Statement from Dr Jason Aldiss BVSc MRCVS
Veterinary Adviser, Sabre Pet Food
Sabre Pet Food is aware of the recent reports concerning cases of eye problems, including significantly reduced tear production and dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca), in dogs consuming certain dog foods containing buckwheat.
Understandably, these reports may cause concern amongst dog owners. I would therefore like to reassure Sabre customers that buckwheat is not used as an ingredient in any product currently stocked by Sabre Pet Food.
Accordingly, the specific concern currently being investigated in relation to buckwheat-containing dog foods does not relate to Sabre's product range.
What is currently known?
The veterinary and scientific investigation into the recently reported cases is continuing. There appears to be an association between consumption of certain buckwheat-containing foods and the development of acute ocular abnormalities in a small number of dogs, particularly markedly reduced tear production.
The current reports involving canine eye health are therefore significant and warrant proper scientific and epidemiological investigation, but it would be premature to conclude that all buckwheat is inherently toxic to dogs or that buckwheat has definitively been established as the cause of the reported cases.
Sabre products
For the avoidance of doubt:
Buckwheat is not used as an ingredient in any product stocked by Sabre Pet Food.
Customers do not need to discontinue or change a Sabre Pet Food product as a consequence of the current buckwheat investigation.
We continually monitor emerging veterinary, nutritional and food-safety information relevant to the products we supply. Where a credible safety concern emerges, we will assess the available evidence and take appropriate precautionary action where necessary.
Advice to dog owners
Owners feeding a product that has been specifically identified by its manufacturer as containing potentially affected buckwheat should follow that manufacturer's recall or withdrawal instructions.
Any dog developing sudden ocular symptoms - particularly red or painful eyes, excessive blinking, rubbing of the eyes, ocular discharge, cloudiness, apparent light sensitivity or unusually dry-looking eyes - should be examined promptly by a veterinary surgeon.
Reduced tear production can be assessed very simply in veterinary practice using a Schirmer Tear Test. Early recognition and treatment of significant dry eye is important because persistent inadequate tear production can result in painful inflammation and damage to the corneal surface.
Sabre will nevertheless continue to monitor the developing scientific and veterinary evidence and will update customers should any information emerge that is relevant to our products.
Dr Jason Aldiss BEM BVSc MRCVS
Veterinary Adviser
Sabre Pet Food
19 August 2026