Translated by ChatGPT:
The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) issued a warning on New Year’s Eve about two types of chew bones from the Barkoo brand. That warning has now been extended to four types of Barkoo bones. It appears that a batch of these bones may have been contaminated, though this is not yet certain. The NVWA has collected chew bones from owners of sick dogs and is currently investigating them.
“We are conducting analytical research to detect the presence of harmful substances that may affect the neurological condition of the animals,” said an NVWA spokesperson. He could not specify when the investigation would be completed. The neurological condition in question is known as “werewolf syndrome” because it can cause dogs to howl hysterically. Other symptoms include epileptic seizures and erratic behavior, such as running around uncontrollably, or reacting with extreme fear or aggression.
The German company Matina, which produces Barkoo products, has not yet responded to questions from this newspaper. However, the affected chew bones are no longer available on the websites where they were sold, such as Zooplus and Bitiba.
Epileptic Seizures
Bowie, a dog owned by Esther Lam, is one of the pets that became seriously ill after chewing on a Barkoo bone. Her veterinarian in Zeewolde referred her to the Evidensia animal clinic in Arnhem, where veterinary neurologist Paul Mandigers diagnosed Bowie with epileptic seizures that did not align with the typical pattern of epilepsy. Other dogs he had seen exhibited similar unusual symptoms.
Because the cases involved dogs from all over the Netherlands, a viral infection seemed unlikely. Reports of sick dogs also came from Belgium, Finland, and especially Germany. German scientists were the first to link the illnesses to food or bones.
Bowie was immediately taken off the chew bones and survived. Whether he will have any lasting effects is still unknown. The dog is still on medication. Lam started a Facebook page to warn other dog owners. Through this page, she has learned of 19 dogs that fell ill after eating Barkoo bones, with new cases being reported daily, she says.
Veterinary Costs
The veterinary expenses for affected dog owners are quickly piling up. Like others, Lam would like to recover these costs. However, Barkoo and Matina have so far been unresponsive: “They say there is no scientific proof and ask me to send all sorts of documents, from the receipt for the bones to the veterinarian’s file. But why should I do that? Let them call the NVWA.”
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