Years Dog Food Recall and Sudden Dry Eye: What We Know Now

News update: 1 October 2026. This article covers an August recall and the September investigation updates—not a newly announced October recall.

When a headline connects dog food with sight loss, it is natural to look at your own dog and worry. The helpful response is neither panic nor dismissal: check the facts, take eye symptoms seriously, and keep veterinary treatment separate from an unresolved debate about food.

Years, a UK dog-food company, voluntarily recalled its fresh meals in August after reports of sudden dry eye. Since then, the picture has changed. The company says extensive testing found no contamination or food-safety issue, while an independent veterinary investigation remains ongoing. No causal relationship between this condition and a particular food, ingredient or manufacturer has been established.

Cover photograph: a dog receiving a veterinary examination, from Unsplash; illustrative stock photography, not a dog identified in this investigation.

The essential update

What dog parents need to know

• The August recall covered Years fresh meals, except its Chef’s Collection.
• BrAVO reported more than 200 survey cases on 23 September; those reports were still being validated and analysed.
• A food-related cause has not been established, and affected dogs have not all eaten the same diet.
• Years says its commissioned testing found no safety issue and announced plans to resume deliveries in October with buckwheat-free recipes.
• New eye discomfort needs veterinary attention. Do not stop prescribed dry-eye treatment because of a food change or reassuring headline.

The most important source here is the British Association of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, or BrAVO. Its 23 September statement explicitly separates its independent investigation from advice commissioned by Years. Both deserve accurate reporting; they are not the same investigation. [1, 2]

What was recalled, and when?

According to dvm360’s 19 August report, the voluntary recall applied to all Years fresh meals, also called Signature Meals, except the Chef’s Collection. It was described as a precaution following reports of acute bilateral keratoconjunctivitis sicca, usually shortened to KCS. Some reported cases had progressed to sight loss. That describes the concerns behind the recall, not proof that the meals caused them. [3]

At the time, Years told customers to stop feeding the recalled meals even if their dogs seemed well, and not to give them to other animals, donate them or sell them. If you still have food from the recalled supply, keep it out of use and contact Years for current product-specific instructions. An announcement about future deliveries does not, by itself, establish what to do with an old recalled pack.

This is a UK company’s recall story. It should not be presented as an FDA announcement or a recall of every fresh dog food.

The timeline—and why the numbers need context

• July 2026: Years began investigating reports of sudden bilateral dry eye; its September statement says it started on 22 July after 11 reports.
• 16 August: dvm360 reported the company had received 57 suspected cases.
• 17 August: Years issued the precautionary recall of its fresh meals, with the Chef’s Collection exception.
• 18 August: the company said 192 customers had reported potential eye issues.
• 23 September: BrAVO said more than 200 cases had been submitted through its survey, with validation and analysis continuing.
• 24–25 September: Years’ updated statement and dvm360’s follow-up reported the company-commissioned testing results and plans for October deliveries. [1–4]

These are different snapshots from different reporting systems. They are not a single verified count of dogs harmed by a proven food contaminant. Customer reports of possible symptoms and veterinary survey submissions cannot simply be added together. Nor can they tell an individual owner the probability that their dog will develop this condition.

What the latest testing does—and does not—show

In its statement updated on 24 September, Years said its commissioned investigation produced 21,757 individual test results across 1,129 substances, examining ingredients, production meals and returned customer food. It reported no contamination, toxin, packaging or manufacturing safety issue, and no identified link to sudden bilateral dry eye. Those are the company’s reported findings, not a declaration from this website that every question is settled. [2]

Buckwheat had been raised as a possible contributing factor in August. Years now says testing found no safety or contamination issue in the buckwheat it used. It nevertheless announced its return to buckwheat-free recipes, describing this as precautionary and reflecting customer preferences. Removing an ingredient does not prove that it caused illness.

BrAVO’s position is carefully worded: no causal relationship has been established with any particular food, ingredient or manufacturer. It says Years had no involvement in collecting, validating, analysing or interpreting its data. Reports include dogs on different diets; dvm360’s September follow-up also describes cases in dogs that never ate Years food. The precise cause remains unresolved. [1, 4]

What is dry eye in dogs?

