This Woman Has Raised Awareness About Her Dog’s Stretch That Actually Indicated Cancer
No two dogs are exactly the same. Their unique personalities and behaviors are what bond owners to special furry friends for life.
Getting to know your pet’s temperament is also an important step in ensuring their health. If your dog begins to act out of character, this might be a sign there is something wrong.
One woman recently shared the moment she realized her pup Barley was not okay on TikTok. The video she uploaded shows Barley leaning back onto his hind legs as if he was practicing the seal yoga pose. Afterward, he laid down completely flat.
“If your dog ever does this out of nowhere, please take them to the vet immediately. I really wish I would have caught this sooner,” the woman captioned her video, followed by the hashtag “cancer.”
The TikTok reached nearly 10 million people and gained almost five hundred thousand likes. And while some users sympathized with the woman’s pup, others were quick to dismiss the dog’s pose as a symptom of any illness.
“Uh yeah, that’s called a stretch,” commented one user.
“Every dog does this,” agreed a second user.
But, a few veterinarians chimed in and silenced the doubtful commenters.
TikTok; pictured above is the woman in one of her videos discussing how she realized her dog Barley wasn’t alright
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
“Vet here. This is the ‘praying position.’ If prolonged or suddenly frequent, it is indicative of abdominal pain, which has many causes,” commented one vet.
“I am a vet tech. Doing this when they stand up or wake up is normal. But, when they stay in this position, it usually means the dog is in pain,” added a vet tech.
The TikToker also created a follow-up video to drive home her point that this behavior may be normal for some dogs. But, if it is unusual, it is likely a sign of distress.
“If your dog starts doing this out of nowhere, then get it checked. The position that Barley was doing was the very first indicator. I just had no idea what it meant,” the woman said.
“So, everybody saying that it is a stretch or their dog does this every day, that’s great. I wish this were just a stretch, but it was out of nowhere, prolonged, and repeated. I could tell that it was out of the ordinary,” she continued.
The woman explained how Barley began engaging in the “prayer pose” last November and, after doing research, this sign was commonly associated with stretching and being playful.
“I ended up brushing it off because nothing else was happening, and he seemed fine. I wish so bad that I had taken it more seriously and trusted my gut,” the woman said.
Barley has since been diagnosed with stage five lymphoma, and the TikToker hopes to spread awareness of this behavioral change.
“I am absolutely not trying to scare you. I just wish I would have acted sooner,” the woman finished.
This follow-up TikTok reached another five hundred thousand people and gained nearly fifteen thousand likes.
After hearing the woman’s explanation, commenters were much more understanding and thankful to learn about the possible cancer sign.
“Thank you for this video. People need to know. I am currently in the same predicament with my pup. I am mind blown that the vet did not pick up on it,” commented one user.
“That’s good to know for future dogs,” agreed a second commenter.
Always remember to be aware of your dog’s behavior. And if something changes, it is best to investigate than risk missing the signs.
To watch the original TikTok, visit the link here.
https://www.tiktok.com/@sweetteatate/video/7091698351346961707
If true crime defines your free time, this is for you: join Chip Chick’s True Crime Tribe.
More About:Animals