Dog owners nationwide are claiming that DreamBone chews have sickened their canine pets, resulting in multiple fatalities.
DreamBone chews are sold in major retailers such as Walmart, Target, and Chewy.
One dog owner, Liz Brannen from Bellville, Texas, alleged that her precious Pekingese, Boogie, died after ingesting one of DreamBone’s treats.
Brannen told the New York Post that Boogie began vomiting and having bloody diarrhea before she passed away just 24 hours after eating a DreamBone chew.
“She was screaming at the end and in such pain, but she was perfectly normal the day before,” Brannen said. “It really bothers me that a company would sell something that can kill dogs.”
Upon researching Boogie’s untimely death, Brannan discovered that in 2022, there were 70 complaints made about DreamBone on SafelyHQ, a forum where consumers can report health, safety, and community issues — almost twice as many as in 2021. A majority have been submitted since October.
On January 1, a bereaved owner from St. Louis, Illinois, posted on SafelyHQ that after feeding two 6-month-old puppies DreamBone Chewy treats, they “both got sick, [had] bloody stools, [were] nauseated, vomited, and died three days apart.”
“[I] even took puppies to [the] vet. Nothing they could do,” the owner added.
“The recent surge in reports mentioning DreamBone dog treats is especially concerning to us,” said SafelyHQ founder Patrick Quade.
Moreover, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported receiving “several dozen complaints associated with DreamBone.”
DreamBone was acquired in 2017 by Spectrum Brands, a Wisconsin-based company. Prior to DreamBone’s acquisition, however, the company faced similar product safety concerns.
In 2016, a dog named Maxie had emergency surgery after allegedly consuming DreamBone chewable treats. Maxie’s surgeon reportedly found “a large piece of a dog chew, which matched the description of the DreamBone.”
During the suit, DreamBone chewable treats were reportedly found to contain a large amount of Sorbitol. Sorbitol is classified by the FDA as an indigestible sugar alcohol and used as a laxative in small quantities.
Maxie’s owners claimed that the allegedly indigestible treats caused Maxie gastrointestinal issues that would have been fatal if not for surgery. The suit was settled out of court.
Spectrum Brands has yet to address the current safety concerns regarding its DreamBone products. However, a 2017 statement read as follows:
“The health and safety of all dogs who enjoy our DreamBone products is our highest priority. We believe there is no merit to these allegations, and we stand behind the quality and safety of our DreamBone products.”