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Behavior and the gut

Navigating Social Media Misconceptions As A Dog Owner

Navigating Social Media Misconceptions As A Dog Owner
Ronan Fitzgerald
Writer and expert3 months ago
View Ronan Fitzgerald's profile

In this article, we delve into how information shared online and social media trends influence dog owners in the United States, particularly regarding diet and nutrition, and why this could pose potential safety risks.

Our research, which includes analyzing social listening and search volume data, sheds light on how dog owners are taking action after reading something online that may not be coming from an accurate or credible source.

Contents

The majority of conversations between dog owners happen on X (Twitter) and Reddit, with ‘dog walks’ and ‘diet’ dominating the chat with 55% and 37% of mentions respectively.

The key topics surrounding the conversations around dog walking include details of the best places to walk your dog, and debates about how many times per day to walk your dog.

There are 1.99 million mentions for diet and nutrition, and homemade dog food steers this with search volumes in the US at 32,000, with a further 14,000 for ‘dog food recipes.’

Doing things at home continues to be a key trend. Further insights show conversations and searches around home remedies for allergy relief, with Epsom salt appearing to be the most popularly used, and at-home grooming and bathing routines.

A pie chart showing how dog walks and diet dominate online conversations

“How Often Should I Walk My Dog Each Day?”

A small dog being taken for a walk by its owner, it is on a lead on a path

Many dog owners are taking to Reddit to get advice on various aspects of dog walking, and one of the common themes is to ask for advice on how often they should be walking their dogs.

One particular discussion, which has over 1,000 comments, is divided, with many believing that three or four walks a day is best, and others questioning who has the time to commit to this regularly.

The divide in these comments highlights the importance of asking the right questions when seeking help online, and the need to always check with a professional.

Dr Ronan Fitzgerald, one of our veterinarians at Protexin Pet, urges dog owners to remember that those online may well have a different breed or situation than themselves:

“There is always a risk that owners may read something online, such as you should be walking your dog three or four times a day, and take it as fact, however what’s right for your dog will depend on several factors including breed, age, size, and any relevant health issues. For instance, does your dog have access to a backyard or garden between walks, or do you live in an apartment? Will exercise consist of a gentle walk or something more energetic, possibly involving running or swimming?

“Extremes in weather, for example freezing cold or very hot conditions, can also impact how, when, and where you should exercise your dog. Your veterinarian will be able to advise on the appropriate level of exercise for your dog based on its needs.”

Although seeking professional guidance is always recommended, if you are taking dog care queries to social media, owners should consider the credibility of those responding and ensure they ask the right questions. With this example, if asking how often to walk a dog each day, the answers might not be relevant to the breed or age of your dog, while being more specific is likely to get more accurate advice.

Online Trends For Dog Walking

Some key insights found online about dog walking are:

  • Owners are predominantly using Reddit to open conversations around walking routines, training for their dogs, and help with behavioral issues
  • There are common questions around aggression, such as: “Are corgis prone to being aggressive to strangers and other dogs?”

“Should I Feed My Dog A Raw Diet?”

Conversations surrounding a dog’s nutrition on social media are largely dominated by the debate of whether owners should be feeding their pets a raw diet.

The creation of ‘enrichment/food bowl’ videos, such as this example from Celinetails on TikTok, has divided owners as to whether the diet is beneficial for dogs, and even caused news outlets to call on veterinarians for their advice.

There is much debate surrounding this, with those who promote raw feeding citing concerns with commercially produced diets, specifically relating to dental problems, diabetes, and obesity. However, some of the negatives may be serious consequences not highlighted in these viral videos, which are often posted by uncertified/registered sources.

Dr Fitzgerald explains: “Those who are opposed to the feeding of raw and home-made diets note that raw meat carries infectious agents that may be harmful, and potentially fatal, to at-risk pets and people. The caution also comes from experiences with dogs who have contracted serious illnesses and even died from eating raw foods, as well as owners who have contracted serious infections from handling raw ingredients.

“Additionally, dogs that have eaten raw foods may shed the organisms into their environment and surroundings, while there is also a concern that such a diet may not be nutritionally appropriate.”

