Zooplus plays it safe

In the first quarter of this year, online retailer Zooplus received reports from several European countries of possible neurological symptoms in dogs. A possible link with chew bones was suspected, including products from the Barkoo brand.

The company took the uncertainty that these reports had caused among pet owners seriously and took action: According to Zooplus, all potentially affected chew bones were withdrawn from sale as a precautionary measure and cooperation with the manufacturer in question was terminated. Customers were proactively informed and asked to stop using the affected products, and finally, independent laboratories were commissioned to conduct extensive investigations to find possible causes.

“The results indicate that methionine sulfoximine (MSO) is the most plausible cause of the neurological symptoms observed,” the e-commerce pioneer reports in a recent press release. MSO is a by-product that can be produced when raw bovine skin is treated with unauthorized bleaching agents. “This improperly treated bovine hide was presumably used in the manufacture of the chew bones.”

Although Zooplus says that no MSO could be detected in affected dogs and there are no reliable scientific studies on the effects of MSO on dogs or on possible threshold values, studies on other animal species have indicated a potential link between MSO exposure and neurological symptoms.

“Zooplus, together with the relevant feed authorities and independent experts, has taken extensive measures to fully investigate the incidents and ensure maximum transparency,” the statement continues. As an additional precautionary measure, the company intends to completely discontinue the use of raw hide products in the future.

A European pet food manufacturer points out that the affected products came from a single factory in Asia. This does not mean that raw hide products are generally unsafe.