Nottingham-based brand Years said that a change in recipe may have led to some dogs developing an eye condition that could result in sight loss if left untreated.
In a recall notice, Years asked customers to stop feeding its fresh meals to their dogs immediately, not feed the food to other animals, and not donate or sell the products.
Years said that, as of 18 August, it had received 192 reports of “potential, yet unverified, eye issues” from around 40,000 customers.
As of 16 August, the brand said its products were potentially linked to “57 suspected cases” of a condition known as sudden bilateral dry eye.
The condition occurs when a dog is unable to produce tears and is also known as keratoconjunctivitis.
The Royal Kennel Club says on its website that the illness may leave dogs’ eyes “inflamed and reddened, or the cornea may appear dry and dull. There is commonly a thick, mucusy discharge in or around the eye.”
It added: “If this condition is not treated early or is not managed effectively, it can lead to visual problems and blindness.”
In its notice, Years said the cases may be the result of an adverse reaction to buckwheat, an ingredient added to its meals several months ago.
The company also said it would “automatically” pause customer subscriptions from 19 August “for an initial period of six weeks”.
During this time, the manufacturer said it would replace buckwheat with quinoa in subscribers’ next shipment.
The firm added: “Your help with our investigation would mean a great deal. We’ll arrange a free collection of any unused meals and apply a full credit to your account for the order.”
In a now-deleted blog post, the company discussed the safety of buckwheat, stating: “In most cases, yes, buckwheat is safe for dogs to munch, provided it’s cooked properly and fed in sensible portions.
“Here at Years, we carefully calculate the right amount of buckwheat to include, ensuring your dog receives all the benefits without any risks.”
The brand said it began receiving reports of dogs experiencing the condition in late July and that an independent vet and a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons specialist had told it that a link to its food was “unlikely”, but recommended further investigation.
In its recall notice, Years added: “Buckwheat is a common, approved ingredient used across many pet foods and went through Years’ standard ingredient and recipe approval process before being introduced, including supplier approval, ingredient specification review and formulation in line with FEDIAF guidelines.
“Further independent laboratory testing around the buckwheat supply is ongoing. Years has chosen to voluntarily recall the meals as a precautionary measure, without causation having yet been proven.”
