Years Dog Food Recall & Dry Eye in Dogs: What Owners Need to Know

In August 2026, fresh dog food company Years announced a voluntary recall of all of its fresh Signature Meals following reports of dogs developing a sudden and potentially serious eye condition.

The condition being reported is sudden bilateral dry eye, meaning tear production drops significantly in both eyes over a short period of time.

Years has said its investigation has identified a potential link with buckwheat, an ingredient used across its fresh meal range.

However, this is an important distinction:

The exact cause has not yet been confirmed.

Independent investigation, laboratory testing and toxicology work are continuing.

So what actually happened?

What does dry eye mean for affected dogs?

Why is buckwheat being investigated?

Should owners be worried if they feed another dog food containing buckwheat?

And if you've stopped feeding Years, how should you choose an alternative food?

Here is what we currently know.

What Has Years Dog Food Recalled?

Years announced a voluntary recall of all Years fresh Signature Meals in August 2026.

The recall includes its:

• Puppy fresh meals
• Adult fresh meals
• Senior fresh meals

Years has stated that all of its fresh meal recipes contained buckwheat, at approximately 6.3% to 7.2% depending on the recipe.

The recall does not apply to Years Breed Health+ supplements, as these do not contain buckwheat.

Years has also stated that its treats and other non-meal products are not included in the recall.

Customers have been advised to:

• Stop feeding Years fresh meals immediately
• Not give the affected food to another dog or animal
• Not sell or donate remaining meals
• Retain unused food for collection if requested as part of the investigation

Years has paused subscriptions while it reformulates its meals without buckwheat.

Why Has Years Recalled Its Food?

Years says it began receiving multiple reports in late July 2026 of dogs developing sudden bilateral dry eye.

As of 16 August 2026, the company said it had received 57 suspected cases from approximately 40,000 customers during the year, which it described as around 0.1% of customers.

The company subsequently decided to recall all of its fresh meals as a precaution while investigations continue.

Years says it is working with independent specialists and veterinary ophthalmologists and is carrying out investigation including:

• Laboratory testing
• Toxicology investigation
• Root cause analysis
• Review of manufacturing processes
• Veterinary ophthalmology input
• Collection of information from affected owners
• Analysis of returned food

At the time of writing, the precise mechanism responsible for the reported cases has not been confirmed.

What Is Sudden Bilateral Dry Eye?

The veterinary term for dry eye is:

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca – KCS

Tears do much more than simply make the eye look wet.

They help:

• Lubricate the surface of the eye
• Protect the cornea
• Flush away debris
• Reduce friction from blinking
• Help protect against infection
• Maintain a healthy ocular surface

When tear production becomes severely reduced, the surface of the eye can become inflamed, uncomfortable and vulnerable to damage.

Bilateral means both eyes are affected.

Sudden means the reduction in tear production develops rapidly rather than gradually over months or years.

Some of the Years-associated cases have reportedly involved extremely low or absent tear production in both eyes.

What Are the Symptoms of Dry Eye in Dogs?

Signs can include:

• Red eyes
• Squinting
• Excessive blinking
• Pawing at the eyes
• Rubbing the face
• Thick or sticky eye discharge
• Yellow or green discharge
• Dull-looking eyes
• Eyes that appear unusually dry
• Obvious discomfort around the eyes

Years specifically advises owners to look out for:

• Excessive blinking or squinting
• Persistent pawing at the eyes
• Thick discharge
• General discomfort around the eyes

If your dog is currently eating or has recently eaten Years fresh meals and develops eye symptoms, contact your vet promptly.

Why Is Dry Eye Potentially Serious?

A dog's tear film protects the cornea – the transparent surface at the front of the eye.

Without adequate tears, the cornea can become:

• Inflamed
• Painful
• Infected
• Ulcerated
• Scarred
• Pigmented

Severe or untreated KCS can potentially cause permanent damage to the eye and, in serious cases, affect vision.

This is why sudden eye symptoms should not simply be watched for several weeks to see whether they disappear.

Eye problems can deteriorate quickly.

How Is Dry Eye Diagnosed?

One of the main tests used by vets is a Schirmer Tear Test, often abbreviated to STT.

A small sterile strip of paper is placed beneath the lower eyelid for one minute.

The amount of moisture travelling along the strip measures the dog's tear production.

Your vet may also perform a fluorescein stain.

This helps identify corneal ulcers or other damage to the surface of the eye.

Depending on the severity of the condition, your vet may recommend referral to a veterinary ophthalmologist.

How Is Dry Eye Treated?

Treatment depends on the individual dog and underlying cause.

Common treatments for canine KCS can include:

• Lubricating/artificial tear preparations
• Cyclosporine eye medication
• Tacrolimus eye medication
• Antibiotics if secondary infection is present
• Additional treatment if the cornea has ulcerated

Some forms of KCS require long-term or lifelong medication.

However, the long-term outlook for dogs experiencing the current Years-associated pattern may not necessarily be identical to ordinary immune-mediated KCS.

Because these cases are still being investigated, affected owners should follow the treatment and monitoring advice of their own vet or veterinary ophthalmologist.

Why Is Buckwheat Being Investigated?

Years has identified buckwheat as a potential factor connecting the affected meals.

All of its current fresh recipes contained pre-soaked buckwheat.

Buckwheat is not actually wheat or even a cereal grain.

It is a seed from a plant in the Fagopyrum genus and is widely used as a food ingredient.

Buckwheat itself is not automatically toxic.

However, the buckwheat plant contains naturally occurring compounds known as fagopyrins.

These compounds are scientifically interesting because they are phototoxic.

That means they can potentially make tissues more sensitive to light.

What Are Fagopyrins?

Fagopyrins are naturally occurring compounds found in buckwheat.

They belong to a group of compounds called naphthodianthrones and are chemically related to other known photosensitising substances.

When sufficient quantities are absorbed into the body, fagopyrins can interact with light and generate biological reactions in exposed tissues.

The resulting condition is known as:

Fagopyrism

or:

Fagopyrin-induced photosensitisation.

