Labradoodle Tries to Catch Rat, Plan Backfires: '2 Sides to Every Story'

Dogs love nothing more than playing fetch, whether it is with another dog, their tail, or rodents.

In a viral video shared to TikTok (@labradoodlelambo), a dog can be seen desperately trying to catch a rat, but then the unexpected happens. The animals are separated by a chicken-wire fence, but the fearless rat leaps to get a better look at Lambo. The rodent just sits and watches as the dog starts to bark and tries to break the barrier between them. The canine eventually settles down, and they are seated inches apart.

At the time of writing, the video shared on February 22 has amassed 539,900 views. The onscreen text reads: "There's always 2 sides to every story." Both animals appear to be curious about each other, but people in the comments section are convinced the rodent has toxoplasmosis.

What Is Toxoplasmosis?

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by infection with a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. Cats and dogs are at risk of catching the disease through eating infected rodents. MSD Manuals, a global standard in medical reference for doctors, students and consumers, has said that healthy dogs usually present no symptoms. However, the parasite could spread through a puppy's body and lead to signs of an infection; these include fever, diarrhea, cough, difficulty breathing, jaundice, seizures, and death. The disease isn't exclusive to animals either; it can be passed onto humans.

Toxoplasmosis in Rats

In 2016, a study titled "Toxoplasma gondii infection specifically increases the levels of key host dopamine" was released by a team of researchers from various institutions in the U.K., Brazil and Ireland.

The study investigates the parasite's influence on rodent behavior has been documented, showing alterations in activity, exploration, and predator avoidance.

Through various experiments and analyses, the researchers found that T. gondii infection led to significant alterations in dopamine-related gene expression and signaling pathways in the brain, particularly in regions associated with reward and motivation. These findings provide insights into the neurobiological basis of the parasite-induced behavioral changes observed in rodents.

This is why many people in the comments section believe the rat was infected as usually they would run away from a predator. However, the rodent in the clip almost squares up to the dog before they seemingly befriend each other.

One user wrote: "The rat seems a bit slow definitely think it has toxoplasmosis only know this because I looked on Google just now."

"Maybe he just wants to have a nice chat," posted another.

A third comment said: "Omg [Oh my god] my dog would have killed him, but your dog freed him. so cute."

Newsweek reached out to @labradoodlelambo for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.

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