DOG owners are being warned about buying canine health supplements on websites like Amazon, with some pets feared to have fallen ill or died as a result of taking them.
The online retail giant has recalled counterfeit Yumove supplements that were sold on the site, as well as removing the third-party sellers who sold them and refunded affected customers.
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The fakes are said to look very similar to the real versions, copying details on both boxes and the tablet blister packs that makes it hard for shoppers to spot the difference.
Hundreds of dog owners have flocked to social media to share their concerns, with some reporting their dog has fallen ill, or in the worst cases have died.
Yumove said it is keeping a log of bad reactions reported by dog owners.
Victoria Jemma, 28, and originally from Romford, was devastated when her seven-year-old bulldog Henry suddenly dropped dead in the garden after ingesting bogus Yumove joint care tablets for five days.
She said: “A neighbour passed them to me after her dog died, and I’m sure that’s what killed my boy, although I can’t prove it.
“Henry was getting old and slowing down a bit but he was perfectly healthy. I let him out in the garden one day in September and when I looked for him I realised he had collapsed.
“We struggled to lift him up as he was so bloated, and on the way to the vets I felt him go in my hands.
“The vet said he looked like he had been poisoned.
“I wouldn’t wish what happened to him on my worst enemy and I feel terrible about it. I had no reason to suspect the tablets weren’t genuine.
“I still have them and I can see that the batch numbers on the box do not match the ones on the blister pack. It was only after I saw the warnings on Facebook about these tablets a couple of weeks that suddenly it made sense.
“I also wonder if the lady who passed them to me had the same thing happen to her dog, without her realising. They were tablets for senior dogs, so I imagined hers had simply died of old age.
“I was about to pass the tablets on to charity thinking I was doing a good thing, but luckily I found out in time.
“I am so angry as Henry really was my entire life and my daughter’s best friend. I will never forgive someone for taking him from us so soon.”
Dr Courtney Miller, chief veterinary officer for Lintbells, the manufacturer of Yumove, said all Yumove products purchased directly from yumove.co.uk, vets, and from the company’s retail partners were genuine and have passed rigorous quality checks.
She added: “Genuine Yumove products are also available on Amazon, however, this can only be guaranteed on orders that are dispatched from and sold by Amazon.
“If you’ve recently bought products from a third-party seller, Amazon should have contacted you directly.”
The company said the order must be dispatched and sold by Amazon to ensure the product is genuine.
This information is available on the product page and in the basket before you purchase.
Amazon said: “Safety is our top priority, and as soon as we were notified of this issue, we promptly took steps to remove the products in question, notify and refund customers, and take action against the bad actors involved.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy for counterfeit products, and there are proactive measures in place to prevent counterfeit products being listed on our store.
“If an issue is raised, we act quickly to protect customers, including removing listings and bad actors from our store, and sharing further guidance from brands for customers.
“Only genuine products from YuMove are now available on our store, but if customers have concerns about an item they’ve purchased, we encourage them to contact our customer service team directly.”
Customers who could have received the impacted products are advised to stop using them and throw them out. If you're concerned about your dog, seek advice from a vet.
HOW TO CHECK IF YOU'RE AFFECTED
Counterfeit Yumove senior joint products have been identified on Amazon.
All third-party sellers of the products have been removed from the site.
Amazon has contacted those who recently bought items from third-party sellers and offered a refund.
You can also check if you bought from a third-party seller by checking your Amazon order history.
Yumove says there's no reliable way to determine whether a product is counterfeit or not, such as batch number or marks on boxes or blister packs, and there are multiple versions.
Anyone who thinks they may have a counterfeit product, or is unsure, should stop feeding it to their dog immediately and contact Amazon.
You should speak to your vet if you have any concerns about your dog's health.
If your dog has consumed a counterfeit product and is actively unwell, Yumove recommends that you see advice from your vet straight away.
Where to buy genuine products
Yumove products bought directly from the company, vets and certain retailers are not affected as they have come from the manufacturer and passed quality checks. They are:
Genuine products can be bought on Amazon, Yumove says, but only if sold and dispatched by Amazon.
There are no clear signs or symptoms as it's unclear what ingredients are in the counterfeit products.
The Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) have provided the following advice for pet owners:
“Without knowing the ingredients in the counterfeit tablets we cannot give specific advice, however the risks are thought to be low.
“Animals who are not displaying signs of being unwell should be observed at home.
“Any animal showing clinical signs should be assessed by their vet and further tests considered (such as a general health profile) although it must be considered that the cause of the signs may be unrelated to the tablets.
“If owners are very concerned, they can contact Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000 (consultation fee applies) where they will be advised whether a vet visit is required.
“Vets can receive specific treatment advice on a case-by-case basis through the VPIS members service on 020 7305 5055.”
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