Collagen: A complex protein that may benefit joint health in pets

Collagen is an abundant protein that may provide benefit for animal joint repair associated with osteoarthritis. The challenge is finding the form that works best.

Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.

April 30, 2022

collagen-ingredient

collagen-ingredient

Collagen is a popular pet ingredient right now, but in what form might it be most functionally useful to pets? | Inna Dodor I Shutterstock.com

Many new pet treats and supplements are promoting the term “collagen” on the name or callout. Product claims run the gamut from skin and coat support to flexibility and joint care. Bone broth products have even extolled their connection to collagen. In the human packaged goods category, collagen has become very popular in wrinkle and aging supplements, hair care products, and osteoarthritis supplements — this may be partly what is fueling demand in pet treats and supplement products by pet parents.

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Dog And Cat Eating

Yeast: A possible approach to preventing pet disease

The pet food industry has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to the efficiency of ingredient acceptance regulations and processes.

A proposal to approve ingredients for pets

Ingredient Issues

A proposal to approve ingredients for pets

Streamlining the acceptance process would go a long way towards advancing pet nutrition options for pet food manufacturers.

The pet food industry has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to the efficiency of ingredient acceptance regulations and processes.

Brand Insights

Pet Food Quality: A More Holistic Approach to Food Safety

KEMIN NUTRISURANCE

Learn why addressing microbial risks throughout the value chain is critical to a robust food safety program. Brand Insights from Kemin.

Pet Food Quality: A More Holistic Approach to Food Safety

Trending: Pet Food Podcast

EPISODE 44: What is this fermentation technology all about, and how can it apply to pet food?

Rich Kelleman, cofounder and CEO of Bond Pet Foods, sits down with Lindsay Beaton, host of Trending: Pet Food Podcast to discuss the fermentation process as it applies to pet food, treat and supplement applications.

Sound Cloud Cover Art 800x800 Rich Kelleman

It IS possible to produce balanced vegetarian/vegan dog diets

There is sufficient information and enough ingredient options available to produce vegetarian and vegan diets for dogs in a safe and nutritionally balanced manner.

Dog with bunch of carrots in mouth. Cute black and white border collie with vegetable.

The future of protein for pet food is now

In a recent webinar, David Meeker and Greg Aldrich discussed our current protein situation and what the future holds with an eye toward expanding our options.

Alternatives to animal proteins, such as pea protein, may be part of what stabilizes the future’s protein supply chain. (dlerick I iStock.com)

Plant-based proteins in pet food: the new, novel, niche

New sources of plant-based proteins may be part of the answer for extending and expanding the supply of protein in pet foods. These will provide a novel approach to the thought process beyond traditional sources.

The options for plant-based proteins in pet food are expanding all the time. | nevodka | iStock.com

Single cell proteins: Yeast an emerging protein ingredient for pet food

Yeast has been explored for decades as a complementary protein source. With supply chain and sustainability becoming major issues, it may be time for yeast protein meals to become a bigger player.

Yeast has potential as a high-quality, sustainable protein source in pet food formulations. (falaha I shutterstock.com)

Insect proteins: Commercial-scale options for pet food

Black soldier fly larvae as a protein meal have emerged on the pet food ingredient scene.

With the recent approval of black soldier fly larvae for use in adult dog foods, insect protein options bear additional consideration. | (TARAPONG PATTAMACHAIYANT | iStock.com)

Emerging protein sources in pet food

Insect proteins, single-cell proteins, microalgae and pulse proteins will expand pet food's options as alternative proteins gain ground.

As the need for alternative proteins increases across the board, pet food will be among those segments looking for options. | (ARISA THEPBANCHORNCHAI | iStock.com)

Beef by-products: No guts no glory!

There are many quality choices regarding organ meats and beef by-products, despite what human squeamishness would have you believe.

Beef by-products get a bad rap on the human side, but they can serve a valuable nutritional purpose in pet food. | (Studioimagen73 | Shutterstock.com)

Beef: A popular, complicated ingredient in dog and cat diets

There are many options and challenges to beef in the supply chain, both historically and currently; in spite of that it remains a popular pet food ingredient.

Beef as an ingredient gets high marks from both dogs and cats, but it’s not without its challenges. | (kozorog | iStock.com)

Cheese: A fun food ingredient for pets and their owners

Dr. Greg Aldrich provides an overview of the origin and potential benefit for adding cheese to pet foods and treats.

Cheese can be found in several pet food and treat products, but the potential benefits of cheese as an ingredient have yet to be fully explored. | (Lysikova Irina | Shutterstock.com)

Chicken meal: Is there anything new with this ingredient’s use in pet food?

A staple in pet food chicken meal has undergone modest changes to its definition and composition in the past 15 years, but challenges remain.

With an unclear definition and certain quality concerns, chicken meal in pet food has several issues that seem here to stay. | Lars Christnsen, Dreamstime.com

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