5 Suprising Truths About The Pet Food Industry They May Not Want You to Know

Honor Tremain
Jan 23
3 min read

Updated: Feb 17

The Pet Food Industry: A Growing Concern for Our Furry Friends

The pet food sector is booming. Over 50% of all households have a dog or cat, totaling more than 1 billion animals worldwide. According to the Fortune Business Report 2025, global spending on pet food exceeds $132.4 billion and is projected to reach $179 billion by 2032.

This massive growth can be attributed to our love for companion animals. With rising human anxiety, loneliness, and depression, pets are often seen as a solution. Additionally, younger high-income earners, particularly Gen Z, are delaying parenthood. Instead of raising children, they are nurturing “furry family members.” (P Alexander)

This humanization of pets has led to increased spending on higher-quality “human-grade” pet foods. However, it has also created dilemmas. Many premium high-meat diets exceed recommended nutritional requirements, potentially harming our pets and placing an unsustainable burden on the environment.

A Bit About Dogs

Dogs have been on Earth for about 20 million years. From the beginning, they were foragers. Ancient remains show their diets were diverse, including meat, marine life, plants, vegetables, fruits, and ancient grains like millet.

Their friendly nature, joyful energy, loyalty, and instinctive bond with humans make them wonderful companions. They are not just adorable and loving; they are also intelligent and protective, serving as trustworthy companions and guides.

Some Facts

The global pet food ingredients market is expected to grow from $32.2 billion to $44.5 billion between 2022 and 2027, with a current trend towards more meat.
Dogs and cats consume 9% of all livestock animals globally, rising to 20% in the U.S.
Livestock consumption is at unsustainable levels, with approximately 92 billion land animals, 124 billion farmed fish, and 1.1-2.2 trillion wild fish slaughtered each year. (A Mood)
Emissions from the livestock sector contribute as much to global greenhouse gases as all cars, planes, trains, and boats combined.
According to WWF, deforestation for livestock accounts for 10% of global warming, destroying vital wildlife habitats.
The rising popularity of high-raw meat diets is causing pets' environmental impact to rival that of humans.
In the U.S., dogs and cats produce roughly 30% of the bio-waste that humans do!

How Has This Happened?

Clever marketing, poor recommendations, and the belief that higher meat diets are healthier for pets drive this trend. However, environmental protection agencies, veterinarians, and health advocates are raising concerns.

The most baffling aspect is that these diets may not be beneficial for our furry friends. Food allergies, cancers, pancreatitis, kidney disease, anxiety, and inflammatory disorders are on the rise.

Health Concerns

The Journal of Internal Medicine reports that 11 million premature deaths and 255 million disabilities each year stem from poor diets, excessive processed food, and a lack of Omega-3s in humans.

Our pets are not immune to these pressures. Cancer is now the leading cause of death in dogs, with the American Veterinary Medical Association estimating that one in four dogs will develop cancer during their lifetime.

This study explains:

“The increased risk of cancer in humans and dogs is a consequence of recent extensions of lifespan, body size beyond evolutionarily determined limits, diet, lifestyle, and environmental toxins.”

Modern living impacts all species. Overfeeding, ultra-processed ingredients, and excessive meat intake can disrupt the gut microbiome, accelerate toxic load, and harm health. These imbalances can lead to kidney strain, immune dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and increased cancer risk.

An important fact often overlooked is that protein requirements for dogs are not fixed. According to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), protein needs vary based on age, breed, sex, season, activity level, and overall health. Research shows that protein levels exceeding 30% provide no additional benefit and can be harmful.