Dog owners are being told to look out for a treat that could cause a terrifying “werewolf syndrome” in their four-legged friends.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said that a certain brand of bone could cause the condition, which includes panic attacks, aggression, spasms and epileptic fits among its symptoms. Dutch health officials raised the alarm, warning owners not to feed their pooches Barkoo’s cheese sticks and chew bones. It came after reports of a dog death related to their consumption in the country.
The FSA says there is no confirmed route of UK distribution and they are yet to detect a case of the condition in Britain. But there is a possibility Brits could have purchased them online from international sellers. Werewolf syndrome isn’t an official medical diagnosis, but has emerged online to describe a sudden and severe neurological shift seen in dogs that have ingested certain chew products.
Dogs with the illness are said to have sudden and unprovoked bouts of vicious aggression, excessive barking or howling likened to the cries of a wolf, hyperactivity, and destructive tendencies like chewing furniture. These symptoms are accompanied with physical issues, like epileptic-style seizures, vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.
Most of the reports have emerged on the continent, with investigations launched in the Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. Manon Grave, who lives in Noordhorn in the north of the Netherlands, told RTVNoord how her staffie, Jayden, suffered severe complications after eating the chew bone.
“She became completely hysterical,” Manon said. “She then had a kind of panic attack, and wanted to flee and tried to run away right through the window or door. She started behaving like a wolf,” added Manon.
“Letting out wolf howls and screaming very loudly in between – I don’t have another word for it.” They ended up taking Jayden to a vet, where they were asked if she had consumed the chews. He said he’d seen similar cases with four other dogs, two of which he had to euthanise.
Tina Potter, head of standards at the British FSA : “While there is no confirmed distribution of affected products to the UK, there is the possibility that some consumers may have purchased these online from international sellers.
“No unsafe dog chews have been identified but, 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.” The FSA is working with its European counterparts to investigate the issue further.
For owners who have been feeding the chews to their beloved pets, the FSA advises them to halt “immediately”, and to seek veterinary help if the dog is unwell. When you see the vet, you should have a list of all the foods you’ve been giving them. In their advice to vets, the FSA says they should be alert to whether the symptoms are linked to the consumption of the chews.
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