Pet owners have been warned after a common chew toy is alleged to have caused ‘werewolf syndrome’.
Nearly 50 dogs have fallen seriously ill – of which 15 have died at the time of writing – with cases reported in several countries.
A Dutch health authority has warned that the product, which can be purchased online, can cause the sickness.
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The so-called ‘werewolf syndrome’ is often illustrated by panic attacks, extreme amounts of energy, aggression and canines howling like a wolf, as reported by Need To Know.
Several dog owners who claim to have purchased the Barkoo chew toy online say the neurological symptoms appeared soon after use.
In one case, in Groningen, Netherlands, one dog reportedly died while its brother was taken to a veterinary hospital.
Vets claimed that the toy item was to blame.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, NVWA, has now issued an official warning for Barkoo chew bones, which is sold by websites such as Zooplus and Bitiba.
“These chew bones are the suspected cause of the development of serious neurological abnormalities in dogs,” they announced in a statement.
“This is currently still being investigated.
“These neurological abnormalities are also described as werewolf syndrome.
“This syndrome can lead to death.”
Nina Meyerhoff, a veterinarian in Hanover, told the German magazine GMX: “It seems as if the dogs are hallucinating.
“Some try to jump out of the window or suddenly become aggressive.”
Cases have also been reported in Switzerland, Finland and Belgium.
Jam Press has contacted Barkoo, Zooplus and Bitiba for comment.
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