Premium dog food brand Years has recalled its fresh meals after nearly 200 reports of dogs developing sudden dry eye and potential vision loss linked to a buckwheat ingredient.
Premium pet food subscription brand Years has issued an immediate, voluntary recall of all its fresh dog meals following a surge of alarming reports linking the food to a severe eye condition.
The company pulled its products after nearly 200 pet owners flagged sudden, debilitating vision problems in their dogs, prompting an urgent investigation into a common recipe ingredient.
A Rapid Rise in Suspected Cases
The crisis came to light after the company which delivers personalized fresh wholefood meals to roughly 40,000 customers, began receiving reports in late July of dogs developing sudden bilateral keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), commonly known as “dry eye”.
While initial complaints trickled in slowly, case numbers spiked sharply mid-August. By August 18, reports from concerned owners climbed from an initial 57 suspected cases to 192.
Affected dog owners reported that their pets experienced rapid drops in tear production in both eyes, leaving them severely irritated, red, and painful. Left unmanaged, the condition can quickly progress to corneal damage, severe visual impairment, and permanent blindness.
Focus on Buckwheat Ingredient
Years has pointed to buckwheat, an approved and commonly used pet food ingredient added during a recent recipe update as a potential contributing factor.
The company emphasized that a causal link has not yet been definitively proven, but noted that all confirmed and suspected cases emerged after buckwheat was introduced into its formulas.Years has launched an exhaustive, evidence-based root-cause analysis in collaboration with independent toxicologists, UKAS-accredited laboratories, and veterinary ophthalmologists to test for potential contaminants, mycotoxins, or adverse biological interactions.
Company Action and Customer Guidance
In response to the growing crisis, Years has paused all active customer food subscriptions for an initial six-week period while it reformulates its recipes to replace buckwheat with alternative grains like quinoa.
The recall covers all standard puppy, adult, and senior fresh meals (though its separate Chef’s Collection is excluded).The company has urged owners to stop feeding the meals to pets immediately, warning them not to donate, sell, or feed the remaining food to other animals.
Veterinary experts advise owners to monitor their pets closely for warning signs of KCS, which include:
- Excessive blinking or squinting
- Continuous pawing or rubbing at the eyes
- Thick, mucus-like discharge
- Cloudy, dull, or reddened corneas
Pet owners who notice any sudden vision changes or discomfort are urged to contact their veterinarian promptly and reference the ongoing product safety review.
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