The general sentiment online surrounding raw feeding is negative (25% versus 14% positive), with users questioning the validity of the research conducted when being advised to feed their dogs raw food.

If you have any queries about what you should be feeding your dog, it is always recommended to check with your veterinary doctor who will be best placed to advise.

Three Tips For Your Dog’s Diet

The most important thing for your dog is ensuring it has a healthy diet suitable for its needs. Dr Fitzgerald advises following these three tips:

“Firstly, make sure you are using the right ingredients—a diet packed with things your dog likes to eat doesn’t mean it is nutritious or meets all your pet’s needs. Bear in mind that if your dog has a particular illness or condition that changes their nutritional requirements, it can be much harder to meet these needs if preparing a diet at home.

“Secondly, make sure their diet is properly balanced—if their diet is heavily meat- and fat-based, there’s a risk that your dog could end up lacking the fiber they need, as well as being deficient in essential minerals and vitamins, which can even lead to medical problems. Adding a supplement, such as Gut+Wellness, not only supports healthy gut bacteria but also contains vitamins A, B, D3, and E.

“And thirdly, watch their weight. Some suggest that a raw food diet is easier to digest, which is generally considered a good thing. However, it’s important to ensure that this does not lead to obesity.”

Online Trends For Dog Diet And Nutrition

An infographic demonstrating how diet, nutrition, and raw feeding is all the buzz on social media

Raw diets are dominating the ‘diet and nutrition’ topic across the internet and social media, but here are some other key trends we’ve found:

  • As ‘enrichment bowls’ trend, one TikTok has upward of 60.8m views, 6.4m likes, and 56.4k comments (correct as of June 2024)
  • In June 2024 there were 32,000 Google searches in the US for ‘homemade dog food’ and 18,000 searches for ‘homemade dog food recipes’
  • Online news articles account for around 54% of online mentions discussing raw food diets
  • X (Twitter) is where the most concerns are being raised about the raw feeding trend, with some users posting links to salmonella contracted as a result

“Is Epsom Salt Safe For Dogs?”

A dog sitting on its bed, chewing at its leg to relieve irritation

Dog allergies can be caused by many factors, such as food or the environment, and it can be frustrating to see your dog suffering from itching or irritation.

One of the most popular ways to relieve this irritation appears to be soaking your dog’s paws in an Epsom salt bath, as shown in this TikTok video from Hudsonstaysgolden. While it is safe for dogs to dip their paws, it can cause significant digestive issues if the dog drinks the water, something not disclosed in this video and others.

There’s a big discussion around dog allergies on Reddit, with users asking for help on what to do when their dog is presenting a potential allergic reaction. While some answers advise Epsom salt baths, others suggest altering the dog’s diet to see if this helps.

But the key detail to note is that these owners are never entirely sure if their dog is having an allergic reaction, and that is where professional advice needs to be sought.

Dr Fitzgerald says: “It is strongly advised that an owner seeks veterinary advice if they suspect that their dog is displaying an allergic reaction. It is important to determine whether the problem is indeed allergic in nature, or instead due to parasites such as lice or mites, a skin infection involving bacteria or yeast, or even behavioral.

“Identifying the cause of an allergic reaction can also be challenging. Although widely discussed, food allergies are not as common as owners perhaps believe. There are many signs that a dog might be experiencing an adverse food reaction (AFR); however, it is important to carry out a thorough investigation before reaching a diagnosis, as there are other conditions with similar symptoms.”

Online Trends For Dog Allergies And Epsom Salt

The interest around dog allergies continues to be a well-searched topic, with mention volume increasing by 11% year-on-year to nearly 94,000. Here are some of the key insights we have found:

  • The conversations around allergies largely take place on X (Twitter) and Reddit, with most people talking about how diet and nutrition are linked
  • Conversations around Epsom salt soaks largely take place on Reddit (60%)
  • Online mentions for Epsom salt have risen by 11% year-on-year
  • On average, there are 700 searches within the US each month for ‘Epsom salt for dogs’ (as of June 2024)
  • The video of the dog with its paws in an Epsom salt bath reached 38.4m views, 6m likes, and 22.9k comments

The correlation between allergies and food is also a popular discussion online, with key conversations from users including:

  • Mentioning that their dog has experienced relief from skin allergies when switching to specific dog food brands
  • Praising grain-free dog food formulas for helping dogs with allergies and improving their coats
  • Sharing experiences of their dog being allergic to chicken

“Should I Groom My Dog With Coconut Oil?”

