This Is Not A Laughing Matter For Pets

A veterinary nurse is sounding the alarm on a trending, viral and dangerous social media craze that has pet owners spinning their cats, dogs and even rabbits around by their front legs for laughs and likes.

Jade, a registered veterinary nurse and popular TikTokker appropriately known as Jade The Vet Nurse, blasted the stunt in a PSA-style video posted on last 13 April.

She didn’t mince words, calling on pet owners to put their furry friends’ health before their follower count.

"Can we please stop this trend where people lift their cats, dogs, or rabbits by their front legs and spin them around in circles?" she pleaded.

"This puts unnecessary strain on your pet’s joints/muscles and can make them feel dizzy and nauseous, all for the sake of a few views," she warned. "Let’s be responsible pet owners and get rid of this trend."

Jade, who has three dogs and three tortoises of her own, explained that the seemingly harmless twirl can lead to real harm — especially for small or fragile pets.

"This is not a nice trend for your pets. It can actually cause damage. By picking your animals up under the front legs, you put a lot of pressure and strain on the shoulders, the elbows, the muscles and the ligaments," she said.

"You can cause [them] to feel really dizzy and nauseous," The content creator stressed. "I’ve literally seen people try and do this trend with large dogs, and I have seen people drop their dogs, which can cause injury."

"I have seen people do this with smaller dogs, and as they’re spinning their dog around, the dog is literally squirming because that is not pleasant for them," she added.

And when animals start wriggling mid-spin? That’s a big red flag.

She explained that squirming can "cause damage to their spine," noting that French bulldogs and dachshunds are especially vulnerable to spinal issues.

"I don’t think it’s a very responsible thing to do," she said. "So I would say if you have posted one of these videos, it’s probably just a good idea to delete it and don’t get sucked into these kind of trends.

"I know you watch them and they look cute and they look fun," she continued, "but please, guys, think about our pets’ health and welfare first. I don’t think it’s a good idea to do this video for the sake of trying to get a few likes or maybe a viral video."