Functional snacks dominate pet nutrition trends

Treats and snacks are in demand. Euromonitor data indicates that, over the past two years, the dog treats category has seen a relative growth similar to that of dog food in the US.

In the same timeframe, the volume of cat treats has expanded at two to three times the speed of food categories.

Topping the inclusions list

Ingredients that are gaining ground include algae oil, postbiotics and blood plasma. With multiple health functions and a good sustainability story, they are increasingly being used in snack products.

Benefits of algae oil

With growing consumer awareness of the benefits of healthy fats and oils, such as in brain development and support, there has been a rise in demand for omega-3 fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Algal DHA has been shown to effectively increase DHA in the blood. A study from the clinical research team at Dutch multinational DSM Nutritional Products, published in 2017 in Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, demonstrated that an algal DHA-fortified diet resulted in faster initial learning of protocols for visual and variable contrast discrimination. However, no difference was observed for long-term recall.

A Chinese study, published in Algal Research in 2025, provided dogs with fish oil, algal oil, algal powder or a control diet. Supplementation with algae significantly increased DHA levels in the blood, improved coat quality and enhanced antioxidant capacity.

Algal powder showed the greatest lowering of cholesterol values, despite a low eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content in this particular algae product.

Although studies show positive effects of algae oil on inflammation, according to EU ParNuts regulation, a claim regarding the particular nutritional purpose of osteochondrosis must include a minimum level of omega-3 and EPA for dogs, but omega-3 and DHA for cats.

Advantages of algal sources

The default omega-3 sources used in pet food are fish oil and linseed. Fish oil alone provides worthwhile levels of DHA. However, harvest from the ocean has negatively impacted the marine ecosystem for years.

As DHA from microalgae reduces reliance on marine oil, it provides a sustainable alternative. Algae oil and powder are produced by marine microalgae through fermentation techniques on land, thereby avoiding disturbance of marine ecosystems. Schizochytrium sp. is a form of marine microalgae with high lipid content, particularly DHA.

Microalgae powder may also have better oxidative stability than anchovy oil. The nature of the fatty acid, however, means it remains prone to rancidity and production volumes should be planned so that stock gets used swiftly after opening. The fact algae oil can be sourced in liquid and powder format carries the benefit of choice.

Power of postbiotics

As defined by the International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), effective postbiotics “must contain inactivated microbial cells or cell components… that contribute to observed health benefits”.

These microbes include yeast products and bacteria. Among yeast products, research in dogs and cats has focused on beta-glucans, mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products (SCFPs).

Beta-glucans are known to stimulate and modulate the immune system. Efficacy depends on the source and treatment of the material, because the beta-glucans must be sufficiently exposed for the immune system to recognize the attachment points.

Research published in 2011 in the American Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, demonstrated that supplementation found a benefit against control after eight weeks for dogs suffering with pruritus. Treats require a higher inclusion to achieve the same daily intake.

Some MOS positively affect the microbiome, although efficacy depends on the source. SCFPs see positive shifts in the microbiome and digestion of dogs and cats, and they increasingly feature in products on the market.

The heat-stable nature of SCFPs suits the snack format and provides something different than the MOS that feature in the ingredient listing of many complete foods.

Bacteria-fighting ingredient

Blood plasma contains many beneficial components. Bacteria are fought by transferrin binding iron that reduces their growth, while lysozymes break down their cell wall.

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies bind pathogens so they cannot adhere to the gut lining, while cytokines help mediate the immune response to remaining pathogens.

Plasma has shown reduction of inflammation and gut permeability in other species, but not in dogs and cats. Instead, research is emerging that inclusion of blood plasma increases microbial genera in the gut associated with good health, including Lactobacillus.

Linearly increased levels of short-chain fatty acids and fecal immunoglobulin A (IgA) have also been observed, demonstrating a dose-dependent effect.

Suitability of plasma in snacks

Blood plasma may not appeal as a label declaration; however, more products are entering the market that are composed of blood products.

Blood plasma can also be presented as an upcycled material, adding sustainability credentials alongside its highly digestible protein content.

Snacks provide an excellent introduction into the market, because plasma is highly palatable to pets.

Alongside health claims, blood plasma aids processing by emulsifying and holding water in wet products, while improving durability of dry products.

Too much of a good thing

Obesity is a key health issue in pets, so questions on the ethics behind developing treats are to be expected. The rule of thumb is to feed no more than 10% of daily caloric intake in treats.

This may seem a clouded concept for end-consumers, so further guidance is recommended.

For a brand providing both complete foods and treats, working out the maximum number of treats to feed, and how much to reduce the complete food, is helpful.

As a bonus, it emphasizes that your brand has thought through the complete package of feeding and giving treats to pets.