Dog owners are on high alert after the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) issued a warning on 31st December 2024, regarding several Barkoo brand dog treats following an outbreak of ‘werewolf syndrome’ in several European countries. Some news agencies are reporting as many as 50 cases and 15 deaths, but these figures are yet to be officially confirmed. Naturally, there are several questions we all want answered, namely: What Is Werewolf Syndrome, How Is It Treated, and Is My Dog At Risk?
The first thing to be aware of is that at this point in time, the risks of your dog being affected by this condition are extremely low, but being informed means being prepared, so with that in mind, here’s what you need to know about werewolf syndrome, and how to keep your pet safe.
What Is Werewolf Syndrome?
Werewolf syndrome is a term that has been used to describe a set of neurological signs that have been attributed to the consumption of certain dog treats, including:
Signs of Werewolf Syndrome
- extreme restlessness
- sudden panic attacks
- uncontrolled movements
- yelping and barking
- aggressive behavior
- salivation
- seizures
- and in some cases, death
In many ways, this syndrome shares many characteristics of the rabies virus, making a detailed history, including vaccination status, a vital part of the diagnostic process. The exact mode of disease progression is not yet understood.
How Is Werewolf Syndrome Diagnosed?
Currently, there is no specific diagnostic test for werewolf syndrome, and diagnosis is based on clinical signs and a history of consuming suspected food products. Vets will likely perform several tests to rule out any other potential causes of the clinical signs, which may include:
- neurological examination
- blood tests
- baseline hematology and biochemistry
- serology for diseases linked to neurological disease
- CT scan
- analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
How Is Werewolf Syndrome Treated?
There is currently no specific treatment for werewolf syndrome in dogs, with treatment focusing on supportive care, such as intravenous fluids, anxiolytics, and anti-seizure medications.
There is still no clear information with regards to why some dogs died as a result of this worrying condition, only that they were more severe in presentation.
Is My Dog At Risk From Werewolf Syndrome?
At this stage, the reported cases have been isolated to a small number of European countries, with warnings issued to most of Europe and the UK. However, the treats involved are typically distributed via websites, and there is a small possibility that affected products could be found further afield, which is why vigilance is essential.
FAQs
Is Werewolf Syndrome contagious?
There is no indication that this condition is spread between individuals, only that it is acquired through the consumption of affected food products.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis (BSE) is an incurable disease caused by a prion, a faulty protein that causes fatal brain disease in animals and humans. This disease is known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in humans, and Mad Cows Disease in cattle.
Dogs cannot be affected by prion disease due to a specific mutation on a single gene, resulting in a resistance to prion infection. Therefore, werewolf syndrome is not believed to be caused by a prion.
Dog Treat Recall: Which dog treats are involved?
At this stage, the NVWA has issued a warning against the following products:
Barkoo cheese sticks natural 29 cm
- Packaging: bags of 570 grams (with 3 chewing bones)
- Code on packaging: 1148655 MHD 04.2027 3200PF027
- Barcode: 4260077047292
Barkoo kauknochen, knotted natural 11cm
- Packaging: bags of 150 grams (with 3 chewing bones)
- Code on packaging: 1148592 MHD 07.2027 3200PF027
- Barcode: 4260077046875
Barkoo Kauknochen knotted 24cm
- Packaging: bags of 150 grams (with 3 chewing bones)
- Barcode: 4260077046899
- Code on packaging: 1148657 MHD05.2027 3200PF027
Barkoo Kauknochen knotted with Spirulina 12cm
- Packaging: bags of 180 grams (with 3 chewing bones)
- Barcode: 4260077047261
- Code on packaging: 1148654 MHD 06.2027 3200PF027
These products are sold on the Zooplus and Bitiba websites, and customers should get in touch with them for any further information or instructions about returning or disposing of the items.
Additional products that may also be affected include:
Chrisco Tyggeruller med kylling, 10 pieces (chewy chicken rolls)
- Item number: 12457
- EAN code: 5764630124578
- Best before date: all dates
Chrisco Tyggeruller med kylling & kyllingelever, 100g (chewing snack with chicken and chicken liver)
- Item number: 12324
- EAN code: 5764630123243
- Best before date: 01.12.2025; 05.01.2026; 15.03.2026; 18.03.2026; 15.04.2026; 20.04.2026; 01.06.2026 and 15.07.2026
Tyggeruller 18 stk. – hvide (chewing rolls 18 pcs. white),
- Item number: 12468
- EAN-Code: 5764630124684
- Best before date: 05.01.2027; 26.02.2027; 15.03.2027; 18.03.2027 and 24.03.2027
Chrisco Massive Politistave, 2.stk. – brune (Massive chewing rolls, 2 pcs. brown)
- Item number: 12541
- EAN-Code: 5764630125414
- Best before date: 26.02.2027 and 15.04.2027
Chrisco Massive Kaurollen, 2 pcs. – hvide (Massive rolls, 2 pcs. white)
- Item number: 12542
- EAN-Code: 5764630125421
- Best before date: 05.01.2027; 20.04.2027 and 01.06.2027
Chrisco Tyggerulle m. kylling & kyllingelever, 1stk (chicken & chicken liver snack, 1 pc.)
- Item number: 12624
- EAN-Code: 5764630126244
- Best before date: 01.12.2025; 05.01.2026; 15.03.2026 and 18.08.2026
Conclusion
At this stage, there is very little information regarding the extent of this health scare. The outbreak of werewolf syndrome remains small and limited geographically, but it is possible that the number of cases and countries affected will increase.
We will continue to watch the situation and keep you informed of any changes. For now, check your dog treat stash for any of the products listed, and be on the lookout for any signs of werewolf syndrome. Bookmark Dogster, and subscribe to our emails and our Instagram so that you can get all updates.
Additionally, if you have any questions or concerns, particularly if your dog is exhibiting any neurological signs, do not hesitate to speak to your vet, or make an appointment to speak with one of our vets online at PangoVet.
