The 29-year-old civil servant is one of a number of people who contacted the Guardian because they are concerned about a potential link between a recalled dog food and their pet’s eye condition. Elizabeth, who did not want to give her surname, said she and Chester had been to see vets more than 10 times in recent months, and they had all been “totally stumped”. Chester was initially treated for conjunctivitis, before Elizabeth was told it could be hay fever because of the lack of rain and high pollen count, and then the vet thought her pet might have an autoimmune disorder.
Then came the news this week that the dog food brand Years was recalling all its fresh meals after reports that a recipe change may have caused some animals to develop a condition called sudden bilateral dry eye. Also known as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or KCS, dry eye occurs when a dog is unable to produce tears, making their eyes very sore. If left untreated, it can lead to sight loss.
The company said its investigation was “currently focused on potential contamination within a portion of buckwheat supply”. Buckwheat was added to the company’s meals several months ago. Years said it began receiving reports late last month of dogs experiencing sudden bilateral dry eye and, as of Tuesday evening, 192 customers had reported “potential, as yet unverified, eye issues”.
Chester had been fed on Years food for about 18 months, and Elizabeth said her vet had told her “they are fairly confident of a link” between the recalled dog food and Chester’s eye condition. She said one theory was that there had been “a toxic chemical reaction” of some sort, adding that the vets “are unsure if just taking him off the food is going to be sufficient”. Elizabeth, who lives in north London, said the vet trips and treatments had cost her hundreds of pounds “and Chester has been miserable for months”, adding: “I fear what long-term damage has been done and whether this is reversible.” Marie Carter-Robb’s seven-year-old cavalier King Charles spaniel, Phoebe, was formally diagnosed with dry eye – the condition linked to the Years recall – during a visit to the vet on Thursday.
Phoebe is one of her three dogs. All three have eaten Years meals regularly as part of their diet since her subscription with the company began in April 2025, but Phoebe is the only one who has developed these eye problems. Speaking just before Thursday’s vet examination, Carter-Robb said that, having reviewed the Years recall information, “my vet has subsequently told me that the information is concerning and could suggest the food as a possible cause.
He said that if the timing of the introduction of buckwheat correlates with the onset of Phoebe’s symptoms, he would be suspicious of it as the inciting cause.” The emotional impact has been considerable, she added. I had absolutely no reason to suspect her food. I thought we were dealing with an allergy or an ordinary eye problem, and I carried on feeding Years to all three dogs.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
