Development of Functional Nutritional Products for Pets: From Prevention to Adjuvant Treatment

In recent years, pets have increasingly become integral family members, driving health demands from basic satiety toward multidimensional, whole-life-cycle management. Consequently, functional nutritional products have emerged as core components of pet healthcare, significantly propelling global industry growth. The development philosophy of modern pet functional nutrition originates from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) dietary therapy, a system with extensive practical application in animal health regulation. Introducing this philosophy has transitioned the global pet health industry from experience-based provision to scientific, systematic development. Influenced by TCM principles, the industry is shifting from basic nutritional supply to an integrated model of prevention and adjuvant therapy. Based on functional positioning, these products are categorized into preventive, adjuvant therapeutic and integrated dual-function types. Preventive products mitigate disease risks by enhancing immunity, regulating intestinal microbiota, and improving skin health. Adjuvant therapeutic products primarily support postoperative recovery and chronic disease management, facilitating tissue repair and functional rehabilitation through targeted nutritional intervention. Integrated products enable the systematic regulation of a pet's whole-life-cycle health. Furthermore, relevant studies confirm that natural functional ingredients, including astragalus polysaccharides, chitosan oligosaccharides, probiotics, and glucosamine, exert significant biological effects on immune modulation, intestinal homeostasis, and joint health. The efficacy of these interventions is increasingly supported by modern veterinary research, underscoring their vital role in advancing comprehensive companion-animal care.