Internet Goes Wild for Labrador 'High' on Catnip After Stealing Treats

A dog who managed to make his way into an entire packet of catnip treats has left the internet in stitches this week after his owners recorded the aftermath.

The after-effects of Labrador Waylon's snack have gained more than 2 million views on TikTok, with viewers delighted by his reaction.

Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is a green herb that has long been recognized for its intoxicating effects on animals.

While catnip might leave your feline friend going a little bit crazy—known to have a similar effect on cats as heroin and morphine do in people—dogs have a different reaction to the plant.

In fact, catnip has a more sedative-like impact on dogs, and can sometimes be used to help with anxiety, improve sleep and act as a natural antiseptic.

Owners Alex and Cori, who live in southern Wisconsin, shared their pup's reaction to the catnip treats in a video that shows 105-pound dog Waylon grinning, laid-back, and wagging his tail with squinting eyes.

Alex told Newsweek: "He's tall so he was able to get the treats off the counter. Before we posted the video we did some research—because we didn't want anyone to get mad at us or thing we neglect our dog—catnip is a natural sedative used for dogs, so he's not actually high, just very very relaxed."

But it was the dog's facial expressions that delighted his owners—and later users of video-sharing site TikTok—the most.

"We just died with what appeared to be a grin on his face," said Alex. "He was very slow moving and sleepy for a few hours and was completely back to normal the next morning."

Healthy Paws pet insurance advises that if you do want to give your dog catnip, you should consult your veterinarian first, and follow instructions on amounts and how to administer it.

While catnip is non-toxic for dogs, it is important to remember that if you think your animal is ill or may have ingested a poisonous substance, you should contact your local veterinarian or the APCC 24-hour emergency poison hotline at 1-888-426-4435.

Viewers of the now-viral TikTok video were in stitches and shared their reactions in the comments. One user wrote: "Haha his face is the best part," while another said: "Oh he's trying so hard to function."

"He can literally hear every color that you have in that house," joked another reply.

"I've never thought about how it would affect a dog haha," said another viewer.

While most viewers found the footage hilarious, a few did express concern for the dog which Alex says was not necessary. "You know how social media platforms are, there's always the keyboard warriors thinking that you're doing something wrong," she said. "But for the most part the reactions were positive, and I assume brought a lot of laughs."