The increasing demand for sustainable pet-food solutions has driven interest in alternative protein sources, as researchers seek to avoid allergenic foods while maintaining optimal pet nutrition. This review explores recent scientific publications, patent trends, and market trends relating to various alternative protein sources, including plant-based, aquatic, insect-derived, and cell-based sources. Their nutritional composition, functional properties, and potential benefits for pet health were assessed. Plant-based proteins, such as soy, pea, and lentils, provide essential amino acids and functional properties suitable for meat analogues. Microalgae and seaweed offer rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and bioactive compounds. Insect-based proteins such as black-soldier-fly larvae and mealworms are highly digestible and rich in essential nutrients, with additional benefits for gut health. Emerging cell-based proteins present a novel, lab-grown alternative with promising sustainability and nutritional advantages. While these protein sources offer significant benefits, challenges related to digestibility, palatability, regulatory approval, and consumer acceptance must be addressed. The emphasis of the present research is on current developments for industry uses and future potential. The analysis sheds light on the contributions of alternative protein sources to the promotion of sustainable and nutrient meals for pets.

Palatability is a critical determinant of pet food performance, directly influencing voluntary intake, nutrient utilization, and therapeutic efficacy. In this systematic review, we examine peer-reviewed research publications, patent filings, and commercial product data pertaining to palatant technologies in dry and wet pet food from 2014 to 2024. Major palatant classes—including fats, proteins, yeast extracts, and novel plant-derived or insect-based hydrolysates—are evaluated for their physicochemical properties, flavor-release mechanisms, and stability during processing. We analyze formulation techniques such as microencapsulation, Maillard-reaction enhancement, and multilayer coating systems, focusing on their impact on aromatic compound retention and palatability consistency. Patent landscape assessment identifies over 15 key innovations in delivery systems, life-stage-specific palatant modulation, and dual-phase release architectures. Dual-phase release architectures are defined as systems that deliver active compounds in two sequential phases, such as immediate and sustained release. Sensory evaluation methodologies—ranging from multivariate preference mapping to descriptive analysis—are critically appraised to correlate human-panel metrics with canine and feline feeding behavior. We also discuss strategic integration of palatants at different processing stages (pre-conditioning, extrusion, and post-extrusion) and the challenges of balancing taste masking with nutritional requirements, particularly in formulations containing alternative proteins for sustainability. Despite rapid market growth in functional palatant-infused products, peer-reviewed literature remains relatively limited, suggesting opportunities for further research on species-specific flavor drivers, synbiotic flavor–nutrient interactions, and novel delivery platforms. This comprehensive overview of palatant science, patent innovations, and market evolution provides evidence-based guidance for researchers, formulators, and veterinarians seeking to optimize organoleptic properties and consumer acceptance of next-generation pet foods.

Increasing interest in functional nutrition has driven the incorporation of probiotics into pet food formulations to enhance digestive health, immune response, and overall well-being in companion animals. This systematic review examines scientific publications, patents, and market developments related to probiotic-enriched pet food from 2014 to 2024. We evaluate major probiotic taxa—including Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Bacillus spp., and Saccharomyces cerevisiae—based on their resilience during processing, gastrointestinal survival, and documented health benefits. Delivery technologies such as microencapsulation, coating matrices, and post-processing supplementation are analyzed for their effectiveness in preserving probiotic viability within dry and wet food matrices. Patent landscape analysis highlights innovation trends in strain selection, formulation design, and processing methods. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate that probiotic supplementation modulates gut microbiota composition, improves fecal parameters, enhances immune markers, and promotes nutrient absorption in both canine and feline models. Market data reveal rapid expansion of commercial probiotic pet food products, yet scientific research remains limited compared to human nutrition. Overall, the findings indicate that while probiotics hold clear potential to improve gastrointestinal health and immunity in pets, evidence remains fragmented, particularly for cats and long-term outcomes. Bridging the gap between industrial innovation and controlled clinical validation will be essential for developing next-generation probiotic pet foods.

Functional pet food has grown rapidly, in line with the accelerated humanization of pets, growing attention to relations between diet and health, and mounting sustainability awareness. The article provides a critical overview of recent developments and new trends in functional pet food, combining data from published works, patents and market-driven innovative companies. The current trends depict a transition from single-nutrient fortification to integrated nutrition interventions through modulation of gastrointestinal health, immunity, metabolism, cognition and age-associated conditions. Special attention is dedicated to probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, polyphenols and novel protein sources, as well as innovations in processing and delivery technologies. The review highlights ongoing issues on the relevance of study design, available long-term safety information and our capacity to mechanistically underpin claims with respect to function. Because this review maps clusters of innovation and clusters of underdeveloped knowledge, it offers a roadmap for the translational pathway from scientific discovery to commercialization. The results highlight a call for harmonized methods, longer duration studies and integrative omics-based approaches in order to improve the evidence basis formulation and responsible marketing of future functional pet food products following credible, safe and sustainable strategies.

The pet food sector has progressively evolved over the past decade from conventional nutrition toward functionally targeted and sustainability-oriented systems that are increasingly parallel developments in human health. While numerous reviews have examined individual aspects of pet food innovation, an integrated perspective linking scientific research, patent activity, and global market dynamics remains limited. This review addresses this gap by systematically synthesizing peer-reviewed literature, patent landscapes, and product launch data to identify key drivers and bottlenecks shaping contemporary pet food innovation. The analysis highlights a strong concentration of research and patent activity in health-oriented functional formulations, particularly those targeting gastrointestinal health, immune modulation, and age-related conditions, while postbiotics, precision nutrition, and digital tools remain comparatively underdeveloped. Sustainability-driven ingredients and alternative proteins show growing momentum but face persistent challenges related to scalability, regulation, and sensory acceptance. The commercial success of functional pet foods depends on translating scientific findings into stable, manufacturable, and evidence-supported products. Future innovation will therefore be shaped by technologies that connect biological function with process feasibility and market readiness. This review concludes that future progress in pet food innovation will depend on integrated frameworks that align biological efficacy, technological feasibility, and market viability, thereby bridging the gap between scientific advancement and commercial implementation.

This review classifies plant-derived functional ingredients in pet food according to phytochemical groups and application forms, including direct oral supplementation and incorporation into complete diets. Polyphenols and plant extracts exert prominent antioxidant (singular), anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and microbiome-regulating effects. Microalgae and omega-3 sources support lipid metabolism, cardiovascular function, and skin integrity. Cannabinoids demonstrate dose-dependent responses in dogs, while cats generally tolerate long-term administration and exhibit notable benefits in chronic pain management. Combinations of botanical extracts with complementary bioactives and fermented botanical preparations exhibit multi-target functionality, with dogs showing pronounced biochemical and microbiome modulation, whereas cats display more behavioral and functional improvements. Phytochemicals operate through integrated multi-level regulation, including activation of antioxidant enzymes, modulation of inflammatory cytokines and T-lymphocyte ratios, microbial metabolic shifts toward short-chain fatty acid production, and regulation of lipid metabolism. Dogs demonstrate marked effects on hepatic function, reproductive resilience, microbiome diversity, CD4+/CD8+ balance, and cholesterol control. In contrast, cats show greater benefits in inflammation reduction, pain relief, intestinal integrity, and long-term safety. These species-specific responses underscore the importance of precision formulation and highlight the emergence of plant-based “pharma-pet nutrition” integrating nutritional and biochemical strategies for targeted health promotion.