Dog food company Years has recalled its fresh meals following reports of dogs developing sudden bilateral dry eye, with veterinary teams being asked to be alert to possible cases and owners advised to stop feeding affected products.
Vets are reporting several cases, with some vets describing cases so serious and unresponsive to treatment that enucleation has had to be performed.
The voluntary recall covers all Years Fresh Meals, including puppy, adult and senior recipes, but excludes the Chef’s Collection. Years says 192 customers (of around 40,000) had reported potential, as yet unverified, eye problems by 9pm on 18 August.
The company is investigating buckwheat, which makes up around 6.3% to 7.2% of its fresh meal recipes, as a possible contributing factor. Years says all confirmed cases identified so far occurred after buckwheat was introduced and that possible contamination in its buckwheat supply is also being investigated. Independent laboratory testing and toxicology work are continuing.
However, a causal relationship between the food, buckwheat and the reported cases has not been established. Years describes buckwheat as a commonly used, approved pet food ingredient and has stressed that the recall is precautionary. The Food Standards Agency and Trading Standards were informed before the recall was issued.
Owners feeding Years Fresh Meals should stop immediately, whether or not their dog currently has eye signs. Remaining food should not be given to another animal, donated or sold. Years is arranging collection of unused meals and is asking affected owners to retain unopened or partly used food because it may assist the investigation.
Signs owners should watch for include excessive blinking or squinting, pawing or rubbing at the eyes, thick ocular discharge and obvious eye discomfort. Dry or dull-looking eyes and redness are also recognised signs of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS).
Years says symptom-free dogs do not currently need a precautionary veterinary examination simply because they have eaten the food. Owners should nevertheless stop feeding it and seek veterinary advice if eye signs develop.
It may also be useful to reassure worried owners that the investigation does not currently show that buckwheat generally causes dry eye in dogs. The suspected association relates specifically to the recalled Years meals, and the cause remains under investigation.
In dogs presenting with an acute onset of bilateral ocular discomfort, discharge or a dry ocular surface, veterinary teams should ask about current and recent diet, including whether the dog has been eating Years Fresh Meals.
KCS is diagnosed using a Schirmer tear test, while fluorescein staining can help identify secondary corneal ulceration. Untreated KCS can lead to corneal inflammation, ulceration, scarring and potentially permanent loss of vision, making prompt assessment and management important.
For a possible recall-associated case, record when Years food was started and stopped, the recipe and batch information where available, the timing of the first clinical signs, tear-test findings, corneal changes and relevant medication or medical history. This information may help distinguish the emerging pattern from other recognised causes of KCS. Early reports suggest that some cases seem to recover around two weeks after the food is stopped, but resolution is not guaranteed.
Cases of dry eye that have appeared atypically since April/May should be considered potential food-induced dry eye cases - it would be worth following up with these clients to see if they feed Years food, and encouraging them to stop the food if so.
Owners should also be encouraged to report suspected cases directly to Years. The company says it will send affected owners a case data request and, with permission, would welcome direct contact with the treating vet or veterinary ophthalmologist. Owners should retain any remaining product for possible collection and investigation.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the company says it plans to publish its findings once completed. Until then, the key message for practices is to stop exposure to the recalled food, identify possible cases early and avoid presenting the proposed buckwheat association as established causation.