Humans have been using turmeric in their own foods for centuries and in health supplements for decades, so as pet food brands look to add nutraceutical benefits to their products, turmeric-derived ingredients are among the most familiar to shoppers. Likewise, curcumin-derived ingredients may help limit oxidative spoilage in pet food by reducing lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation, thereby supporting shelf life.
For pet food product developers, the opportunity brings up practical questions. Which form of the plant belongs in a complete and balanced food versus a supplement? How should it be processed? Beyond health and wellness, how can turmeric-derived ingredients act as food antioxidants? And what does peer-reviewed research on companion animals actually show?
Turmeric is the ground rhizome of Curcuma longa. Turmeric has been used for centuries in South Asian cuisine as a spice and natural colorant. Curcumin is one of the main chemicals found in turmeric and is frequently used as a standardized extract in research and commercial ingredients. In other words, turmeric is the raw material, while curcumin is a refined ingredient often used when companies want tighter control of composition and dosing.
Companion animal research on turmeric and curcumin
Most published companion animal research focuses on osteoarthritis, with smaller bodies of evidence in cognition and oral health.
According to research results published in the journal BMC Veterinary Research, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 42 client-owned dogs evaluated a diet supplemented with a mixture containing curcuminoid extract, hydrolyzed collagen and green tea extract over three months. Objective measures such as ground reaction forces did not differ between groups, but indicators related to pain showed diet-associated differences: pain at manipulation decreased in the supplemented group, owner-reported pain severity worsened in controls but remained stable in the supplemented group, and one owner-reported functional item (rising from lying) improved compared with controls. (Comblain, 2017)
According to research results published in the journal Animals, a prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo- and time-controlled study in cats with naturally occurring osteoarthritis evaluated a therapeutic diet high in eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid plus turmeric extract and hydrolyzed collagen. Compared with placebo, the therapeutic diet significantly improved multiple validated outcomes, including peak vertical force and stair assay compliance, with additional cohort effects reported for night-time actimetry and MI-CAT(V). (Lefort-Holguin, 2024)
Considering multimodal joint-support supplements, according to research results published in the journal BMC Veterinary Research, an 18-week dietary integration study reported that palmitoyl-glucosamine co-micronized with curcumin was able to maintain meloxicam-induced pain relief in dogs with osteoarthritis-associated chronic pain during a meloxicam tapering regimen. (della Rocca, 2023)
Beyond mobility, according to research results published in the journal Open Veterinary Journal, an open-label investigation in 10 aging dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction found cognitive scores improved after 30 and 60 days of an integrative supplement (CogniCaps) that listed curcumin among its active ingredients. However, as an uncontrolled study, this research is more useful for early product direction than for strong structure-function claims. (Dewey, 2023)
For oral-care market positioning, according to research results published in the journal Journal of Experimental Pharmacology, a placebo-controlled beagle dog periodontitis study evaluated a chemically modified curcumin (CMC2.24) given orally once daily for three months following dental scaling and root-planing. The researchers reported improvements in clinical periodontal measures and inflammatory mediators compared with placebo. This work is on a modified curcumin molecule rather than turmeric itself, but it illustrates how curcumin-derived actives may be developed for targeted indications. (Deng, 2020)
Product development incorporating turmeric-derived nutraceuticals
1) Decide whether the job is as a food antioxidant, systemic support or both.
If the goal is shelf life and oxidative stability, post-process application and verification testing may be central to the value proposition.
According to research results published in the journal Archives of Animal Nutrition, curcumin was added to dog food after extrusion (100 mg/kg added; final concentration 32.9 mg/kg) and, after six months storage, the curcumin-containing feed showed lower protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation and higher total antioxidant capacity than control. The same paper reports no growth or weight gain benefit in dogs, positioning the ingredient more as an oxidative status and stability lever than a performance enhancer. (Campigotto, 2020)
2) Address bioavailability early, especially for supplement claims.
For systemic outcomes (mobility, cognition), delivery form can be as important as inclusion rate.