Numerous videos on social media, such as this one from Reignstormpit on Instagram, show owners bathing and grooming their dogs in indulgent routines, with a lot of owners using coconut oil for soothing skin conditions, improving their coats, and general pampering.

When this TikTok video from Amazinganimals.us went viral, showing how coconut oil can be digested or massaged into dogs’ coats, it divided the comments, with many thinking coconut oil is bad for dogs and others sharing positive experiences.

What these videos fail to do is show the negatives that can be associated with giving coconut oil to dogs, leaving an average 18,000 Americans per month flocking to Google to ask ‘is coconut oil safe for dogs?’ (correct as of June 2024).

Dr Fitzgerald says: “Some people recommend adding coconut oil to a dog’s food as a supplement for an atopic skin allergy; however, it’s important to remember that coconut oil is high in saturated fats and could provoke gut inflammation, which in turn could result in loose stools or diarrhea, and possibly even cause pancreatitis.

“Some owners also advocate the topical use of virgin coconut oil to benefit dry, itchy, or irritated skin, as well as crusty noses and pads—its emollient properties could make it beneficial in the topical treatment of atopic dermatitis.

“If you are considering giving coconut oil to your dog, either orally or by application, it’s advisable to seek veterinary advice before doing so, especially given the concerns around dogs taking it orally.”

It is also important to give your dog a nutritionally balanced diet, which is fundamental for the dog’s skin and coat. Additional supplements can also help, such as our ‘Gut+ Skin & Coat’ from the Daily Care range.

Online Trends For Dog Grooming And Bathing

An infographic demonstrating how dog owners are taking to Google following coconut oil recommendations

Coconut oil is largely discussed within the topic of dog grooming and bathing online, but other areas such as what tools, such as combs and brushes, to use are also being spoken about. Here are some of the key trends we’ve found:

  • Amazinganimals.us’s viral video has had 5.5m views, 234k likes, and 1.17k comments as of June 2024
  • Monthly US search volume for ‘coconut oil for dogs’ reaches 18,000, while ‘is coconut oil safe for dogs’ reaches 17,000 (as of June 2024)
  • Instragam user @reignstormpit shared a video of her pit bull being massaged with coconut oil, which caused a huge spike in conversation in August 2023, with mentions increasing 7% year-on-year
  • New dog owners are often sharing videos of puppies being bathed for the first time while asking for tips on best practices

Pet owners are also taking to the internet to talk about their dog’s coats, with popular topics including:

  • Tips on choosing the right dog bath brush for different types of coats
  • Warning on potential damage caused by over-grooming or inappropriate grooming tools
  • Omega-3 fish oil and its benefits for reducing shedding and improving skin and coat health
  • Guidelines on the appropriate frequency for bathing and grooming dogs to maintain healthy skin and coat quality

“What Will Help My Dog’s Gut Health?”

A dog standing in a living room but he is completely in x-ray

Not only are we humans all paying closer attention to our gut health, but social listening tells us that we are taking extra steps to ensure our dog’s gut is healthy too.

But there is a lot of uncertainty. Owners appear to be venting their frustrations on Reddit at not being able to understand why their dog is either in pain or refusing to eat, perhaps misinterpreting that there is a magic solution to gut health problems.

Social listening shows us that people are frustrated with vets being unable to solve the problem, and are having difficulties understanding the benefits and drawbacks of various diets such as raw feeding.

Sticking to the things we know can have a positive effect on gut health is recommended. Dr Fitzgerald notes: “Promoting gut health by both feeding a healthy diet and supporting the microbiota leads in turn to benefits elsewhere in the body.