Fagopyrism has historically been recognised particularly in livestock consuming parts of buckwheat plants.

What Is Fagopyrism?

Fagopyrism is a type of photosensitivity.

After an animal consumes sufficient phototoxic compounds, those substances or their metabolites can circulate in the body.

When light reaches susceptible tissues, a photochemical reaction can occur.

Historically, the most obvious signs have involved exposed or lightly pigmented skin.

Affected animals can develop:

• Redness
• Irritation
• Itching
• Swelling
• Sensitivity to sunlight
• Inflammation of exposed skin

The eyes are also tissues that receive significant exposure to light, which is one reason the possibility of a relationship between buckwheat-derived phototoxic compounds and the current eye cases is being investigated.

However, this point is critical:

Existing knowledge about fagopyrism does not yet prove that fagopyrins are responsible for the sudden dry eye seen in dogs eating Years.

That remains a hypothesis under investigation.

Does Buckwheat Normally Contain Dangerous Levels of Fagopyrins?

Not necessarily.

The amount of fagopyrin varies dramatically between different parts of the buckwheat plant and according to processing.

Research has generally found the highest concentrations in green plant material, flowers and certain outer plant tissues, rather than ordinary refined food products.

Buckwheat seeds and flour are widely consumed around the world.

Scientific reviews of fagopyrins have concluded that conventional buckwheat grain and flour are generally considered safe when consumed in ordinary amounts.

This is why the Years investigation should not be interpreted as evidence that all foods containing buckwheat are dangerous.

Does Processing Buckwheat Matter?

Yes.

This is one of the more interesting aspects of the investigation.

The concentration and behaviour of naturally occurring plant compounds can depend on:

• Which part of the plant is used
• Variety of buckwheat
• Dehulling
• Milling
• Soaking
• Heat treatment
• Steaming
• Cooking
• Storage
• Light exposure

The buckwheat used in ordinary kibble or canned food may therefore be very different from another buckwheat ingredient used in a less processed form.

This is one reason it would be premature to simply conclude:

“Buckwheat is poisonous to dogs.”

It isn't that simple.

Is Buckwheat in Kibble Dangerous?

There is currently no evidence from the Years recall that every dog food containing buckwheat presents the same risk.

This is worth emphasising because understandably worried owners may begin checking ingredient labels and panic as soon as they see the word buckwheat.

Buckwheat used in conventional pet food may be:

• Dehulled
• Ground
• Milled into flour
• Cooked
• Extruded
• Heat processed

The finished ingredient may therefore be very different from less processed buckwheat plant material.

The current Years investigation concerns Years fresh meals and the particular ingredients and manufacturing processes used in those products.

It should not automatically be extrapolated to every kibble, canned food or treat containing buckwheat.

If you feed another brand containing buckwheat and your dog has no symptoms, there is currently no evidence from this recall alone that you should assume your dog's food is unsafe.

If you're concerned, contact the manufacturer and ask exactly what form of buckwheat is used and how it is processed.

Does “Minimally Processed” Automatically Mean Safer?

No.

This is an important wider lesson from food science.

The word:

“processed”

is often used negatively in pet food marketing.

But processing isn't automatically bad.

We process food for many reasons, including:

• Improving digestibility
• Removing undesirable plant compounds
• Killing harmful microorganisms
• Improving stability
• Making ingredients nutritionally available
• Removing hulls, skins or other undesirable components

Some foods actually need processing to make them suitable for consumption.

The useful question isn't:

“Is this processed?”

It is:

“Was this ingredient processed appropriately for its intended use?”

Those are very different questions.

Does This Mean Fresh Dog Food Is Dangerous?

No.

The Years recall does not establish that fresh dog food as a category causes dry eye.

Likewise, it doesn't prove that:

• Fresh food is dangerous
• Kibble is inherently safer
• Raw food is inherently safer
• Canned food is inherently safer

Food safety depends on:

• Ingredient selection
• Formulation
• Manufacturing
• Processing
• Storage
• Quality control
• Testing
• Traceability

A problem identified with one product or ingredient combination should not automatically be attributed to an entire style of feeding.

What Role Have Dog Owners Played?

An important aspect of this investigation has been the role played by affected owners.

A dedicated Facebook community, Years Dry Eye Cases & Info, has been collecting experiences from owners whose dogs developed sudden-onset dry eye while being fed Years.

Owners have shared:

• Veterinary diagnoses
• Schirmer Tear Test results
• Timelines
• Food histories
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Recovery information

Social-media reports are not a substitute for controlled scientific evidence, and individual stories cannot prove causation.

But clusters of similar owner reports can be important safety signals.

Years itself has acknowledged that customer advocates and veterinary ophthalmologists helped push the investigation forward and contributed useful information.

The key is to distinguish between:

a safety signal

and:

a proven cause.

Owner reports helped identify a safety signal.

The scientific investigation now needs to determine what caused it.

Is Buckwheat Definitely the Cause?

No.

Not at the time of writing.

Years says:

there may be a link between buckwheat and the reported cases.

It is reformulating its meals without buckwheat as a precaution.

But the company also says final confirmation will require completion of its laboratory and specialist investigation.

Potential questions that still need answering include:

• Is buckwheat itself responsible?
• Is a particular buckwheat component responsible?
• Is fagopyrin involved?
• Does the method of processing matter?
• Does the concentration matter?
• Was a particular batch or source involved?
• Is there an interaction with another ingredient?
• Why are only some dogs affected?
• Why has the clinical presentation primarily involved tear production?
• Is there a specific susceptibility in affected dogs?

Until those questions are answered, claims about the exact mechanism remain hypotheses.

Why Would Only Some Dogs Be Affected?

Years reported suspected cases in approximately 0.1% of its customers as of 16 August 2026.

If a food-associated cause is confirmed, that raises an obvious question:

Why these dogs?

There are many possibilities whenever only a small proportion of exposed animals develop a reaction.

