A vet has issued an urgent warning over a new viral TikTok trend, which sees owners of dogs dye their four-legged friend's fur - as it runs the risk of giving precious pooches serious skin infections. Videos posted on the platform see dog owners giving their canine companions makeovers to give them the appearance of other animals like pandas, foxes and even Clifford the Big Red Dog.
And while the results can turn out cute, there's nothing whatsoever wholesome about the danger that dogs may be put in through the increased risk of toxicity, skin irritation and infections - according to Dr Anna Foreman of Everypaw Pet Insurance.
The doctor said: "There is no situation where dyeing a pet's fur is benefiting the animal themselves. It is purely benefiting us for aesthetic purposes."
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Cornwall Live reports that she continued: "Some dogs enjoy being groomed or being bathed, however there is no way we can say that animals specifically enjoy being dyed." Recent research from Everypaw shows that there has been a surge in online searches relating to dog hair dye.
The study also revealed that the search volume for 'blue dog hair dye' had grown 200 per cent over the last three months, while searches for 'temporary dog hair dye' bolstered by 100 per cent in the very same period. In the same manner that some humans can have adverse reactions from hair dye, so can pets.
Strong chemicals have the potential to harm a canine's skin, which can in-turn lead to uncomfortable infections. Pet hair dye companies recommend patch testing before use, and human dye products should never be used - under any circumstances whatsoever.
Dr Anna, continued: "The only situation where fur dyeing is remotely acceptable is when an animal's tail is dyed a bright, garish colour as a way of preventing them from being stolen. This method is sometimes used in the UK, however mainly in foreign countries where microchipping is less common.
"As well as being a deterrent, as dogs with a brightly dyed tail are easily identifiable, it also discourages thieves as a dog with a dyed tail is less desirable to potential buyers." Dr Anna suggested that dog owners use food colouring made from natural ingredients, should they wish to dye a dog's tail.
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