A dog food company just pulled every fresh meal off the shelves because some dogs went from fine to struggling to see in a matter of days.
If you feed your dog fresh, subscription-based meals, this story is worth your attention. Years, a UK pet food brand, has recalled all its fresh dog meals after some dogs developed sudden dry eye in both eyes at once. In a few cases, this got bad enough to affect the dogs’ sight.
The company thinks an ingredient called buckwheat might be to blame, and it’s now investigating whether that ingredient was contaminated. Here’s what you need to know if your dog eats fresh meals, and what signs to watch for at home.
Key Takeaways
- A pet food company recalled its fresh meals after dogs developed a sudden eye problem linked to one ingredient.
- Reported cases climbed fast, jumping from dozens to nearly 200 in a short time.
- Dog owners should learn the early warning signs and know that concerns grew online even after the company defended the ingredient.
In just days, 57 suspected cases grows to 192
You might wonder how a company goes from a few odd reports to a full recall in less than three weeks. Here’s how it played out for Years.
In late July, you would have seen the first signs of a problem. Owners started reporting that their dogs suddenly had dry eyes in both eyes at once. This is not something vets see every day, so it caught attention fast. On August 1, an outside vet who specializes in pet nutrition looked at the early data. This expert said a link to Years’ food seemed unlikely, but still recommended digging deeper.
That’s when things picked up speed. By August 16, Years had heard from 57 pet owners about suspected eye problems. That number came out of roughly 40,000 customers the company had served so far in 2026. Most of these reports came in after August 12, which means cases were piling up fast in just a few days.
Faced with this jump, Years leaned on more than one source of advice. The company talked with customer advocates and eye specialists, and the numbers kept climbing. So on August 17, Years made the call to recall its products. By the next day, August 18, the count had jumped again, this time to 192 customers reporting eye issues. In under a week, the case count had more than tripled.
What owners should watch for
This condition usually hits both eyes at the same time, and it often shows up fast instead of building up slowly over days.
You might notice your dog blinking a lot or squinting like the light bothers them. Some dogs paw or rub at their eyes over and over. Watch for thick discharge, redness, or eyes that look dry and cloudy instead of bright and clear. Your dog may also seem uncomfortable or extra sensitive to sunlight or bright rooms.
Here’s what to look for:
- Blinking or squinting more than usual
- Rubbing or pawing at the eyes
- Thick discharge around the eyes
- Redness or swelling
- Dull, dry-looking cornea
- Discomfort or sensitivity to light
If you spot any of these signs, call your vet right away. Catching this early gives your dog the best chance at a full recovery.
Online concern grows, company deletes post calling buckwheat safe
If you’ve been following this story, you may have noticed how fast pet owners have come together online. A Facebook group focused on dry eye cases in dogs was created the Friday before the recall. By Wednesday morning, it already had more than 2,100 members. A second group also formed for owners who want to look into legal options.
In these groups, you’ll find owners sharing photos of their dogs and describing how the dry eye symptoms showed up suddenly after eating Years meals. This condition, called KCS, usually becomes a long-term problem. Most dogs need treatment for the rest of their lives, though many do well once they start therapy.
You might be surprised to learn that buckwheat was only added to Years’ recipes a few months ago. Back in February, the company posted a blog on its website that addressed whether buckwheat was safe for dogs. That post has since been removed. It stated that buckwheat is safe for dogs when it’s cooked the right way and given in the correct amount.
The post also included this line from the company: “Here at Years, we carefully calculate the right amount of buckwheat to include…ensuring your dog receives all the benefits without any risks.”
For you as a dog owner, this raises an important question. If a company assured customers an ingredient was safe, but pulled that statement down right as health concerns grew, it’s worth paying close attention to what comes next. It also shows why staying connected with other pet owners can help you catch warning signs early.
Source: dvm360.com
