The precautionary advice was first offered to dog owners early last month, but was restated on 11 February.
The chews in question were manufactured in China and have been connected to serious behavioural changes.
According to reports from the EU, dogs that consumed the chews experienced 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 linked to werewolf syndrome by the FSA and EU. They have best before dates ranging from December 2025 to June 2027.
To date, there have been no cases yet detected in the UK, while there is no confirmed distribution of the chews in this country.
The FSA has been liaising with authorities in affected EU countries to gain more understanding of the issue.
“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.”
Advice
The FSA has urged anyone that has fed the affected chews to their dog to stop doing so immediately, while anyone with an unwell dog that has consumed a chew should seek veterinary advice and provide detailed information 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.
