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By Lucy Notarantonio
Senior Reporter
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A video of a senior dog who can no longer howl or bark has racked up almost one million views in just two days.
The TikTok clip shared by owner Julie, 31, (@therealjulsey) shows her beloved pet, Moe, 13, attempting to howl, but no sound comes out. Initially, users thought the clip was on mute, but at the end you can hear the elderly dog gasping for air.
Julie, from Austin, Texas, told Newsweek: "We aren't totally sure why he lost his howl. He used to have a crazy howl that sounded like a wolf when he was younger!"
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At the time of writing, the heartbreaking clip had amassed 955,900 views and over 207,000 likes.
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Julie, who works in marketing, explained: "As he got older, he slowly lost his howl, which seems to be something that happens to quite a few older dogs. In his older age, he also couldn't bark."
So far, the video has received over 1,890 comments.
One user said: "If he didn't catch his breath I wouldn't have believed you."
"The breath after shows how hard he tried," stated another.
There are many reasons why dogs may lose their voice, which is known as laryngeal paralysis, according to the VCA animal hospital. It can occur for reasons such as trauma to the throat or neck, tumors or space-occupying lesions in the neck or chest area, and other hormonal diseases.
Dr. Anna Foreman, a veterinarian told Newsweek: "The dog in this video is howling silently. It is rare for a dog to 'lose' their bark or voice, however, changes to phonation (their pitch) can occur with disease processes of the larynx (voice box), and so should always be checked by a vet."
Foreman, who is based in the U.K. and works for Everypaw Pet Insurance, explained that some dogs lose their voice if they bark too much.
"Some dog breeds and personalities bark more and less than others, and dogs can be trained not to bark, however, it is rare for a dog to have the inability to vocalize," she said. "Some dogs do not bark or howl, or do so silently (they move their mouth but don't make a sound). This is usually a learned behavior. If they are around other dogs who do this, particularly if they are young, they may pick up this behavior."
The reason why Moe lost his voice is unknown. The VCA animal hospital website states: "The clinical signs of laryngeal paralysis vary widely. Unfortunately, laryngeal paralysis is probably more common than it is diagnosed. It usually affects middle-aged and older dogs. Medium and large breeds are more likely to develop the condition. One of the primary reasons the condition is under diagnosed is because the initial signs often only involve a shortage of breath, noisy breathing, or a cough."
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Although the video went viral on February 14, it is in fact an old clip, as Moe sadly passed away on February 3. But his spirit lives on and continues to delight the internet.
Julie told Newsweek that she could understand what her dog wanted even though she was unable to bark.
She said: "Moe was a very expressive dog and he would still try to howl/bark/growl to tell us what he wanted (and what he didn't like!) even if nothing was coming out.
"I had Moe for so long I think I just knew his moods, wants and needs."
She explained that her dog passed away from complications associated with old age including arthritis and a neurodegenerative disease that caused him to have very limited use of his back legs. Despite this, he remained a charismatic canine—even without a voice.
Julie told Newsweek: "Moe had the most interesting personality!
"He was so affectionate and he would 'hug' you when asked (push his head into your chest) and would nestle his head into you.
"In his old age, he developed a classic grumpy old man personality, but he still loved me dearly and would still try to give me hugs until the day he passed."
Update 2/19/24, 3:42 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from Dr. Anna Foreman and new images.
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