Vet reveals there’s actually a scientific name for your dog’s ‘zoomies’
- A veterinarian on TikTok explains the science behind the crazy canine behaviour
- READ MORE: Dog keeps her owner awake with laps around the bedroom at 1AM
Most dog owners will be familiar with that time of day when their pet starts running crazed laps aound the house, fondly known as ‘zoomies’.
Now a veterinarian has revealed on TikTok that there’s a scientific name behind the frenzied, hyper behaviour displayed by dogs when excited.
Katrina Warren – an Australian TV veterinarian who co-hosts several popular television programs on the Seven Network – posted a video on her TikTok account to educate dog owners about the root of their pooch’s bizarre behaviour.
The vet – also known as @drkatrinawarren on the social app – is also a 9Honey pet expert and regular guest expert on the Today Show in Australia, often posting training and behaviour tips for her 47,000 followers on the app.
Explaining zoomies, she revealed: ‘It’s Fenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs). And they are just that – short explosions of energy.’
The 15-second video – captioned ‘Familiar?’ – amassed over 20,000 views and more than 400 likes, sparking many responses from owners who spoke about their own dogs’ uncontrollable tendencies to ‘zoom.’
Familiar? #dogzoomies #zoomies #petfacts #pettips
Katrina Warren, a TV vetenarian, speaks over a video on TikTok of a dog running laps through a hallway, asking: ‘Did you know there’s a scientific name for dog’s zoomies?’
Katrina, speaking over a video of a dog running laps through a hallway, said: ‘Did you know there’s a scientific name for dog’s zoomies?
‘Really common in puppies and younger dogs – often called “the crazies” and I’m sure many of you know why.’
Some dog-owners confirmed in the comments that FRAPs are indeed ever-present in their own pooches, and some were surprised to learn of the scientific term.
One person said: ‘Oh wow, I did not know there was an official name for them!’
Confirming their own cases of FRAPs in their household, one user said: ‘I just sit still and don’t move when my German shorthair pointer gets them hahaha.’
Another wrote, ‘My poodle is 15 this year & she still does zoomies,’ while a fellow owner agreed, saying, ‘My 14 year old gets zoomies. He thinks he is still a puppy.’
Two commenters shared their own phrases for their dogs’ bonkers behaviour, with one writing, ‘I call it psycho puppy freak out,’ while the other said, ‘Mine always does it after he poops so now we call em poop zooms.’
The vet explained that Fenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs) – or, better known as ‘the crazies’ and ‘zoomies’ – are really common in puppies and younger dogs
Some dog-owners confirmed in the comments under the video that FRAPs are indeed ever-present in their own pooches, and some were surprised to learn of the scientific term
José Arce, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association, told Live Science that the bursts of energy are, ‘natural and seen in many domesticated and wild animal species.’
He continued: ‘FRAPs may appear random, but a few triggers are common for dogs. When an owner lets a dog out of its crate, the pup may zoom around to let out energy it built up throughout the day.’
The expert also explained that an owner coming home from work or errands can trigger their dog to run around as a way to exercise after napping for a while.
Another frequent time that FRAPs may occur, according to Arce, is some time after bathing – to possibly release nervous or excitable energy from the activity.
Zoomies aren’t particularly dangerous for dogs. The general advice with FRAPs if they occur is to remove hazardous objects out of sight when at home and to be vigilant while out on a walk
Arce has assured that zoomies themselves aren’t particularly dangerous for dogs – with serious injuries unlikely to occur.
The general advice with FRAPs is to remove hazardous objects out of sight when at home and to be vigilant while out on a walk – keeping firm control of the leash so the dog doesn’t sprint away if the zoomies occur.
It is also advised to consider letting the pet get out any excessive energy before an unpredictable activity such as sightseeing or a walk at a cliff.
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