Canine homeowners are on excessive alert after the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) issued a warning on thirty first December 2024, relating to a number of Barkoo model canine treats following an outbreak of ‘werewolf syndrome’ in a number of European international locations. Some information companies are reporting as many as 50 instances and 15 deaths, however these figures are but to be formally confirmed. Naturally, there are a number of questions all of us need answered, particularly: What Is Werewolf Syndrome, How Is It Handled, and Is My Canine At Danger?
The very first thing to pay attention to is that at this cut-off date, the dangers of your canine being affected by this situation are extraordinarily low, however being knowledgeable means being ready, so with that in thoughts, right here’s what it’s worthwhile to find out about werewolf syndrome, and how one can preserve your pet protected.
What Is Werewolf Syndrome?
Werewolf syndrome is a time period that has been used to explain a set of neurological indicators which were attributed to the consumption of sure canine treats, together with:
Indicators of Werewolf Syndrome
- excessive restlessness
- sudden panic assaults
- uncontrolled actions
- yelping and barking
- aggressive habits
- salivation
- seizures
- and in some instances, loss of life
In some ways, this syndrome shares many characteristics of the rabies virus, making an in depth historical past, together with vaccination standing, a significant a part of the diagnostic course of. The precise mode of illness development shouldn’t be but understood.

How Is Werewolf Syndrome Recognized?
At present, there isn’t a particular diagnostic check for werewolf syndrome, and analysis relies on scientific indicators and a historical past of consuming suspected meals merchandise. Vets will doubtless carry out a number of exams to rule out some other potential causes of the scientific indicators, which can embrace:
- neurological examination
- blood exams
- baseline hematology and biochemistry
- serology for ailments linked to neurological illness
- CT scan
- evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
How Is Werewolf Syndrome Handled?
There may be at present no particular remedy for werewolf syndrome in canines, with remedy specializing in supportive care, comparable to intravenous fluids, anxiolytics, and anti-seizure drugs.
There may be nonetheless no clear data almost about why some canines died on account of this worrying situation, solely that they had been extra extreme in presentation.
Is My Canine At Danger From Werewolf Syndrome?
At this stage, the reported instances have been remoted to a small variety of European international locations, with warnings issued to most of Europe and the UK. Nevertheless, the treats concerned are usually distributed by way of web sites, and there’s a small risk that affected merchandise could possibly be discovered additional afield, which is why vigilance is crucial.

FAQs
Is Werewolf Syndrome contagious?
There is no such thing as a indication that this situation is unfold between people, solely that it’s acquired by the consumption of affected meals merchandise.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis (BSE) is an incurable illness attributable to a prion, a defective protein that causes deadly mind illness in animals and people. This illness is named Creutzfeldt-Jakob illness (vCJD) in people, and Mad Cows Illness in cattle.
Canine can’t be affected by prion illness attributable to a selected mutation on a single gene, leading to a resistance to prion an infection. Subsequently, werewolf syndrome shouldn’t be believed to be attributable to a prion.
Canine Deal with Recall: Which canine treats are concerned?
At this stage, the NVWA has issued a warning in opposition to the next merchandise:
Barkoo cheese sticks pure 29 cm
- Packaging: luggage of 570 grams (with 3 chewing bones)
- Code on packaging: 1148655 MHD 04.2027 3200PF027
- Barcode: 4260077047292
Barkoo kauknochen, knotted pure 11cm
- Packaging: luggage of 150 grams (with 3 chewing bones)
- Code on packaging: 1148592 MHD 07.2027 3200PF027
- Barcode: 4260077046875
Barkoo Kauknochen knotted 24cm
- Packaging: luggage of 150 grams (with 3 chewing bones)
- Barcode: 4260077046899
- Code on packaging: 1148657 MHD05.2027 3200PF027
Barkoo Kauknochen knotted with Spirulina 12cm
- Packaging: luggage of 180 grams (with 3 chewing bones)
- Barcode: 4260077047261
- Code on packaging: 1148654 MHD 06.2027 3200PF027
These merchandise are bought on the Zooplus and Bitiba web sites, and prospects ought to get in contact with them for any additional data or directions about returning or disposing of the objects.

Further merchandise which will even be affected embrace:
Chrisco Tyggeruller med kylling, 10 items (chewy hen rolls)
- Merchandise quantity: 12457
- EAN code: 5764630124578
- Greatest earlier than date: all dates
Chrisco Tyggeruller med kylling & kyllingelever, 100g (chewing snack with hen and hen liver)
- Merchandise quantity: 12324
- EAN code: 5764630123243
- Greatest earlier than 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),
- Merchandise quantity: 12468
- EAN-Code: 5764630124684
- Greatest earlier than date: 05.01.2027; 26.02.2027; 15.03.2027; 18.03.2027 and 24.03.2027
Chrisco Huge Politistave, 2.stk. – brune (Huge chewing rolls, 2 pcs. brown)
- Merchandise quantity: 12541
- EAN-Code: 5764630125414
- Greatest earlier than date: 26.02.2027 and 15.04.2027
Chrisco Huge Kaurollen, 2 pcs. – hvide (Huge rolls, 2 pcs. white)
- Merchandise quantity: 12542
- EAN-Code: 5764630125421
- Greatest earlier than date: 05.01.2027; 20.04.2027 and 01.06.2027
Chrisco Tyggerulle m. kylling & kyllingelever, 1stk (hen & hen liver snack, 1 laptop.)
- Merchandise quantity: 12624
- EAN-Code: 5764630126244
- Greatest earlier than date: 01.12.2025; 05.01.2026; 15.03.2026 and 18.08.2026
Conclusion
At this stage, there may be little or no data relating to the extent of this well being scare. The outbreak of werewolf syndrome stays small and restricted geographically, however it’s potential that the variety of instances and international locations affected will enhance.
We are going to proceed to observe the scenario and preserve you knowledgeable of any modifications. For now, test your canine deal with stash for any of the merchandise listed, and be looking out for any indicators of werewolf syndrome. Bookmark Dogster, and subscribe to our emails and our Instagram as a way to get all updates.
Moreover, you probably have any questions or considerations, significantly in case your canine is exhibiting any neurological indicators, don’t hesitate to talk to your vet, or make an appointment to talk with certainly one of our vets on-line at PangoVet.
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