“Focusing on plenty of hydration, and combining the right diet with essential nutrients and additional probiotics and vitamins, will really benefit not only your dog’s gut health, but also its general wellbeing.”

Online Trends For Dog Gut Health

X (Twitter) and Reddit are the main platforms where people are venting their frustration, with X holding the highest volume at 60%. Here are some more of the trends we’ve been seeing online:

  • On average, there are 900 US searches each month for ‘dog gut health’ (correct as of June 2024)
  • Mentions relating to gut health are mostly negative, with this sentiment making up 35% of the conversation, largely due to owners’ frustrations
  • Under the gut health conversation, there are ties to pet diets to alleviate pain and help digestion within the key trending topics

“Can Dogs Have Human Probiotics?”

The number of owners giving their dogs supplements is increasing, with Google searches for ‘probiotics for dogs’ reaching 26,000 in the US each month (correct as of June 2024).

Conversations around dog supplements are also popular on the likes of Reddit, with many users either sharing experiences of their dogs improving after taking them, or asking for advice.

But one question that is also being asked is whether dogs can have human probiotics – and if the conversations on Reddit are spreading this information, this is where the problem lies.

Dr Fitzgerald explains: “It is important to recognize that human and animal microbiomes are not identical, so using human probiotics for your dog may not be suitable, much less have the benefits you are looking for.

“Animal supplements are formulated to meet the needs of that animal, whether dog, cat, rabbit, or even horse. For example, Protexin’s Daily Care range for dogs not only provides daily support for a healthy gut but also supports other aspects of your dog’s health and wellbeing, such as bone health and joint mobility, maintenance of healthy skin and coat, support of immune function, and helping to maintain calm behavior. It’s this attention to their specific requirements that makes animal supplements the right choice for your pet.”

Online Trends For Dog Supplements

An infographic demonstrating that dog supplements are a hot topic

We have seen a rising interest in dog supplements, with mention volume increasing 17% year-on-year. Here are some of the other key trends:

  • The term ‘probiotics for dogs’ is receiving 26,000 monthly searches in the US, and ‘CBD for dogs’ (cannabidiol) experiences 25,000 (correct as of June 2024)
  • Mention volume for CBD specifically saw spikes in the winter months, likely due to owners seeing more illness or pain in their dogs during these months
  • ‘Can dogs have human probiotics?’ is achieving 400 searches each month in the US (correct as of June 2024)
  • Conversations on Reddit show that people are sharing their experiences with their dogs taking supplements and noting the success it had, while others are seeking advice on which supplements to try
  • There is also a big link between supplements and diet, with the need to have a balanced diet alongside taking supplements

Summary

Our findings reveal that the majority of dog owners are actively engaging in conversations and searching for diet advice and recommendations, which is then correlating directly with allergies and gut health. It also shows that owners have been struggling to get the information or help they need and are resorting to social media for this, and then being influenced by trending videos and discussions.

The top trending videos to have appeared on social media linked to dogs are ones with indulgent grooming and bathing routines, with coconut oil being a top product, and homemade raw food bowls prepared with an array of elaborate ingredients.

Whether you are searching on social media or asking Google for some advice, remember that not everything you read will necessarily be true or the best advice for your dog. We recommend to always seek guidance from a professional too.

For more information about maintaining your dog’s health, you can read our article (linked) from another of our veterinary experts, Dr Emma Roger-Smith.

Our Research

Research for this piece was conducted between May and June 2024.

  • A social listening report reviewed findings over 12 months (May 2023-May 2024), pulling data from worldwide online sources including Reddit and X
  • Search data was analyzed using Google Trends, Ahrefs, and Glimpse, and conducted during June 2024
  • All other sources have been linked where cited
Ronan Fitzgerald
Writer and expert
View Ronan Fitzgerald's profile
After graduating from the Royal Veterinary College, Ronan worked for nine years in small animal and mixed practices before joining a veterinary pharmaceutical company. Having recently joined Protexin, he has become interested in the importance of the gut microbiota, its impact on health and well-being, and the benefits that pro-, pre- and postbiotics can deliver.
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