Texas woman’s golden hates baths. So why did she just barge in the bathroom and jump in the running shower?: ‘Take her to the vet’
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Think of a dog splashing around in a bath. It's probably a cute mental image, right? But what if that dog is usually staunchly anti-bath?
One golden retriever owner is going viral for hearing alarm bells after her bath-averse dog suddenly did the exact opposite of her usual routine.
‘What was that? It was so weird'
Content creator Powhalss (@powhalss) shared a strange moment she had with her golden retriever. Her video has since accumulated more than 47,000 views.
“I don't even know how to explain what just happened, because you guys aren't going to think this is crazy, but this was insane,” Powhalss said with her dog in the frame. “I've had her for seven years. Bad and sassy, right? … She hates taking a bath, she just did the most insane thing ever.”
Powhalss explained she'd just gotten in the shower and “barely [gotten her] hair wet,” when her 80-pound dog “barged” into the bathroom and hopped into the running shower with her.
“I'm like, huh? Hello?” she said. “I get out. I'm naked and afraid, basically … looking back and she's just sitting there [with water] showering down on her. I'm like, are you okay? Like, is something happening?”
She got out and tried to get her dog out too. But since the golden retriever was now soaked and smelled “like wet dog,” Powhalss decided to just “go bathe her in the backyard.” Afterward, the dog seemed completely normal.
“Now she's fine,” Powhalss said. “That was the weirdest [expletive] thing ever… I guess that was just her way of telling me she was dirty. I don't know. It was really scary.”
@powhalss
Are sudden bath-related behavioral changes a red flag for dogs?
Viewers in Powhalss' comment section were quick to affirm her concern. Many urged her to get her golden retriever checked out.
“She was scared. Maybe she had a medical episode,” one wrote. Another echoed, “I would take her to the vet, she is telling you something.”
“Sounds like neuro changes,” a third commented. “Time to get to the vet for a work up.”
One viewer, who said they'd worked as a vet tech, offered a blanket rule for dog safety.
“Any new, odd behavior should be considered medical until proven otherwise,” the viewer wrote. “I learned that at a vet conference when I was a vet tech.”
According to Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, sudden, uncharacteristic behavior changes can be a sign a dog is in pain or distress. These changes, ranging from “Increased neediness” to “changes in daily habits,” mean it's time to visit a vet to make sure the pup isn't in pain.
iHeartDogs' veterinary-reviewed guide similarly notes that any sudden personality shift is worth ruling out medically. The publication advises pet owners to consult a vet immediately upon noticing a change. Neurological issues, sensory changes, and pain can all present as sudden behavioral changes.
However, changes can still be a benign case of comfort-seeking or anxiety-driven behavior. According to PetMD, simple triggers like “thunderstorm phobia” can cause dogs to seek out their owners in unusual, out-of-character ways.
Buzz News reached out to Powhalss via TikTok comment.
