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Pet food and supplement companies are extending postbiotic products beyond digestive health into areas including joint mobility, skin and immunity. The category is attracting interest partly because postbiotics do not rely on live microorganisms, but consumer awareness is low and a review of 69 studies found no significant advantage over placebo in the evidence it analyzed.
Pet nutrition companies are expanding postbiotic products beyond digestive health into areas such as joint mobility, skin and immunity, according to a GlobalPETS report, while the evidence for benefits in pets remains incomplete. The shift reflects manufacturers’ interest in ingredients that are easier to use in different food formats, alongside consumer demand for preventive pet care.
Postbiotics are inanimate microorganisms or components of microorganisms that may provide health benefits when consumed. Unlike probiotics, they do not depend on keeping live microorganisms viable, which can make them easier for manufacturers to incorporate into powders, extruded treats, and dry or wet pet food. Industry participants cited that production flexibility as one reason for growing interest.
ADM, a US nutrition company, expanded its postbiotic portfolio with a joint-health application earlier this year, reflecting interest in a possible gut-joint connection. James Kyffin, ADM’s global director of pet and animal wellbeing, told GlobalPETS that research increasingly suggests changes in the gut microbiome may influence joint function through immune and inflammatory pathways. That description is a rationale for product development, not proof that a postbiotic product improves joint health in pets.
Other companies are combining biotic ingredients. British veterinary joint-supplement brand YuMOVE launched a product in May containing prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics. The company said the combination is intended to support gut balance, stool quality and natural defenses. Innovation is moving faster than consumer familiarity: International Probiotics Association data cited by GlobalPETS found that 8% of pet owners viewed postbiotics as beneficial, compared with 32% for probiotics and 17% for prebiotics.
New Uses Face an Evidence Test
The move into joint, skin and broader wellness products could give pet-food and supplement makers more ways to position microbiome-related ingredients. The manufacturing advantage also means postbiotics can be considered across product types that may be less practical for ingredients reliant on live cultures. For owners, however, a product’s availability does not establish that it delivers the advertised health outcome.
The distinction matters as preventive pet care attracts interest. ADM consumer research cited in the report found that 71% of owners globally actively seek products supporting pet longevity, and 65% look specifically for products containing “biotics.” Those figures describe reported consumer interest, not clinical effectiveness or sales. With understanding of postbiotics still limited, clear explanations of what the ingredients are—and what research has or has not shown—will shape how responsibly the category grows.
postbiotic pet supplements for joints
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From Gut Support to Broader Claims
Postbiotics have mainly been associated with digestive health, but suppliers and brands are now exploring applications linked to other body systems. The report describes industry-funded research into possible effects including intestinal permeability, fat accumulation and muscle structure, as well as work by US ingredient company Kingdom on stool consistency in dogs. Such studies can help identify questions for further research, but company involvement is relevant when weighing the findings.
Evidence from independent research is also developing. Researchers at Jeonbuk National University in South Korea reported findings related to inflammatory signals associated with itching and skin irritation and to skin-barrier health in dogs. Separately, a team at Complutense University of Madrid reviewed 69 studies published through October 2024. Its meta-study found no statistically significant differences between animals given postbiotics and those receiving a placebo in the evidence it assessed. The researchers nevertheless cited possible effects suggested by studies in other species, including changes to gut microbiota and immune or inflammatory responses.
““As our understanding of microbiome-host interactions evolves, we expect additional opportunities to develop targeted postbiotic solutions that address important areas of companion animal health and wellness.””
— James Kyffin, ADM’s global director of pet and animal wellbeing, speaking to GlobalPETS
Pet Benefits Remain Unconfirmed
The available evidence does not establish that postbiotics improve joint, skin or other health outcomes in pets. The Madrid review reported no significant differences from placebo in its analyzed studies, while some promising results cited in the report come from preclinical work, industry-funded research or research that points to areas for further investigation. Findings in other species cannot by themselves confirm effects in dogs or cats.
Important details also remain unsettled: which postbiotic preparations, amounts and uses might produce reliable effects; whether benefits vary by species or health condition; and how findings will hold up in larger, well-designed clinical studies. The report says consumer awareness is low, but does not establish how quickly understanding or purchasing behavior will change.
More Independent Trials Needed
The next meaningful step is further independent, well-designed clinical research in pets that tests specific products and outcomes against suitable controls. Until such evidence accumulates, claims about uses beyond digestion should be treated as emerging possibilities rather than settled health benefits. Companies are likely to keep developing products and educating consumers, while veterinarians and pet owners will need to distinguish marketing claims from findings supported by pet-specific studies.
Key Questions
What are postbiotics?
Postbiotics are inanimate microorganisms or their components that may deliver health benefits when consumed. They differ from probiotics, which rely on live microorganisms.
What pet-health uses are companies exploring?
Companies are exploring applications beyond digestion, including joint mobility, skin health and immunity. These are areas of product development, not benefits confirmed across pet products.
Does current research show that postbiotics work in pets?
The evidence remains limited. A Madrid review of 69 studies published through October 2024 found no significant differences between postbiotic-treated animals and placebo groups in the studies it analyzed.
Why are manufacturers interested in postbiotics?
Because postbiotics do not depend on maintaining live microorganisms, manufacturers say they can be easier to incorporate into powders, treats, and dry or wet food.
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