Pet food manufacturers seeking to address persistent pet health challenges like itchiness, digestive issues and coat quality may find solutions by targeting the microbiome-immune axis, according to Ravi Sheth, Ph.D., co-founder and chief scientific officer at Kingdom, who will present at Petfood Forum 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
"The microbiome-immune axis lies at the root of many pet health concerns that are most noticeable to pet parents: occasional itchiness, looser-than-normal stools, or a coat that's lost its shine," Sheth said.
In his presentation, "How the microbiome-immune axis benefits multiple pet health areas that matter most to pet owners," on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Sheth will explain how supporting the microbiome-immune axis simultaneously impacts multiple pet health areas including skin health, digestive wellness, weight management and behavioral health — all ranked by pet owners as top concerns.
He will examine the emerging science behind the microbiome-immune axis in pets and how it links to various biological processes throughout the body, then highlight real-world case studies on various industry ingredients, products and clinical literature, demonstrating how impacting the microbiome-immune axis translates into quantifiable pet health benefits.
Delivering measurable results
Pet parents are willing to pay for science-backed products that deliver real results, but many pet food products don't deliver on their promises, said Sheth. By targeting the microbiome-immune axis, pet brands and formulators can address these concerns at their source, with clinical evidence to back it up.
"Pet parents are desperate for solutions to the daily challenges their pets face, like persistent itchiness and digestive issues, and they're willing to pay for products that make a difference," Sheth said. "However, they are overwhelmed by a market flooded with marketing claims that often don't translate into noticeable benefits."
Emerging research, including clinical studies in dogs and cats, is showing that ingredients that effectively modulate the microbiome-immune axis deliver real, noticeable benefits, he said.
At Kingdom, Sheth and his team have developed a breakthrough ingredient, Superculture Pet Immune, which delivers beneficial indole compounds to influence the microbiome-immune axis. Across three double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in dogs with this ingredient, the company has demonstrated significant improvements in occasional itching, coat quality and stool consistency.
"We are working to jump beyond the industry status quo which has historically measured biomarkers without demonstrating meaningful improvements in how pets look, feel, and function," Sheth said. "In each of our studies, we identify and focus on real pet health benefits and behaviors and demonstrate that our ingredients can influence and improve these in cohorts of healthy animals."
Future developments
Over the next five years, microbiome-based pet nutrition will mature from a trend into a performance category, Sheth said. Pet parents are already moving from trialing biotic formulations to making the ones that work a daily mainstay.
"'Microbiome' and 'biotics' will shift from buzzwords to product platforms recognized for measurable improvements: less itching, better coats, firmer stools," he said.
This shift will accelerate as trends in human health reshape pet nutrition, according to Sheth. COVID heightened awareness of immune health, while GLP-1s and the quantified self-movement have driven demand for measurable self-improvement. Those same forces are influencing how pet parents think about their pets, opening new opportunities around vitality, activity, sleep and relaxation, said Sheth.
Petfood Forum and Petfood Essentials show dates are April 27-29, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. To register or stay informed on the latest event developments, go to PetfoodForumEvents.com.