Individual susceptibility can differ because of:

• Genetics
• Breed
• Body size
• Metabolism
• Amount consumed
• Duration of exposure
• Other foods or supplements
• Medication
• Environmental exposure
• Sunlight exposure
• Pre-existing health conditions

At present, there isn't enough evidence to say which, if any, of these factors explains the apparent difference.

Is Dry Eye Normally Caused by Food?

No.

The most common form of KCS in dogs is generally considered immune-mediated, where inflammation damages the tear-producing lacrimal glands.

Other recognised causes can include:

• Certain medications
• Endocrine disease
• Congenital abnormalities
• Infections
• Removal of the third-eyelid gland
• Neurological disease
• Trauma
• Radiation treatment

Some breeds are also more predisposed to ordinary KCS than others.

That makes the current reports particularly interesting because they involve a reported cluster of sudden bilateral disease associated with dogs eating the same food.

A cluster does not automatically prove causation, but it is enough to justify investigation.

What Should I Do If My Dog Currently Eats Years?

Years' current advice is clear:

Stop feeding Years fresh meals immediately.

This applies whether your dog currently has eye symptoms or not.

Do not:

• Feed remaining meals to another dog
• Give them to another animal
• Donate them
• Sell them

Years is arranging collection of unused meals and has said customers will receive account credit for returned recalled food.

My Dog Eats Years But Has No Symptoms – Do I Need a Vet Appointment?

Years currently says that if your dog has no symptoms, there is no need for a precautionary veterinary examination solely because they have eaten the food.

However, you should stop feeding the recalled meals.

Continue watching your dog's eyes and behaviour.

If you notice anything unusual, contact your vet.

What If My Dog Has Eye Symptoms?

If your dog has:

• Squinting
• Redness
• Persistent blinking
• Thick discharge
• Eye rubbing
• Pawing at the face
• Obvious eye discomfort

contact your vet.

Eye problems can become painful very quickly.

Tell the vet:

Your dog has been eating Years fresh dog food and you are aware of the current recall concerning sudden bilateral dry eye.

This gives them useful context when assessing the dog.

Your vet may perform a Schirmer Tear Test to measure tear production and check for corneal damage.

Should I Stop My Dog's Eye Medication If I Stop Feeding Years?

No.

Do not change prescribed eye medication without veterinary advice.

Stopping the suspected food and treating the resulting eye condition are two different things.

If your dog has been diagnosed with KCS, follow the treatment plan provided by your vet or veterinary ophthalmologist.

The tear-producing glands and eye surface may still require treatment even after the suspected trigger has been removed.

Will Affected Dogs Recover?

It's too early to give one answer for every dog affected by the Years investigation.

Ordinary canine KCS often requires long-term or lifelong management.

However, if these cases prove to have a different underlying mechanism, their long-term course may also differ from typical immune-mediated dry eye.

This is one of the reasons continued follow-up of affected dogs is so important.

Owners should continue recording:

• Schirmer Tear Test results
• Medication
• Changes in tear production
• Corneal health
• Symptoms
• Recovery timeline

and follow their veterinary ophthalmologist's recommendations.

Should I Avoid Every Dog Food Containing Buckwheat?

Based on the evidence currently available:

No – there isn't justification for assuming every dog food containing buckwheat carries the same risk.

Buckwheat ingredients can differ greatly according to:

• Plant part
• Processing
• Refinement
• Dehulling
• Milling
• Cooking
• Concentration

Ordinary buckwheat flour in a cooked or extruded dog food is not necessarily comparable with another form of buckwheat ingredient.

If another manufacturer uses buckwheat and you're concerned, ask them:

What form of buckwheat do you use?

Is it dehulled?

Is it milled or used as flour?

How is it heat processed?

What percentage of the finished food does it represent?

A reputable manufacturer should be able to explain its ingredients and processing.

Choosing an Alternative Dog Food After the Years Recall

If you've stopped feeding Years following the recall, the obvious next question is:

What should I feed instead?

There is no single food that will be perfect for every dog.

Some dogs have allergies.

Some need gastrointestinal support.

Some need a lower-fat diet.

Some are highly active.

Some are fussy.

Some owners strongly prefer wet food, fresh food or dry kibble.

But if the Years situation has made you rethink how you judge whether a dog food is good, there is one particularly useful principle:

Look beyond the ingredient list.

An ingredient list can tell you what ingredients are present.

It cannot tell you:

• Who formulated the food
• Whether appropriately qualified nutrition specialists were involved
• How the formula was tested
• Whether digestibility has been assessed
• How suppliers are audited
• How raw ingredients are tested
• How the finished product is tested
• Whether nutrient levels are checked
• What research sits behind the formulation
• How consistently one batch matches the next
• What systems exist for detecting a problem
• How traceable ingredients and finished batches are

Those things are considerably harder to put on the front of a bag.

But from a food-safety and nutritional perspective, they can matter enormously.

Should You Choose a More Science-Led Dog Food?

There is a strong argument for doing so.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association – WSAVA provides guidance designed to help owners assess pet-food manufacturers.

Rather than ranking foods according to whether their ingredient lists sound appealing, useful questions include:

• Does the company employ a qualified nutritionist?
• What are that person's qualifications?
• Who actually formulates the food?
• What quality-control measures are used?
• Is the finished food analysed?
• Does the manufacturer conduct product research?
• Is nutritional research published in peer-reviewed journals?
• Can the manufacturer provide detailed nutritional information when asked?
• Where is the food manufactured?

This gives a very different way of evaluating pet food.

Instead of asking:

“Does this contain an ingredient I don't like the sound of?”

you start asking:

“How much does this company actually know about the finished food in this bag?”

Why Ingredient Lists Can Be Misleading

Pet food marketing has become increasingly focused on ingredients.

Owners are encouraged to look for phrases such as:

• High meat
• Grain free
• Natural
• Human grade
• Fresh
• Minimally processed
• No fillers
• No by-products
• No maize
• No wheat
• No rice

Some of those characteristics may be important for a particular dog.

But none of them automatically tells you whether the finished diet is nutritionally superior or safer.

