Viral pet treat trends on TikTok are racking up millions of views, but vets are warning these seemingly fun fads could be putting dogs’ health at risk.
With more than 200 million posts tagged with the term ‘puppuccino’ and 924 million featuring the viral ‘cheese tax’, where owners film themselves handing over chunks of cheese to their dogs, these ‘treats’ are gaining popularity on the social platform and could be teaching owners bad habits. New analysis from Medivet & Partners, one of the UK’s leading veterinary care providers, reveals that feeding dogs these treats can be the calorie equivalent of a human eating multiple bags of crisps in one sitting. A single 30g cube of cheese, frequently featured in cheese tax clips, is the equivalent of a person eating two and a half bags. A puppuccino, a popular ‘treat from coffee shops, is made with whipped cream and carries a similar calorie hit.
More indulgent treats can be even more damaging, with just one slice of pizza making up around 33% of a dog’s daily calories, comparable to a human consuming six bags of crisps, while a 190g rawhide bone accounts for a staggering 78%, the equivalent of eating 15 bags in one go.
Vets say these figures highlight how quickly dogs can be overfed when treats are given regularly, particularly when inspired by online trends that normalise frequent snacking.
Dr Reena Patel, partner at Medivet Pinner, said: “It’s easy to view a few extra treats and sharing after-dinner leftovers as harmless, but overindulgence can rapidly escalate into overweight and obesity.
“Excessive body fat carries serious health risks, a reduction in quality of life and shortened life expectancy. Even moderately overweight dogs are at risk of poorer health. This can contribute to urinary incontinence, back and ligament problems, breathing difficulties and cancer, as well as a greater risk of heart disease and diabetes.”
Rawhide bone (190g) = 78% of a dog’s daily calories (15 bags of crisps)
Puppuccino (33g whipped cream) = 12% of a dog’s daily calories (2.5 bags of crisps)
1 piece of cheese (30g) = 13% of a dog’s daily calories (2.5 bags of crisps)
1 sausage = 16% of a dog’s daily calories (3 bags of crisps)
1 rasher of bacon = 6% of a dog’s daily calories (1 bag of crisps)
1 biscuit = 8% of a dog’s daily calories (1.5 bags of crisps)
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
