Everypaw Pet Insurance, warned: "Many dogs will eat anything thrown at them (or grab any food on the floor etc.) without a second thought, often 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."
The vet went on: "Sour citrus fruits such as lemon and lime tend not to be palatable to dogs, however if eaten in anything more than minimal quantities can cause gastrointestinal upsets or more severe clinical signs like collapse.
"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 continued to warn dog owners that partaking in the viral trend could not only be a health risk for your pup but could also damage the bond you two have together.
Dr Foreman explained: "After catching and tasting the lemon, this dog may do the same thing again if repeated, however after a couple of repeats, the dog will associate the consequences of their actions. They will then sniff the lemon first before trying to eat it, and will be put off from the smell alone.
"The dog has essentially been taught to hesitate before eating something."
She also pointed out that the whole #DogVSLemon ordeal can be pretty telling about pet owners exploiting their animals for online clout.
"Whether it be animals put in stressful or dangerous situations for entertainment, animals wearing clothes or being dyed, or concerning behaviours or characteristics being normalised, it is concerning the popularity that these videos receive," she urged.
"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."