Comical Scenes as Woman Strokes Senior Dog With Rake To Avoid Touching Her

A dog owner's unusual solution to showing love to her pet has gained viral attention after it was shared on TikTok.

In a video posted by TikToker @abigailada12, the woman is seen gently pet her 14-year-old dog with an unconventional tool, sparking laughter across social media.

With 7.1 million views, the star of the video is Mocha, a senior canine companion who receives unique affection from its owner using a rake.

By way of explanation, the text overlay reads: "Our 14-year-old dog is covered in old dog warts, so my mom pets her with a rake because she doesn't like touching them."

"My dad saw the rake at Marshall's and knew my mom didn't like the feeling of the warts on Mocha's skin, so he bought it for her to use," owner Abigail from South Carolina told Newsweek.

"Mocha loves it," she added. "I wanted to share it because I thought it was cute and funny."

Comments on the video reveal a mix of amusement and concern. One user humorously remarked, "I love how your mom saw the child's rake at a store one day and thought you know what… I'll get that for petting Mocha."

Another suggested a more conventional approach, saying: "They make a grooming glove that might be more comfortable than that rake."

Dog warts, scientifically known as papillomas, are benign growths resulting from a viral infection. They often have a lumpy surface and can resemble small cauliflowers, usually appearing in clusters. While they typically disappear on their own, severe cases may occur in immunocompromised dogs, necessitating treatment.

While warts are usually harmless, it is of course always a good idea to be vigilant of your dog's skin health, getting any unusual features checked out by a vet to rule out underlying or more serious issues like skin cancer.

Other dog owners shared their own experiences of dogs and warts. One viewer wrote: "My 14-year-old girl has them too. lol I've learned where not to touch her. I call her Ol Crusty."

Another user expressed sympathy for Mocha: "Give her some rubs! Poor thing can't help that she has warts."

Before long, @abigailada12 reassured followers and wrote: "I do! And my dad does!"

The TikToker was even forced to post an update video to assure viewers that yes, Mocha really does love her dedicated back scratcher. In a follow-up with 400,00 views, the poster joked "Pray for Mocha, we're torturing her," alongside a video of the fluffy pup thoroughly enjoying a good scratch.

"I'm a little surprised by some of the reactions," Abigail said. "She begs you to keep going when you stop. I would say the majority think it's funny and agree that it's a great solution for the problem."