For example, an ingredient that sounds unappealing to a human may actually be:

• Highly digestible
• Nutritionally useful
• Carefully processed
• Consistent
• Extensively tested

Conversely, an ingredient that sounds wonderful on a label can still create a problem if:

• The wrong plant component is used
• It is processed incorrectly
• Too much is included
• Its nutrient contribution is misunderstood
• The overall recipe is poorly formulated
• An unexpected biologically active compound is present

The finished food matters more than whether every individual ingredient sounds attractive when read aloud.

“But Royal Canin Has Maize in It…”

Royal Canin is probably one of the best examples of how ingredient-list judging can create misleading conclusions.

An owner might turn over a bag and see ingredients such as:

maize, rice, animal proteins, vegetable fibres or protein isolates

and immediately think:

“That can't possibly be as good as a food made with fresh meat, sweet potato and blueberries.”

But that comparison ignores everything happening behind the ingredient list.

Royal Canin has based its nutritional approach on scientific research for decades and its food development draws on veterinarians, nutrition specialists and scientists.

Its nutritional development can include work relating to:

• Digestibility
• Palatability
• Nutrient analysis
• Amino-acid nutrition
• Fatty-acid nutrition
• Stability
• Clinical studies where appropriate
• Feeding trials
• Research into specific nutritional requirements

Quality control also includes raw-material and finished-product assessment.

That doesn't mean every Royal Canin recipe is automatically the best food for every dog.

It means dismissing the diet simply because maize appears on the ingredient list ignores a very large part of what you're actually buying.

What About “Meat Meal” and Other Less Appealing Ingredients?

The same principle applies.

Words such as:

meal

hydrolysed protein

animal fat

or:

protein isolate

may sound much less appealing to us than:

freshly prepared chicken breast.

But dogs don't read labels.

Their bodies respond to:

• Amino acids
• Fatty acids
• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Energy
• Fibre
• Digestibility
• Nutrient balance

A concentrated, well-characterised protein ingredient can be extremely useful in a carefully formulated diet.

What matters is whether the manufacturer understands:

what nutrients the ingredient contributes and how those nutrients behave in the finished food.

Is More Processing Necessarily Worse?

No.

The Years investigation is actually a useful reminder of this.

Food processing can include:

• Dehulling
• Grinding
• Milling
• Cooking
• Extrusion
• Heat treatment
• Drying
• Purification
• Hydrolysis

Processing can:

• Improve digestibility
• Destroy microorganisms
• Reduce certain naturally occurring undesirable compounds
• Remove unwanted plant components
• Improve ingredient consistency
• Make nutrients more available
• Improve shelf stability

That doesn't mean every highly processed food is wonderful.

It means:

“less processed” isn't automatically a measure of safety or nutritional quality.

Sometimes processing is exactly what makes an ingredient suitable for food.

Could a Traditional Kibble Be the Safer Choice Overall?

For some owners, yes.

Particularly after an unusual food-safety event, it is completely reasonable to prefer a diet from a manufacturer with:

• Dedicated nutritional expertise
• Long-term nutritional research
• Established manufacturing systems
• Raw-material testing
• Supplier quality programmes
• Finished-product testing
• Feeding or digestibility studies
• Strong batch traceability
• Large amounts of real-world feeding experience

That doesn't make kibble intrinsically superior to every fresh or wet food.

Nor does it mean that a large manufacturer can never have a recall or quality problem.

No pet-food manufacturer can guarantee that nothing will ever go wrong.

The difference is that a company with extensive formulation expertise, testing, quality-control systems and traceability may provide more layers through which a potential problem can be identified, understood and controlled.

For an owner whose priority after the Years recall is:

“I want the greatest amount of established science and quality-control infrastructure behind my dog's food,”

a traditional science-led food may therefore be a very reasonable choice.

Alternative 1: Hill’s Science Plan

If your main priority following the Years recall is:

“I want a food with a lot of nutritional research and quality control behind it,”

Hill's Science Plan would be one of the first ranges worth considering.

Hill's has been involved in pet nutrition for decades and its food development involves a substantial team of professionals including:

• Veterinarians
• Qualified nutritionists
• PhD scientists
• Food scientists
• Technicians

Hill's states that more than 220 veterinarians, food scientists, technicians and PhD nutritionists are involved in developing its pet foods.

Its nutritional programme extends well beyond simply constructing an ingredient list.

Hill's research and development includes areas such as:

• Nutritional requirements
• Digestibility
• Weight management
• Gastrointestinal health
• Microbiome research
• Life-stage nutrition
• Clinical nutrition
• Ingredient analysis
• Palatability

Its quality and manufacturing systems also include:

• Ingredient supplier standards
• Raw-material assessment
• Nutrient analysis
• Manufacturing quality controls
• Finished-food checks
• Verification of important nutrient levels

Why might you choose Hill's Science Plan?

It is particularly worth considering for owners who want:

• A mainstream science-led diet
• Clearly defined puppy, adult and senior formulas
• Small, medium and large breed options
• Established nutritional research
• Consistent dry-food feeding
• A manufacturer with substantial veterinary and nutritional expertise
• A food chosen primarily around the dog's nutritional requirements rather than fashionable ingredients

For a healthy adult dog, an appropriate Hill's Science Plan Adult formula can provide a straightforward complete diet.

For a puppy, choose the appropriate Hill's Science Plan Puppy food for their expected adult size.

This is particularly important because puppies – especially large-breed puppies – have nutritional requirements that differ significantly from those of adult dogs.

If you're suddenly moving a growing puppy away from a recalled diet, choosing a food specifically formulated for growth from a manufacturer with extensive nutritional expertise may be particularly reassuring.

Alternative 2: Royal Canin

Royal Canin is another particularly strong option for owners prioritising:

nutritional science, formulation expertise, research and quality control.

Royal Canin has followed a nutrient-led approach to pet-food formulation for decades.

Its philosophy deliberately focuses less on whether individual ingredients sound attractive to humans and more on whether the finished combination provides the nutrients the dog requires.

