16/01/2025
We are advising dog owners not to feed their pets specific dog chews from China following concerns from the European Union (EU) of a possible link to serious behavioural changes.
The affected products include 'Barkoo' chews and 'Chrisco' chews. A full list of products can be found here: https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/precautionary-advice-issued-to-pet-owners-on-dog-chews-linked-to-illness
Reports from the EU suggest that these products have been potentially linked to dogs experiencing what is known as ‘werewolf syndrome’. Symptoms include panic attacks, aggression, spasms, epileptic fits and in some cases death. There is no confirmed distribution of the chews to the UK and no cases have been detected in the UK.
If you are a dog owner and you have any of these products, please cease feeding your dogs these chews immediately. If your dog is unwell and has been fed any of the dog chews listed, you should seek veterinary advice and provide detailed information to the vet about the foods and treats your dog has been fed.
If you are a vet who suspects any cases associated with dog chews, you can report them through the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) Small Animal Surveillance: https://statics.teams.cdn.office.net/evergreen-assets/safelinks/1/atp-safelinks.html
