Investigation into serious eye issues in dogs continues

Specialist vets say they are continuing with a UK-wide investigation into a sudden rise in the number of dogs suffering severe eye issues.

The British Association of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (BrAVO) say more than 200 cases of acute dry eye in dogs have been reported to them by vets.

The condition – also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or KCS – occurs when a dog is unable to produce tears, making their eyes very sore and can lead to vision problems and blindness.

Chris Dixon, the chair of BrAVO, told STV News: “We are working methodically and collecting data from veterinary surgeons across the UK through an online portal, to this date we’ve had more than 200 cases reported so far.

“This has been a very distressing time for owners and if anyone has concerns about their dog showing possible symptoms I would urge them to call their vet.”

In August, the premium dog food brand Years recalled all of its fresh meals after initial concerns linked its food to the rise in cases.

They announced that they were investigating a recipe change which may have caused some animals to develop the eye condition that, if left untreated, can lead to sight loss.

The brand Years said owners should stop feeding its fresh meals to their dogs “immediately” and also told them not to feed them to any other animal, or to donate or sell them.

STV News have spoken with a number of owners in Scotland about their concerns over the last month, with one couple fearing their dog’s eye removal was due to the food.

Following the allegations, the company launched an investigation and said contaminated buckwheat may be causing the condition, which, if left untreated, can lead to ulcers and may require surgery.

However, Years announced earlier this week that their independent testing had found no evidence of contamination, toxins or food safety issues in its dog food.

A spokesperson for Years told STV News that if customers still have meals bought before the recall of August 17 then they should get in touch and the company will arrange collection and a full refund.

They said although the investigation found no link between Years food and the reported cases, the recall remains in place and they are still asking customers not to feed any of these meals to their pets.

BrAVO say their investigation is still very much underway. In a statement published on Friday, their members clarified that Years have had no involvement in the collection, validation, analysis or interpretation of BrAVO data.

They said a possible association with diet has been raised in some cases, including dogs fed Years and other pet foods. But they said it is “important that conclusions are not drawn before the available clinical data have been properly assessed”.

Chris Dixon and the BrAVO members said until their investigation is complete they would also strongly advise owners not to stop prescribed treatment for dry eye unless advised to do so by their veterinary surgeon or veterinary ophthalmologist.

They said that “in some affected dogs, a significant injury to the tear-producing glands is suspected” and even if diet is ultimately shown to be a contributing factor, changing diet alone may not restore tear production.

They added: “Stopping treatment prematurely could increase the risk of permanent loss of tear gland function, resulting in irreversible and painful dry eye that may threaten sight and significantly affect quality of life.”

For now BrAVO are encouraging all vets in the UK with suspected cases to complete the investigation survey online.