Biotics research in pet evolving as needs grow

Probiotics have been around for much longer than we’ve known what to call them. Any civilization that consumed fermented food or drink had exposure to probiotics; soured (fermented) milk in particular has been consumed for thousands of years, but other ancient foods such as beer and cheese can also be added to the list. In the 1990s proper gut microbiome research began, and a new era of health and wellness was launched.

Today, research has expanded to prebiotics and postbiotics, and biotics are a hot topic in both the human and companion animal spaces.

“The current landscape looks very exciting for all biotics, moving past just simply tossing some generic ‘probiotics’ into a blend,” said Vince Lackowski, formulator and applied research leader at Bernie’s Best. “Academic research and clinical studies, paired with more suppliers offering specific strains and unique ingredients, are shaping the way brands and formulators are incorporating probiotics into new consumer products; plus, prebiotics and postbiotics.”

The expansion of the biotics category

Science-based information has led the way in expanding biotics usage in the pet space as pet owners become more educated and research continues to find more nuance.

“The gut health category has evolved significantly over the last few years,” said Harley Mason, product and portfolio manager for Vetnique. “As owners increasingly prioritise their pets’ health in much the same way as their own, they’re looking for the same levels of science and innovation they expect from human health products.”

Definitions are becoming more precise, helping formulators and pet owners alike figure out what the best tracks to take are when it comes to the use of biotics.

“Historically, ‘gut health’ has been loosely defined — something the community is now working to refine,” said Trouw Nutrition Pet Nutritionist Dr. Sofia Wilson. “The biotics field is maturing with more precise definitions, giving researchers and formulators a clearer foundation to build from. Organizations such as the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) have recently published updated frameworks, including consensus guidance on gut health and standardized terminology for emerging categories like postbiotics.”

Postbiotics are the newest addition to the biotics conversation, with researchers figuring out uses for them alone as well as in combination with other biotics options.

“The most exciting shift is the rise of postbiotics, the fastest-growing segment of the pet biotics category at roughly +8.1% CAGR (compound annual growth rate), and the growing body of research supporting the benefits they can deliver,” said Kendall Dabaghi, co-founder and CEO at Kingdom. “Instead of relying on live microbes that must survive digestion to be effective, postbiotics deliver the active compounds and metabolites that beneficial microbes produce, directly. That makes them more consistent in their impact and more stable across the manufacturing and shelf life of food, treats and supplements.”

That stability is an incredibly tantalizing factor to pet formulators.

“There is growing acceptance of postbiotics as a practical and science-driven approach to supporting pet health, and a growing body of research backing these benefits,” said Jess Jarett, Ph.D., principal scientist, Pet, at Cargill. “One of the most exciting developments is the exploration of benefits beyond traditional gut health applications into areas such as skin health, emotional wellbeing, oral health and metabolic health. 

“Crucially, the field is moving beyond simply demonstrating benefits in pets toward understanding the biological mechanisms that drive them,” continued Jarett. “Gaining a clearer picture of how postbiotics influence pet health will create exciting opportunities to develop more effective and targeted solutions.”

Pet parent wants: more than ‘gut health’

There’s no doubt that the conversation around biotics has expanded significantly past gut health.

“Pet parents are becoming educated on some of the more specific outcome-based benefits for a whole range of health improvements from oral health, skin and allergy support, bone strength and joint mobility, mental wellness, and so on,” said Lackowski. “They want more for their dogs than the generic basics or vague claims.”

Pet owners, said Mason, are looking for products backed by science that are easy to understand and fit into their daily routine.

“There’s growing demand for proactive health solutions that support long-term wellbeing, alongside increasing awareness of the link between gut health and overall health,” said Mason. “One of the biggest opportunities remains helping consumers navigate an increasingly complex category through clear, evidence-based education.”

Unsurprisingly, formulators are asking more of their ingredient suppliers in order to meet these needs.

“Formulators are working to close the gap between what pet owners are asking for and what claims the science can credibly support,” said Dabaghi. “They want clinical substantiation strong enough to unlock differentiated, defensible marketing claims, and not just another ‘supports gut health’ line. They want quickly visible results, because strong customer reviews and repeat purchases depend on pet parents actually noticing a difference. They want stability and format flexibility. And increasingly they want cat-specific options, because the supplement category is still about 75% dog-oriented while cat owners feel underserved.”

The same is happening for all the biotics options.

“Prebiotic innovation is becoming more targeted, moving beyond simply feeding the microbiome to shaping it in intentional ways,” said Wilson. “Novel oligosaccharides are being developed to selectively influence microbial populations or deliver specific functional outcomes. At the same time, combining different fibers and prebiotics to drive synergistic effects is gaining traction, supporting greater microbial diversity and functionality.

“In the probiotic space, one of the most notable shifts is toward species-specific strains,” said Wilson. “As understanding of canine and feline microbiomes deepens, companies are placing greater emphasis on selecting strains that are tailored to the target species. Precision is becoming a defining theme, whether through species-specific probiotics or targeted fiber strategies designed to deliver measurable outcomes. This is especially evident in the supplement segment, where demand is growing for strain-specific benefits backed by robust clinical data. As a result, the industry is steadily moving away from one-size-fits-all solutions toward more tailored, data-driven approaches.”

Of course, all the science education in the world won’t help if pet parents can’t see results with their own eyes.

“Pet parents demand solutions that deliver benefits they can see for themselves,” said Jarett. “While many health improvements measured in research studies occur at the physiological or molecular level, when they also lead to visible outcomes such as healthier skin, less scratching or improved stool quality, that provides reassurance that a product is working. As a result, formulators are seeking biotic solutions that are supported by solid scientific evidence while also addressing consumer-relevant needs.”

The future of biotics in the pet space

The biotics segment is still in the middle of its expansion, according to the pet industry, and there is nothing but growth on the horizon.

“The future is likely going to see more applications of postbiotics and potentially the identification of other probiotic strains beneficial to cats and dogs,” said Martha G. Cline, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition), senior manager of veterinary technical communications at Nestlé Purina PetCare. “I'd say there is lots of room to grow and explore this area, especially with new technologies available to assess the microbiome.” Pet owners, she said, will continue to look for safe and effective health solutions that are both easy to give and enjoyable for the pet, whether the format is incorporated into a pet food or exists as a standalone supplement. 

Part of the appeal of the future of biotics for researchers is that there is still so much to discover, which means plenty of opportunities out there for innovation in pet.

“We don’t yet fully understand what biotics are capable of, and that is exactly what makes this field so exciting,” said Wilson. “New discoveries are emerging every day, expanding what feels like an entirely new toolbox of possibilities. Advances such as custom-designed oligosaccharides, host-specific probiotic strains and postbiotics point toward a more precise approach to microbiome modulation. This shift could fundamentally change how nutrition is delivered.”

The next chapter of biotics innovation in pet nutrition will be defined by deeper scientific understanding, according to Jarett.

“While the human health sector has demonstrated the tremendous potential of biotics solutions, there has also been increasing demand to move beyond microbiome ‘hype’ and clearly demonstrate the biological mechanisms driving meaningful health outcomes,” she said. “Pet nutrition has an opportunity to learn from that evolution. I expect future growth will be driven not only by the exploration of new benefits, but by our ability to connect those benefits to well-defined biological mechanisms. 

“Understanding how biotics interact with the host and microbiome will enable more precise, evidence-based innovation,” Jarett concluded. “Ultimately, that will create better lives for our pets, and greater confidence for formulators, veterinarians and pet parents alike.”