Curcumin is widely discussed as having low oral bioavailability in its unmodified form. According to research results published in the journal Molecules, a beagle dog pharmacokinetics study compared unmodified curcumin with three preparations (β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex, solid dispersion, phospholipid complex) and reported higher relative bioavailability for all three compared with unmodified curcumin. (Song, 2022)
3) Plan processing and placement.
In extruded pet foods, consider post-extrusion application for curcumin to reduce thermal stress and support stability verification. (Campigotto, 2020)
For supplements and toppers, delivery systems (complexes/dispersion) may better align with absorption-focused positioning. (Song, 2022)
4) Build claims around the actual study designs.
Diet studies often evaluate multi-ingredient matrices, for example, curcuminoids plus collagen and green tea, or turmeric extract plus marine omega-3 fatty acids and collagen. Claims should reflect that the evidence is for the formula, not turmeric alone. (Comblain, 2017; Lefort-Holguin, 2024)
Research findings can inform innovation pipelines but typically do not justify strong marketing language without controlled confirmation of a specific product. (Dewey, 2023)
5) Don’t ignore palatability and color.
Turmeric-derived ingredients can affect aroma and produce yellow staining in powders and some packaging contexts. For cats in particular, formulation work to maintain acceptance may determine commercial feasibility as much as the active itself.
Turmeric and curcumin as ingredients in pet foods and supplements
Curcumin and turmeric can fit into pet food and supplement portfolios in two distinct ways: as part of antioxidant and shelf-stability strategies, and as components of multi-ingredient nutraceutical formulas aimed at mobility, cognition or oral health. The strongest pet-relevant scientific evidence supports formula-based approaches in osteoarthritis management for both dogs and cats, with product design choices (delivery form, processing step, and substantiation strategy) determining the credibility of subsequent marketing claims.
Sources
Comblain, F., Serisier, S., Barthelemy, N., Balligand, M., & Henrotin, Y. (2017). A randomized, double-blind, prospective, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy of a diet supplemented with curcuminoids extract, hydrolyzed collagen, and green tea extract in owner’s dogs with osteoarthritis. BMC Veterinary Research, 13, 395. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-017-1299-4
Campigotto, G., Mattiello, S., Pinna, C., Stefanello, D., & Contiero, B. (2020). Dog food production using curcumin as antioxidant: Effects of intake on animal growth, health and feed conservation. Animals, 10(6), 1040. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10061040
della Rocca, G., Di Salvo, A., Colangelo, P., Re, G., & Bufalari, A. (2023). Palmitoyl-glucosamine co-micronized with curcumin for maintenance of meloxicam-induced pain relief in dogs with osteoarthritis pain. BMC Veterinary Research, 19, 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-023-03576-7
Lefort-Holguin, M., Nguyen, P., Dumon, H., Biourge, V., & Tallieu, L. (2024). Efficacy and safety of a diet enriched with EPA and DHA, turmeric extract and hydrolysed collagen in management of naturally occurring osteoarthritis in cats: A prospective, randomised, blinded, placebo- and time-controlled study. Animals, 14(2), 252. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020252
Dewey, C. W., Davies, E. S., Xie, H., & Wakshlag, J. J. (2023). Oral administration of an integrative supplement improves cognitive scores in aging dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction: An open-label investigation. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10, 1141123. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1141123
Deng, J., Zhang, J., Wang, J., Li, L., & Guo, J. (2020). A novel systemic therapy for naturally occurring periodontitis in dogs using a chemically modified curcumin derivative. Journal of Veterinary Science, 21(2), e23. https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2020.21.e23
Song, W., Qiao, Y., Wang, L., Chen, Y., & Zhang, H. (2022). Comparative study of preparation, evaluation, and pharmacokinetics in beagle dogs of curcumin β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex, curcumin solid dispersion, and curcumin phospholipid complex. Molecules, 27(9), 2998. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27092998
Zheng, E., Li, Z., Chen, Y., Wang, Y., & Zhang, X. (2025). A nutritional supplement containing curcumin C3 complex, glucosamine and chondroitin alleviates osteoarthritis in mice and canines. Veterinary Sciences, 12(1), 18. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12010018