Cornell University’s Riney Canine Health Center explains that KCS involves inadequate production of the watery component of tears. Without enough of that protective moisture, the eye surface becomes inflamed and vulnerable to painful corneal ulcers. Untreated disease can lead to scarring, secondary infection and permanent vision loss. [5]

“Bilateral” means both eyes are involved; “acute” means the onset is sudden. Ordinary canine KCS has several possible causes, with immune-mediated inflammation of tear-producing glands the most common. Not every dog with dry eye belongs to this investigation, and an owner cannot establish the cause by comparing a food label with a photograph online.

Cornell says most dogs respond well to appropriate treatment, although long-term management is usually needed. That offers useful perspective without promising a particular outcome for dogs in this unusual cluster.

Signs to watch for

These signs are described in Cornell’s KCS guidance and dvm360’s recall reporting. They are reasons for an examination, not a home diagnostic checklist. Other eye problems can look similar, and even one painful eye deserves attention. Do not wait for both eyes to look abnormal before contacting your veterinary team. [3, 5]

If your dog appears to have sudden sight loss, marked pain or cannot open an eye, seek urgent veterinary care rather than waiting to see whether changing food helps.

What to do now

A calm action plan

1. Call your vet about new eye symptoms. Describe what changed and when, including whether one or both eyes seem affected.
2. Check the exact product. If you have recalled Years fresh meals, stop feeding those packs and ask Years for current return or disposal instructions.
3. Keep useful records. Photograph packaging, batch details and purchase information, and note the dates of symptoms and diet changes.
4. Continue prescribed eye treatment. Follow your vet’s instructions; a diet change is not a substitute for treatment.
5. Ask about reporting. Your vet can decide whether the case is relevant to BrAVO’s survey, regardless of which food your dog eats.

If your dog has no symptoms, avoid diagnosing illness from the news alone. Product-specific recall instructions still matter, but the next step is clarification—not unprescribed eye medication or repeated, unsupported diet changes. Discuss an appropriate replacement diet with your vet, especially if your dog has other medical or nutritional needs.

What your vet may check

A consultation lets your vet distinguish a tear-production problem from other causes of redness or discomfort. Cornell describes the Schirmer tear test, which measures watery tear production over one minute, and fluorescein staining to look for corneal damage. Depending on the findings, referral to a veterinary ophthalmologist may be appropriate. [5]

Treatment can include medicines that support tear production, lubricating drops and treatment for secondary infection where needed. The correct choice depends on the examination. This article intentionally provides no medication doses or instructions for using human eye drops.

Bring a short timeline rather than trying to reconstruct everything in the appointment: first symptoms, food names, any recipe change, medicines, and previous eye problems. That helps the clinical team assess your dog without assuming the answer in advance.

Why stopping treatment is the wrong shortcut

BrAVO specifically advises owners not to stop prescribed treatment unless their veterinary surgeon or veterinary ophthalmologist recommends it. Significant injury to tear-producing glands is suspected in some affected dogs. Even if diet eventually proves to be a contributing factor, changing diet alone may not restore tear production. [1]

This matters after reassuring news as much as after frightening news. A company reporting negative contamination tests does not mean a dog’s diagnosed eye disease has disappeared. Keep follow-up appointments, discuss difficulties giving drops, and let your vet assess response rather than judging recovery only by how the eyes look.

Source and verification

Prepared by the Raise Happy Dog Team on 1 October 2026, using BrAVO’s 23 September primary statement, Years’ statement updated 24 September, dvm360’s 19 August and 25 September reporting, and Cornell’s clinical KCS guidance. Company findings are attributed to Years; unvalidated reports are not presented as confirmed food-caused cases. No original interviews or independent laboratory testing were conducted by Raise Happy Dog.

The FDA recall directory is included below as a general US safety resource—not evidence for the Years recall or its cause. For this UK story, the relevant case investigation is BrAVO’s. Information may change as validated findings become available; consult the linked primary statements for subsequent updates.

The website cover is illustrative Unsplash stock photography. The accompanying Instagram artwork is AI-generated editorial illustration, not a photograph of an affected dog. Neither image demonstrates a diagnosis.

Educational disclaimer: This article provides news context and general education, not veterinary diagnosis or treatment. Seek advice from a qualified veterinarian about your own dog. The practical priority is straightforward: notice discomfort, get the eyes examined, and keep prescribed care going while researchers work on the unanswered questions.