Who doesn’t love an online pet video? All of us it would seem, but a leading behaviour veterinarian wants you to stop posting cute pet and children videos on social media.
Leading behaviour vet Dr Lewis Kirkham says he’s concerned about the pursuit of a great shot.
“I am often tagged on social media in what are perceived as ‘cute’ videos of unsupervised babies interacting with dogs,” he says.
“Many of these are deeply concerning to those who can accurately interpret a dog’s anxious body language.”
Common signs your dog is anxious include ‘moon’ eyes (where the white of the eyes are visible), avoiding eye contact, moving away from the child or freezing, tucked ears or tail, yawning, panting and licking its own lips or the child.
Signs your cat is anxious include, inappropriate toileting, hiding, crouching, hissing/growling and overgrooming.
“Pet owners cannot merely assume that their pet will react in a certain way in a given situation, especially if the pet has never encountered the stimulus before, including newborn babies and children,” says Nadia Crighton from Pet Insurance Australia.
“Many times, pet owners fail to recognise the signs, especially if they have never encountered any behavioural issues with their pet before.”
Have you ever posted videos or pictures of your pet and children? Were you concerned?
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