Research and formulation involve specialists including veterinarians, nutritionists and scientists.

Areas investigated by Royal Canin include:

• Digestibility
• Palatability
• Amino-acid nutrition
• Fatty-acid nutrition
• Gastrointestinal health
• Urinary health
• Skin and coat nutrition
• Weight management
• Breed-related nutritional requirements
• Life-stage requirements
• Clinical nutrition

Royal Canin also describes quality-control systems involving both incoming ingredients and finished products.

Why might you choose Royal Canin?

Royal Canin can be particularly useful if you want a diet selected according to:

• Dog size
• Life stage
• Digestive needs
• Skin sensitivity
• Breed
• Weight-management requirements
• Specific nutritional requirements

At Pet Connection, the Royal Canin range includes puppy, adult, senior, size-specific and breed-specific formulas.

The ingredient list may not always fit modern internet ideas of what dog food “should” look like.

But that's partly the point.

Royal Canin's philosophy is deliberately based on nutrients first rather than ingredient marketing.

For some owners coming away from a food promoted around fresh, recognisable ingredients, that may actually be a reassuring change of perspective.

What About Royal Canin Veterinary Diets?

Royal Canin also produces veterinary diets for dogs with specific medical or nutritional requirements.

These include diets intended for dogs with issues such as:

• Food sensitivities
• Gastrointestinal disease
• Urinary disease
• Weight problems
• Renal disease
• Other specific conditions

These are not simply alternative foods to select because you're worried about the Years recall.

If your dog needs a therapeutic veterinary diet, choose it with veterinary guidance.

But their existence is another example of the level of nutritional research that goes into some large science-led pet-food manufacturers.

Alternative 3: James Wellbeloved

Not every healthy dog needs a highly specialised diet.

If your dog has historically done best on relatively straightforward recipes or tends to have a sensitive digestive system, James Wellbeloved is another established option available from Pet Connection.

The range is well known for recipes using defined protein sources alongside relatively straightforward carbohydrate sources.

For example, options such as Lamb & Rice may appeal to owners wanting:

• A conventional complete dry diet
• A defined named animal protein
• Rice as a familiar carbohydrate source
• A relatively straightforward recipe
• An established food for a dog with a sensitive digestive system

Why might James Wellbeloved be useful after Years?

Some owners will understandably want:

a relatively simple, conventional food from a long-established manufacturer

rather than immediately moving to another novel fresh-food formulation.

James Wellbeloved can fit that requirement well.

It may be particularly attractive for:

• Dogs with sensitive digestion
• Dogs already known to tolerate one of its protein sources
• Owners wanting a conventional lamb-and-rice or similar diet
• Dogs already known to tolerate rice-based foods

We would not suggest that James Wellbeloved has exactly the same depth of publicly visible nutritional research as Hill's or Royal Canin.

If maximum nutritional research and manufacturer testing is your primary reason for changing food, we would put Hill's and Royal Canin ahead of it.

But James Wellbeloved can still be a sensible established complete diet for many dogs.

What About Pet Connection’s Own Dog Food?

Pet Connection also stocks our own range of complete dry dog foods, including options such as:

• Grain-free recipes
• Sensitive formulas
• Salmon-based diets
• Puppy foods
• Adult foods
• Senior diets

These can be particularly useful where an owner is looking for:

• A particular protein source
• A grain-free formula for a specific reason
• Good value for a multi-dog household
• A diet their dog is already known to tolerate
• A particular nutritional profile

However, we want to be transparent.

If your specific reason for changing from Years is that the recall has made you want the greatest possible amount of publicly visible nutritional research and manufacturer testing behind your dog's diet, we would particularly suggest considering established science-led manufacturers such as:

Hill's Science Plan

or:

Royal Canin.

We would rather help you choose a food that matches your priorities than imply that every food we sell has exactly the same evidence base.

Grain-Free Isn't Automatically Better

This is another important consideration when choosing an alternative.

Many owners have been taught to interpret:

grain free = higher quality.

That isn't necessarily true.

Some dogs genuinely need to avoid a particular grain or ingredient.

If a dog has a confirmed dietary sensitivity, obviously that needs to be accommodated.

But most dogs don't need a grain-free diet simply because they're dogs.

Ingredients such as:

• Rice
• Maize
• Barley
• Oats

can provide useful nutrients and energy when appropriately processed and included within a properly formulated diet. Check out our grain inclusive options.

If your dog has been eating a grain-free or fresh food, don't automatically assume the replacement also needs to be grain free unless your individual dog has a reason for avoiding grains.

“Natural” Isn't a Food-Safety Standard

Likewise:

natural

isn't synonymous with:

tested

or:

safer.

A natural ingredient can contain naturally occurring:

• Toxins
• Antinutritional compounds
• Phototoxic compounds
• Allergens
• Contaminants

depending on what the ingredient is and how it is prepared.

The Years investigation is an excellent example of why asking:

“What exactly has been done to make this ingredient safe, consistent and appropriate for dogs?”

can be more useful than simply asking:

“Is it natural?”

“Human Grade” Doesn't Automatically Tell You Whether a Dog Food Is Better

Likewise, a food being marketed around ingredients that humans recognise doesn't automatically make the finished diet nutritionally superior.

Dogs require nutrients in appropriate amounts and ratios.

They don't require every ingredient to resemble something we'd put on our own dinner plate.

A carefully selected and processed pet-food ingredient may look less appealing on a label while being highly useful nutritionally.

Don't confuse:

human emotional appeal

with:

canine nutritional quality.

What Should I Look for in Any Replacement Dog Food?

Whether you buy from Pet Connection or somewhere else, there are some useful questions to ask.

Is It Complete?

For your dog's main diet, look for a food described as a complete food rather than complementary.

A complementary food may need to be combined with other foods to provide appropriate nutrition.

A complete food is intended to provide the nutrients required when fed as the primary diet according to its instructions.

Is It Appropriate for Your Dog's Life Stage?

Puppies have different nutritional requirements from adults.

