The global pet prebiotics market is seeing significant growth, driven by increasing awareness of digestive health for cats and dogs by pet owners, and the benefits of functional ingredients in pet nutrition.
With the market for prebiotic supplements for pets expected to reach USD $774.3 million by 2034 according to Grand View Research, there’s a clear opportunity for innovative pet food formulations incorporating prebiotic ingredients.
What's driving the pet nutrition market?
This rapid growth is driven by a number of factors, including the growing trend of pet humanisation, where pet owners are seeking high-quality, science-backed functional ingredients for pets that mirror human nutrition trends.
Rising pet ownership globally has expanded the market for specialised nutrition products, including prebiotic supplements for pets. Health-conscious owners are proactively looking for prebiotics and other ingredients to support good gut health for cats and dogs.
For pet food formulators and brands, these trends highlight the need for innovative products that address specific health concerns for pet owners. Ingredients supporting digestive health and immune function in pets, particularly prebiotic fibres, are becoming increasingly important in modern pet nutrition strategies, offering significant growth opportunities in the pet nutrition sector.
Why is good gut health important for pets?
In companion animals, gut health is fundamental to overall wellbeing, playing a key role in regulating both gastrointestinal and immune systems. A balanced and maintained gut microbiome can support various aspects of pet health, including:
Improved stool quality
Reduced occurrence of digestive issues like diarrhoea and constipation
Enhanced immune system support
Prebiotics and the pet gut microbiome
Prebiotic fibres for pets, such as galactooligosaccharides (GOS), offer targeted support by nourishing beneficial gut bacteria. Research highlights how prebiotics are particularly useful in promoting the growth of essential gut bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium spp. and Lachnospiraceae, which are both key to supporting gastrointestinal and immune health respectively for pets.
Unlike plant-based prebiotics for pets, dairy-derived GOS is seen as naturally suited for cats and dogs due to their carnivore type diets, providing a species-appropriate solution that aligns with their nutritional needs.
How Bimuno Pet supports pet nutrition formulations
Bimuno Pet is a galactooligosaccharide prebiotic ingredient with a unique and patented compositional structure. Research on GOS in general suggests several potential benefits for pet nutrition:
- Digestive health for cats and dogs: GOS has been shown to support gastrointestinal wellbeing by promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.
- Bowel health: Studies indicate that GOS can support improved faecal quality and reduced faecal pH in animals.
- Pet immune system support: GOS has been observed to modulate the immune system by increasing immune cells, as well as increasing lactate and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that play a key role in immune health.
- Microbiome health for pets: Research suggests that GOS may help fortify the intestinal barrier, potentially reducing pathogenic activity and supporting a healthy pet microbiome.
Bimuno GOS stands out as one of the most comprehensively studied galactooligosaccharide prebiotics, with over 120 scientific publications including more than 20 clinical trials supporting its efficacy and safety in human and animal populations. This extensive research provides a strong foundation for exploring its potential in supporting good gut health for pets.
Available in both powder and syrup formats, Bimuno Pet offers versatility in formulation, allowing for its inclusion in a wide range of pet food and supplement applications. Its stability across various pH levels and temperatures further enhances its suitability for diverse product development, making it an excellent choice when formulating pet food with prebiotic fibres.
As the animal nutrition prebiotics market continues to evolve, with owners increasingly focused on their pets’ digestive health and overall wellbeing, Bimuno Pet offers formulators a scientifically backed B2B pet supplement ingredient to meet this growing demand.
By harnessing the potential of GOS in supporting a pets gut microbiome, Bimuno Pet enables the development of innovative prebiotic pet food, supplements and treats that align with current market trends and consumer preferences for science-backed ingredients for pet health support.
Prebiotics vs probiotics for dogs and cats
While both prebiotics and probiotics are available to formulators developing pet gut health products, they work in different ways. Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria, while prebiotics like Bimuno Pet are non-digestible fibres that feed and stimulate the growth of these beneficial bacteria already present in the pet’s gut.
This makes prebiotics a valuable addition to pet food formulations, offering a stable and long-lasting approach to supporting digestive health in cats and dogs.
References available on request. Please note – the information on this page is for B2B purposes only and is intended for pet supplement and pet food formulators exploring prebiotic ingredients for animal health.
