Therapeutic Dog Food Market Report 2025

The therapeutic dog food market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $6.91 billion in 2024 to $7.3 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increased pet ownership rates, growth in awareness of pet health, increase in pet humanization, prevalence of canine health issues, veterinary recommendations.

The therapeutic dog food market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $9.26 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing aging pet population, rising incidence of allergies, advancements in veterinary medicine, nutrigenomics and personalized nutrition, increasing focus on digestive health. Major trends in the forecast period include customized and prescription diets, grain-free and limited ingredient diets, online retail growth, humanization of pet food, research in nutrigenomics.

The increasing trend of pet ownership is expected to drive the growth of the therapeutic dog food market in the future. Pet ownership refers to individuals who own, harbor, keep, or have custody of a dog, cat, or other domestic animals. Therapeutic dog food aids in preventing diseases in dogs and provides essential nutrients for healthy growth and a balanced diet. Consequently, the rise in pet ownership is likely to boost the consumption of therapeutic dog food. For example, in October 2024, the American Veterinary Medical Association, a nonprofit professional organization, projected that the total number of dog-owning households in the U.S. would reach 59.8 million in 2024, representing 45.5% of all U.S. households. Additionally, the number of cat-owning households is expected to increase by 42.1 million in 2024, accounting for 32.1% of all U.S. households. Therefore, the rise in pet ownership is fueling the growth of the therapeutic dog food market.

The growing incidence of zoonotic diseases is anticipated to enhance the therapeutic dog food market in the coming years. Zoonotic diseases are infectious conditions caused by microscopic organisms, infections, and parasites that can be transmitted between animals and humans. The rise of zoonotic diseases has increased awareness regarding the necessity of preventive measures, including the maintenance of animal health. As a result, there may be a higher demand for therapeutic dog food as pet owners look for products that bolster their dogs' immune systems, digestive health, and overall well-being, potentially mitigating the risk of zoonotic disease transmission between animals and humans. For instance, in February 2023, the European Food Safety Authority, a decentralized agency of the European Union based in Italy, reported that in Europe in 2022, L. monocytogenes and West Nile virus had the highest hospitalization and fatality rates among zoonotic diseases, with a 600% increase in locally acquired infections compared to 2021. Therefore, the increasing prevalence of zoonotic diseases is driving the growth of the therapeutic dog food market.

A prominent trend in the therapeutic dog food market is the adoption of product innovations by major companies. These companies are leveraging recent technologies to sustain their market positions. For instance, in August 2022, PawCo Foods, a U.S.-based company specializing in healthy and delicious pet foods made from plant-based meat, introduced the world's first pet food made from plant-based meat. This innovative product provides all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and amino acids required for the flourishing health of adult dogs, making it suitable for pets with allergies.

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 include Nestlé S.A., Archer Daniels Midland Company, Mars Incorporated, The J.M. Smucker Company, Unicharm Corporation, Nisshin Seifun Group Inc., Thai Union Group PCL, Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., Spectrum Brands Inc., Royal Canin SAS, Blue Buffalo Co. Ltd., Virbac Corporation, Dechra Veterinary Products LLC, Affinity Petcare S.A., Schell & Kampeter Inc., Vetoquinol Group, Champion Petfoods, JustFoodForDogs, Darwin's Natural Pet Products, Animonda Petcare GmbH, Health Extension, Gambol Pet Group, Rayne Clinical Nutrition LLC, Vetdiet, iVet Professional Formulas., Wellness Pet Company.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the therapeutic dog food market in 2024. The regions covered in the therapeutic dog food market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the therapeutic dog food market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

Therapeutic dog food denotes meals specifically formulated as the exclusive diet for dogs facing certain illnesses or medical conditions. These specialized foods are employed to either treat or prevent diseases in dogs, offering effects comparable to or complementary with pharmaceuticals or drugs.

The primary categories of therapeutic dog food include dry food, wet or canned food, snacks or treats, and other formulations. Dry food pertains to food with a water activity (AW) below 0.6, provided that packaging and storage conditions prevent moisture absorption. Various distribution channels include supermarkets or hypermarkets, specialty pet food stores, online platforms, and others. Therapeutic dog food serves purposes such as weight management, digestive care, allergy and immune system health, diabetes management, skin and coat care, kidney health, hip and joint care, as well as support for illness and surgery recovery, among other applications.

The therapeutic dog food market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides therapeutic dog food market statistics, including therapeutic dog food industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with therapeutic dog food market share, detailed therapeutic dog food market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the therapeutic dog food industry. This therapeutic dog food market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

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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