Large-breed puppies have particular requirements relating to growth and mineral balance.

Senior dogs may have different energy and nutritional needs.

Choose the appropriate formulation rather than simply feeding one adult diet to every dog.

Who Formulates It?

Ideally, the manufacturer should be able to explain:

• Who formulates its diets
• What qualifications they have
• Whether appropriate nutrition expertise is involved

“Designed by dog lovers” is not the same thing as nutritional expertise.

How Is the Food Tested?

Useful information can include:

• Nutritional analysis
• Digestibility testing
• Feeding trials
• Quality-control testing
• Raw-material checks
• Finished-product checks
• Stability testing
• Contaminant testing
• Batch traceability

Not every manufacturer will use exactly the same system.

The important thing is whether there is a meaningful quality-control system behind the food.

Does the Manufacturer Make Its Own Food?

If it doesn't, that isn't automatically bad.

Many reputable companies use contract manufacturers.

But the company should still understand:

• Who makes the food
• Where it is manufactured
• What quality standards are used
• How ingredients are approved
• How finished products are tested

Outsourcing production shouldn't mean outsourcing responsibility.

Can the Company Answer Technical Questions?

This is a useful test.

If you contact a manufacturer and ask something specific such as:

“What is the calcium content of this puppy food on a dry-matter basis?”

or:

“Who is responsible for formulating your diets and what are their qualifications?”

there should ideally be someone capable of providing a meaningful answer.

Marketing staff shouldn't be the only people who understand the food.

Does Your Dog Actually Do Well on It?

Science matters.

So does the individual dog.

Monitor:

• Stool quality
• Skin
• Coat
• Body weight
• Body condition
• Muscle condition
• Appetite
• Energy
• Gastrointestinal signs

A well-researched food still needs to suit the individual animal eating it.

How Should I Change From Years to Another Food?

Under normal circumstances, when changing dog food, a gradual transition over approximately a week can help reduce gastrointestinal upset.

For example:

Days 1–2: approximately 25% new food
Days 3–4: approximately 50% new food
Days 5–6: approximately 75% new food
Day 7: 100% new food

However, this situation is different.

Years has advised owners to:

stop feeding the recalled fresh meals immediately.

You should therefore not continue feeding recalled Years food simply to create a slow transition.

The priority is to stop the recalled product.

Some dogs may consequently experience a temporary change in stool because they need to move directly onto another food.

Choose a straightforward complete diet and, where practical, avoid simultaneously introducing:

• Several new treats
• New chews
• Multiple supplements
• Lots of new foods

If everything changes at once, it becomes much harder to identify the cause if your dog's digestive system reacts.

What If My Dog Has a Very Sensitive Stomach?

If your dog has a history of:

• Chronic diarrhoea
• Recurrent vomiting
• Pancreatitis
• Food-responsive gastrointestinal disease
• Suspected food allergy
• Inflammatory gastrointestinal disease
• Significant skin disease

don't choose a replacement purely from an internet list.

Speak to your vet.

Your dog may benefit from a specific diet such as:

• A highly digestible gastrointestinal diet
• A hydrolysed diet
• A low-fat diet
• A limited-antigen diet
• Another therapeutic veterinary food

This is especially important if your dog is also being treated for eye disease following the Years recall.

What If My Dog Has a Food Allergy?

Don't assume a more scientifically researched food means you can ignore an established allergy.

The best food still needs to be appropriate for the individual dog.

Dogs with suspected or confirmed adverse food reactions may need:

• A particular protein source
• A hydrolysed protein diet
• A properly controlled elimination diet
• Veterinary nutritional advice

Likewise, don't assume that a food labelled:

“sensitive”

is automatically suitable for a dog undergoing a proper food-allergy investigation.

Those are different things.

What Would We Choose?

There isn't one universal answer.

If someone contacted us after feeding Years and said:

“My dog is healthy, has no known allergies and I simply want a reliable complete food with a lot of nutritional science and quality control behind it,”

we would suggest looking first at:

Hill's Science Plan

or:

Royal Canin

and choosing the appropriate recipe for the dog's:

• Age
• Size
• Weight
• Activity
• Individual needs

If the owner said:

“My dog has always had quite a sensitive stomach and I'd prefer something relatively straightforward with a defined protein source,”

James Wellbeloved could be a sensible option.

And if someone has very specific requirements – allergies, gastrointestinal disease, urinary problems, previous pancreatitis or another medical issue – we'd recommend involving their vet rather than simply switching to whichever food has the nicest ingredient list.

The important point is that:

good dog food isn't a competition to see which bag has the most appetising-sounding ingredients.

A food should be considered in terms of:

the finished nutritional product, the expertise behind it, the evidence supporting it, the manufacturing controls behind it and how well the individual dog does on it.

Sometimes the Less Fashionable Food Is the Sensible Choice

There has been a huge shift in pet-food marketing towards foods that look more like something a human would choose for themselves.

Fresh meat.

Vegetables.

Herbs.

Seeds.

Superfoods.

Ingredients you recognise from your own kitchen.

There is nothing inherently wrong with those ingredients.

But they aren't what determines whether a diet is nutritionally sound.

A bag containing:

maize, rice, poultry meal and beet pulp

may sound considerably less glamorous than:

fresh turkey, parsnip, kale, berries and buckwheat.

Yet the first diet might have:

• Decades of nutritional research behind it
• Veterinary nutrition expertise involved
• Extensive digestibility work
• Raw-material screening
• Finished-product nutrient testing
• Established manufacturing controls
• Extensive real-world use

That information doesn't fit neatly onto the front of a dog-food bag.

But it matters.

For owners reconsidering their dog's diet following the Years recall, this may be a useful moment to stop asking:

“Which ingredient list looks nicest to me?”

and start asking:

“Which finished food gives me the most confidence that somebody has done the science?”

What Can We Learn From the Years Recall?

This investigation is still developing, so the final lessons may change.

But several points are already worth remembering.

Owner Reports Matter

One isolated illness may be coincidence.

Multiple similar reports can reveal a pattern that deserves investigation.

