In August, a British fresh food company called Years pulled its meals off the market after dogs eating them developed a sudden, painful eye condition. This week the company said its own testing found no contamination and no toxins. Deliveries resume in October without buckwheat, the ingredient it had flagged as a possible cause. (The full report is at dvm360.)
The condition is keratoconjunctivitis sicca, better known as dry eye or KCS. Tear production stops abruptly in both eyes, which can damage the cornea and cost a dog its sight. The British Association of Veterinary Ophthalmologists says more than 200 cases of the sudden form have been reported, and some of those dogs never ate the company’s food. Cases have turned up in the UK, Finland, and Hungary. BrAVO says no food has been linked to the illness and is asking vets to report new cases.
The company’s testing was extensive: 21,757 results covering 1,129 substances across ingredients, production batches, and returned meals, reviewed with outside toxicologists, veterinary nutritionists, and ophthalmologists from Cambridge and Nottingham.
What this means for your dog
Dry eye moves fast, so learn the early signs. Red or irritated eyes, squinting, heavy blinking, thick discharge, and a cloudy film over the eye all point the same direction. If both eyes change within a day or two, call your vet instead of waiting it out. KCS is usually managed with tear-stimulating drops or ointments, and the sooner treatment starts, the more of the cornea you protect.
If your dog eats a fresh food diet and their eyes change suddenly, mention the food and keep the batch details. Nothing here says your dog’s dinner is dangerous. It says nobody has an answer yet. Our guide to choosing a dog food covers label reading.