Therapeutic Dog Food Market Report 2026

The therapeutic dog food market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $7.29 billion in 2025 to $7.7 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing prevalence of chronic health conditions in dogs, rising pet humanization trends, growing reliance on veterinary dietary recommendations, expansion of specialty pet food manufacturing, improved awareness of therapeutic nutrition benefits.

The therapeutic dog food market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $9.93 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing demand for personalized pet nutrition solutions, increasing pet healthcare expenditure, expansion of online veterinary consultation platforms, rising focus on preventive pet healthcare, innovation in functional pet food ingredients. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of prescription-based canine nutrition, rising demand for condition-specific dog diets, growing focus on clinically backed formulations, expansion of veterinary-recommended food lines, enhanced emphasis on ingredient transparency.

The rise in pet ownership is expected to drive the growth of the therapeutic dog food market in the coming years. Pet ownership refers to individuals who own, harbor, keep, or have custody of a dog, cat, or other domestic animal. Therapeutic dog food supports disease prevention and provides essential nutrients for proper growth and a balanced diet. As a result, increasing pet ownership contributes to higher consumption of therapeutic dog food. For instance, in October 2024, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, a nonprofit professional association, the total number of dog-owning households in the U.S. is projected to reach 59.8 million in 2024, accounting for 45.5% of all U.S. households, while cat-owning households increased to 42.1 million, representing 32.1% of all U.S. households. Therefore, the rise in pet ownership is propelling the therapeutic dog food market.

Major companies in the therapeutic dog food market are focusing on developing new products, including clinical nutrition. Clinical nutrition involves specialized nutritional supplements or food items developed and prescribed for individuals with specific medical conditions or nutritional needs. In March 2023, Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., a U.S.-based pet food company, launched Prescription Diet ONC Care. This product is designed to nourish and support pets facing the challenges of cancer, addressing their nutritional needs throughout the treatment process. The solution encourages a healthy appetite, helps preserve muscle mass with high-quality protein, and supports digestion with ActivBiome+ digestive support.

In August 2023, Mars Petcare, a US-based provider of therapeutic health products for pets, acquired Champion Petfoods for an undisclosed sum. This acquisition is intended to expand Mars Petcare's offerings in the premium pet food segment and enhance its portfolio within specialty and independent retail channels, as well as digital commerce. Champion Petfoods is a Canada-based pet food company that includes therapeutic dog food in its product line.

Major companies operating in the therapeutic dog food market are Nestlé S.A., Mars Incorporated, Virbac Corporation, Dechra Veterinary Products LLC, Vetoquinol Group, JustFoodForDogs, Rayne Clinical Nutrition, Wellness Pet Company, Champion Petfoods, Darwin's Natural Pet Products, Health Extension, Gambol Pet Group, iVet Professional Formulas, Vetdiet, Animonda Petcare GmbH, Natures Logic, Canidae Pet Foods, Fromm Family Foods, Farmina Pet Foods, Dr Harvey's.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the therapeutic dog food market in 2025. The regions covered in the therapeutic dog food market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the therapeutic dog food market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada.

The therapeutic dog food market consists of sales of raw dog food, complete dog food, and complementary dog food. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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