This doesn't mean every social-media report should be assumed to establish causation.

It means that owner observations can provide an important early safety signal.

A High-Quality Food Can Still Experience a Safety Issue

No feeding philosophy or marketing category makes a food immune from problems.

Nor does choosing a major manufacturer guarantee that a recall can never happen.

Food production is complex.

What matters includes:

• Prevention
• Testing
• Traceability
• Detection
• Investigation
• Transparency
• Corrective action

“Natural” Isn't Synonymous With Harmless

Plants naturally contain thousands of biologically active compounds.

Natural substances can be:

• Nutritious
• Medicinal
• Irritating
• Toxic
• Phototoxic

sometimes depending entirely on:

• Plant part
• Dose
• Preparation
• Processing
• Exposure

“Natural” tells you where something came from.

It doesn't automatically tell you whether it's safe.

Processing Isn't Inherently Bad

Removing hulls, milling, heating, refining, hydrolysing or otherwise processing ingredients can be essential components of food safety and digestibility.

A food being:

“minimally processed”

is not, by itself, evidence that it is safer or nutritionally superior.

Ingredient Lists Aren't the Whole Food

Ingredients matter.

But so do:

• Formulation
• Nutrient balance
• Processing
• Bioavailability
• Digestibility
• Testing
• Quality control

A beautifully marketed list of ingredients isn't a substitute for understanding the finished diet.

Correlation Isn't Causation

Reports occurring while dogs eat a particular food justify investigation.

They don't automatically identify the mechanism.

Likewise:

buckwheat present in every recalled meal

does not automatically equal:

buckwheat proven to have caused every case.

That's precisely why investigation matters.

Transparent Investigation Matters

The most useful outcome now is careful analysis, publication of results and understanding exactly what happened so that similar incidents can be prevented.

If the mechanism can be identified, the information may be useful far beyond one manufacturer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Years Dog Food, Dry Eye & Buckwheat

Has Years Dog Food Been Recalled?

Yes.

Years has voluntarily recalled all of its fresh Signature Meals as a precaution following reports of dogs developing sudden bilateral dry eye.

Why Has Years Recalled Its Dog Food?

The company is investigating reports of sudden bilateral dry eye and says it has identified a potential link with buckwheat.

The exact cause has not yet been confirmed.

How Many Dogs Have Been Affected?

Years reported 57 suspected cases among approximately 40,000 customers year-to-date as of 16 August 2026, equivalent to around 0.1% of customers.

That number may change as the investigation continues.

Which Years Products Are Affected?

The recall applies to Years fresh meals for:

• Puppies
• Adults
• Seniors

Years says all of its fresh meal recipes contained buckwheat.

Are Years Treats Recalled?

Years currently states that its other products and treats are not affected.

Are Years Breed Health+ Supplements Recalled?

No.

Years states that Breed Health+ supplements do not contain buckwheat and are not included in the recall.

What Is Bilateral Dry Eye?

Bilateral means both eyes.

Dry eye or keratoconjunctivitis sicca occurs when insufficient tears are produced to properly lubricate and protect the eyes.

What Are the Symptoms?

Look for:

• Squinting
• Excessive blinking
• Eye rubbing
• Pawing
• Redness
• Thick discharge
• Dry-looking or dull eyes
• Eye discomfort

Can Dry Eye Damage a Dog's Eyes?

Yes.

Severe untreated KCS can cause inflammation, corneal ulcers, infection, scarring and potentially permanent damage.

How Does a Vet Test for Dry Eye?

Usually with a Schirmer Tear Test, which measures tear production over one minute.

Your vet may also perform fluorescein staining to look for corneal ulcers.

Is Buckwheat Poisonous to Dogs?

Buckwheat itself should not simply be described as poisonous to dogs.

Buckwheat contains naturally occurring phototoxic compounds known as fagopyrins, but their concentration depends strongly on the part of the plant and processing.

Conventional buckwheat grain and flour are widely used as foods.

What Is Fagopyrin?

Fagopyrins are naturally occurring phototoxic compounds found in buckwheat.

They can contribute to fagopyrism, a photosensitivity condition, when sufficient exposure occurs.

Is Fagopyrin Definitely Causing the Years Cases?

No.

It is one possible mechanism worth investigating, but there is currently no published confirmation that fagopyrins are responsible for the Years-associated dry-eye cases.

Is Fagopyrism the Same as Dry Eye?

No.

Fagopyrism traditionally refers to a photosensitisation reaction, particularly affecting light-exposed tissues.

Whether it explains the unusual pattern of sudden tear-production failure currently reported in dogs remains under investigation.

Should I Avoid Kibble Containing Buckwheat?

There is currently no evidence from the Years recall that ordinary kibble containing appropriately processed buckwheat presents the same problem.

Processing and the form of buckwheat used matter.

Is Buckwheat Flour Safe?

Conventional buckwheat seed and flour are generally considered safe food ingredients when appropriately processed and consumed in normal amounts.

Does Cooking Destroy Fagopyrin?

Processing can alter the concentration of buckwheat phototoxic compounds, but the effect varies according to the process used.

It would be inaccurate to claim that every form of cooking automatically removes all fagopyrin.

Does Dehulling Matter?

Potentially, yes.

Naturally occurring plant compounds are distributed differently through the buckwheat plant and seed, so removing outer material can change the composition of the finished ingredient.

My Dog's Normal Food Contains Buckwheat. Should I Stop It?

The Years recall doesn't automatically apply to other brands.

If you're concerned, speak to your food manufacturer or vet and ask the manufacturer what form of buckwheat is used and how it is processed.

My Dog Has Eaten Years But Seems Completely Normal. Should I Panic?

No.

Stop feeding the recalled meals in line with Years' advice and monitor your dog.

Years currently says symptom-free dogs don't need a vet examination solely as a precaution.

My Dog Is Squinting After Eating Years. What Should I Do?

Contact your vet promptly and tell them your dog has been eating a food subject to the current Years recall concerning sudden bilateral dry eye.

