As any dog parent will know, chews can be great. They provide so much physical and mental stimulation, keeping your pup busy during those times when you can’t be right by their side to play with them while keeping their teeth clean and even helping to relieve anxiety. They’re certainly useful!
If your dog enjoys the best long lasting dog chews, that’s brilliant! However, it’s important that we ensure we’re only buying chews that are safe for our dogs – some of them can be more dangerous than we might expect, according to a British government body.
The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued advice to pet parents concerning a number of dog chews that have been linked to ‘werewolf syndrome’ – the symptoms of this condition include panic attacks, aggression, spasms, and epileptic fits, while it can sometimes be fatal.
Reports from the European Union first raised the concerns, with the EU and FSA identifying 10 Barkoo and Chrisco chews linked to dogs developing the condition. Tina Potter, head of incidents at the FSA, said, “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."
While concerns have been raised in Europe, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the chews you give your pup, wherever you live – and you can take a closer look at the chews on the FSA’s website. The body advises anyone who has fed the affected chews to their dog to stop doing so immediately, while anyone with an unwell dog who’s had a chew should seek veterinary advice.
It also advises vets to be alert to symptoms in dogs presenting at their surgeries – particularly as the chews have a long shelf life and could have been bought a number of months ago, so cases could be ongoing for a while.
And, with many dog chews available to buy online, it’s well worth checking the chews you have at home for your dog – it’s better to be safe than sorry!
If your dog loves chews and you want to ensure they’re getting the safest – particularly if they’re very enthusiastic with their chews – why not take a look at these safe dog chews for aggressive chewers? Meanwhile, here are the 10 dog breeds that chew the most – is your pup’s breed on the list?
