When Maya the pug started hiding from her owner, she had a feeling something was wrong, but she wasn’t prepared for what the vet would tell her.

Pauline, 29, from San Francisco, discovered four-year-old Maya hiding in the closet on the morning of May 17. The normally upbeat pug was suddenly withdrawn and vomiting, prompting Pauline to rush her to the vet.

In a video with over 6.4 million views on TikTok, she explained: “Soulmated so hard that the vet told me she’s been hiding in my closet cause she didn’t want me to see her in pain.”

“She was throwing up and then started hiding in the closet,” Pauline, who only shared her first name, told Newsweek. “I was really surprised. She’s usually upbeat and always near me, so when I found her hiding and throwing up, I rushed her to the vet right away.”

Pauline took her to the vet where she had an X-ray and bloodwork. Maya needed fluids and medication through an IV, but she is now recovering well. But the vet explained that it was likely Maya was hiding in the closet to hide her illness from her owner.

After the ordeal, Pauline couldn’t believe how Maya had tried to hide her sickness, and was inspired to share it with others online. “I wanted to show how deeply our dogs love us. Even when they’re hurting, they try to protect us by hiding it,” she said.

Experts say that dogs hiding when they’re sick stems from a deeply ingrained instinct passed down from wild ancestors. In the wild, a sick or injured animal is vulnerable to predators, so hiding is a survival mechanism. Domesticated pets, particularly dogs and cats, retain this protective instinct, often seeking secluded spots when they are unwell.

While hiding isn’t always a sign of something bad happening, it is always a good idea to get your pet checked out by a veterinarian if they start acting differently or unusually.

As the video of Maya on her TikTok account, @champagne.maya, gained more attention online since being shared earlier this month, people rushed to the comments to share their reactions.

“You were most definitely her person. She didn’t want to burden you but also probably chose your closet because your scent is all in it,” said viewer Jenn.

While TikToker Valentia said: “Cats do the same thing!! Cats do it because they feel weak and they’re supposed to be your ‘protector’ so they feel ashamed and useless.”

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.