Dog owners have been urged not to feed their pets specific dog chews from China following concerns raised by the EU of a possible link to serious behavioural changes.
Reports from the EU suggest that these products are potentially linked to dogs experiencing what is known as werewolf syndrome, the symptoms of which include panic attacks, aggression, spasms, epileptic fits and in some cases death.
A total of 10 different Barkoo and Chrisco branded chews have been identified by the FSA and EU, but there is currently no confirmed distribution of the chews to the UK and no cases have yet been detected.
“While there is no confirmed distribution of affected products to the UK, there is the possibility that some consumers may have purchased these online from international sellers,” said Tina Potter, head of incidents at the FSA.
“No unsafe dog chews have been identified but, based on international investigations so far, we are advising dog owners to avoid feeding the affected chews to dogs as a precaution. There is no evidence to suggest these products present any risk to human health.”
The FSA has been liaising with authorities in affected EU countries to gain more understanding of the issue.
FSA advice
The FSA has urged anyone that has fed the affected chews to their dog to stop doing so immediately.
Anyone with an unwell dog that fed them a chew should seek veterinary advice and provide detailed information to the vet about the foods and treats your dog has been fed.
Meanwhile, vets should be alert to symptoms in dogs presenting at their surgeries and whether they may be associated with the consumption of the chews, which have a long shelf life and may have been bought several months ago.
Relevant symptoms include sudden behavioural changes such as howling, crying or aggression and epileptic-type seizures.
If vets suspect cases associated with dog chews, they can report them through the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) Small Animal Surveillance platform.
