A popular video trend on social media app TikTok has led to warnings from vets and dog behavior experts over concerns it could event in face-bitter injuries.

The trend sees pet owners use a popular sound on the app, documenting a comedic phonation confronting someone over "talking smack" about them. TikTok users ofttimes mouth the audio animatedly in the confront of a person, just some have chosen to use their dogs as the role.

According to dog beliefs experts and vets alike, notwithstanding, the trend could be incredibly stressful for dogs and dangerously result in the dog biting the owner'southward face, they warned Newsweek.

Vet and TikToker "Cat the Vet" shared her reaction to i of those videos that went viral three days ago, warning that: "It is not large, it is not clever, information technology is not funny. That canis familiaris is incredibly unhappy, it is going to bite you if you lot bear on similar that and I don't intendance if information technology'south your dog and you trust it and think that it won't, there are children on this app who will copy you and get bitten in the face up because they idea it was cool because you did it. Please terminate."

In the original video Cat was reacting to, a woman could be seen mouthing the sound in the face of her dog, along with head-jerking and arm movements. It can exist watched in full here.

The family unit captured in the original video, which has over ii one thousand thousand views, told Newsweek that they are not responsible for any copy-true cat style videos, saying: "Nosotros posted a satire video, on a satire platform where the authorized users are 14 and over. Parents are responsible for their children's use of electronics and what they lookout.

"Making the question nigh 'What if children repeat what you practice' is similar saying. My kid robbed a bank because he watched a movie nearly banking company robbery. Too many people believe everything they see on the net and believe every canis familiaris reacts to every situation the aforementioned manner. This is 100% not the case."

Dog biting an arm
Stock image of a dog bitter a manus. Getty Images

Newsweek spoke to Kennel Club Accredited canis familiaris trainer and behaviorist Joe Nutkins, who analyzed the reaction of dogs in these videos, noting the various indications of distress. "Nosotros can often tell if a dog really isn't comfy about something just considering they only don't 'expect comfortable' by and large speaking but they tin can too requite quite clear warning signs as well," she said. "To lookout man some of the videos was actually quite disturbing really.

"The majority, if not all, of the videos that I have seen show dogs turning their head a little bit to one side. It might literally just be turning a couple of centimeters slightly to one side abroad from the owner. And then they actually practice what'due south called 'whale eye' which is where the dog turns their head a little fleck and so they actually turn their eyes the other way equally far every bit they tin. The idea is they evidence the whites of their eyes as much as possible, trying to indicate that they are not liking the situation," she added.

Another indicator for Nutkins is the ears, which dogs often use every bit a form of expression: "Yous can see a lot of these dogs that are having this new trend showing so much with their ears! I haven't seen a single dog whose ear position or movement is in a nice natural position; they are all moved in a position showing 'I'm stressed' or giving calming signals to enquire 'please don't practice what y'all're doing."

For Nutkins, the ultimate danger with this trend is that the dog may plough effectually and bite the private'south face, after feeling threatened and distressed, or could potentially bite at an unsuspecting afterward betoken when reminded of the state of affairs: " I of the biggest risks is that you will force your dog to experience and then threatened and and then worried that they feel they've already given many signals and warnings to say 'please don't practise this' only they're left with one terminal resort. That terminal resort is going to exist to turn round and bite."

Even in cases where no injuries are acquired, Nutkins said the act could chance ruining whatsoever bond or trust your dog may have held with yous.

Cut on girl's face
Stock epitome of a cut on a young girl's face. Getty Images

Ryan Neile, head of beliefs services at U.K. pet clemency Bluish Cantankerous expressed similar business organisation to Newsweek in a statement, maxim: "This is a terrifying trend where you lot can see the animals are visibly frightened and confused past the man's behaviour.

"You should never shout at any pet (even if pretending) as this merely causes distress and fearfulness, while being this close to their confront could easily cause the animal to react and cause serious injury.

"Blue Cross is concerned about the increment in people using their pets as props to heave their social media presence and we've been made aware of many other worrying examples.

"Pets are non toys to exist exploited, humiliated or objectified for our own entertainment, these videos cause distress and defoliation to our pets and tin can pb to illness, serious behaviour issues and serious injuries."

The RSPCA told Newsweek that though it understands the appeal of featuring dogs in TikTok videos, it should only be done in a way that is safety for all involved, unlike this trend: "We understand why owners want to characteristic their pets in social media posts and videos online only it's really important that these videos are filmed in a responsible manner that doesn't crusade any stress to the animals.

"Many of these videos evidence dogs exhibiting clear signals that they're anxious and uncomfortable with their owner's behaviour. As these videos go viral and spark trends which are copied past hundreds of thousands of people effectually the world - including children - this could atomic number 82 to many incidents where dogs could seize with teeth through their fear.

"It'southward important to know the signs our pets give united states that they're feeling uncomfortable in society to continue them happy and us safe."