Should I Stop Prescribed Eye Drops Now That I've Stopped Years?

No.

Continue medication exactly as prescribed unless your vet or veterinary ophthalmologist tells you otherwise.

Will My Dog's Tear Production Return?

At present, there isn't enough information to predict the outcome for every affected dog.

Continue veterinary monitoring and treatment.

Repeated Schirmer Tear Tests may help your vet assess whether tear production is changing over time.

Has the Cause of the Years Dog Food Recall Been Proven?

No.

Years has identified buckwheat as a potential link, but its investigation is ongoing.

Is Years Reformulating Its Food?

Yes.

Years says it plans to reformulate its meals without buckwheat while the investigation continues.

Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing a Replacement Food

What Should I Feed Instead of Years Dog Food?

There isn't one best replacement for every dog.

For a healthy dog where your priority is an established manufacturer with substantial nutritional research and quality-control systems, Hill's Science Plan or Royal Canin are strong options to consider.

Dogs with individual sensitivities may need something different.

Is Hill's Science Plan a Good Alternative?

It can be.

Hill's employs a substantial team of veterinarians, nutritionists, scientists and food specialists and has extensive nutritional research and quality-control systems behind its foods.

Choose the appropriate Hill's formula for your dog's age and size.

Is Royal Canin a Good Alternative?

It can also be a very strong option.

Royal Canin uses a science-led, nutrient-focused approach and offers formulas designed around different life stages, dog sizes and specific nutritional needs.

Is James Wellbeloved a Good Alternative?

For dogs that do well on relatively straightforward conventional diets, James Wellbeloved may be worth considering.

It can be particularly useful where an owner prefers a defined animal protein and familiar carbohydrate source such as rice.

Is Kibble Safer Than Fresh Food?

You can't accurately say that all kibble is safer than all fresh food.

Food safety depends on the individual manufacturer, formulation, ingredients, processing, testing, manufacturing controls and traceability.

However, choosing a food from a manufacturer with extensive nutritional expertise, testing and quality-control infrastructure can provide additional reassurance.

Should I Choose the Food With the Highest Meat Percentage?

Not necessarily.

A high percentage of a particular ingredient doesn't tell you whether the complete finished diet is appropriately balanced.

Nutrient provision matters more than competing over the percentage printed on the front of the bag.

Is Grain-Free Dog Food Better?

Not automatically.

Some individual dogs need to avoid particular ingredients, but most dogs don't require grain-free food simply because they're dogs.

Properly formulated grains can provide useful nutrients.

Is Maize Bad for Dogs?

Maize isn't inherently a poor-quality ingredient simply because it doesn't appeal to humans.

When appropriately processed and included within a balanced food, it can provide energy and other nutrients.

The quality of the finished diet matters more than whether maize appears on the ingredient list.

Are Meat Meals Bad Ingredients?

Not inherently.

Meat meals can provide concentrated sources of protein and nutrients.

Their usefulness depends on quality, sourcing, processing and how they are incorporated into the complete formula.

Is Minimally Processed Dog Food Healthier?

Not automatically.

Processing can improve digestibility, reduce microorganisms, remove undesirable plant compounds and make ingredients more consistent.

The amount of processing alone isn't a meaningful measure of a food's nutritional quality.

Does “Natural” Mean Safer?

No.

Natural substances can be beneficial, harmless or harmful.

Safety depends on what the substance is, the amount, processing and how it is used.

Should I Choose a Food That Meets WSAVA Guidelines?

WSAVA does not publish an approved list of dog-food brands.

Instead, it provides questions owners can use to evaluate manufacturers, including their nutritional expertise, quality control, research and ability to provide detailed nutritional information.

These criteria can be very useful when comparing foods.

Should I Change Foods Gradually?

Normally, a gradual transition can help reduce digestive upset.

However, Years has instructed customers to stop feeding the recalled meals immediately, so don't continue using recalled food simply to create a gradual transition.

What If My Dog Gets Diarrhoea After Changing?

A sudden diet change can temporarily alter stool quality.

If your dog otherwise seems well, keep the replacement diet straightforward and avoid adding multiple other new foods simultaneously.

If diarrhoea is severe, persistent, contains blood, or your dog is unwell, contact your vet.

What If My Dog Has Allergies or Gastrointestinal Disease?

Speak to your vet before selecting a replacement.

Your dog may need a hydrolysed, gastrointestinal, low-fat or other therapeutic veterinary diet rather than a general adult food.

The Most Important Thing Right Now: Don't Jump Ahead of the Evidence

The Years situation is unusual and understandably worrying for owners whose dogs have eaten the food.

There is a real safety signal.

There is a real voluntary recall.

There are dogs reported to have developed serious bilateral dry eye.

And there is a scientifically plausible reason to investigate buckwheat and its naturally occurring phototoxic compounds.

But there is also a great deal we don't know yet.

We don't yet know whether buckwheat itself is responsible.

We don't know whether fagopyrin is the mechanism.

We don't know whether processing contributed.

We don't know why a relatively small proportion of exposed dogs appear to have been affected.

And we shouldn't turn an investigation into a conclusion before the evidence is available.

For Years customers, the current course of action is straightforward:

Stop feeding the recalled fresh meals.

Monitor your dog's eyes.

Contact your vet promptly if symptoms develop.

Continue any prescribed eye treatment unless your vet tells you otherwise.

And when choosing a replacement food, don't feel that you need to find the ingredient list that looks most similar to the food you're leaving.

This may instead be a good opportunity to consider:

Who formulated this food?

What research sits behind it?

How are the ingredients tested?

How is the finished food tested?

What quality-control systems are in place?

Can the manufacturer answer technical questions about its nutrition?

And does the finished diet suit my individual dog?

For everyone else, there is currently no reason to panic simply because the ingredient buckwheat appears somewhere on your dog's food label.

The final Years investigation matters.

When it is completed, it should help us understand not only what happened with these particular meals, but potentially much more about ingredient processing, naturally occurring plant compounds and food-associated eye disease in dogs.