Pet owners report alarming neurological symptoms in dogs after consuming Hau-Hau Champion chew rolls in Finland

Pet owners in Finland are reporting alarming neurological symptoms in their dogs after the pets consumed Hau-Hau Champion chew rolls. Symptoms include barking, shaking, panic attacks, and staggering. Several veterinary clinics have advised pet owners on social media to avoid chew products containing foreign meat amid these concerning reports.

Mari Pekkarinen, who started a private Facebook group after her dog fell ill, has documented two cases in August, three in September, and ten in October of similar symptoms across Finland. Although medication has stabilized the dogs’ conditions, Pekkarinen noted that they remain lethargic and display unusual behavior. Most of the affected dogs had eaten Hau-Hau Champion duck chew rolls.

Veterinarian Stella Attia from Hankasalmi reported that multiple dogs presented to various clinics have been experiencing panic attacks or seizure-like symptoms. Attia, with nearly 20 years of experience, indicated that cases are still emerging throughout the country and emphasized the need for careful monitoring and gradual withdrawal from powerful medications.

In response to the crisis, Prima Pet Premium, the distributor of the products, announced two weeks ago that it would voluntarily recall duck chew rolls and two other products, citing precautionary measures rather than product faults. Amidst the veterinary concerns, they have stopped collaborating with the Chinese manufacturer and are shifting production to Europe.

As the situation progresses, Prima Pet Premium has pledged to reimburse veterinary costs for pets that have developed serious neurological symptoms, which they claim affects over a hundred cases so far. Comprehensive laboratory tests have been conducted, yet the exact cause of the dogs’ symptoms remains elusive, leading veterinarians to struggle in identifying potential toxins.