Animal plasma in pet food - friend or foe?

Written by Dr Rebecca MacMillan BVetMed BSAVA PGCertSAM MRCVS

What thoughts come to mind when you hear the term ‘animal plasma in pet food’? Some owners might be curious, others might be concerned, and plenty don’t know what it actually means. Let’s clear up some of the mysteries of animal plasma and how it could benefit your pet.

What is animal plasma?

Plasma is the clear liquid part of an animal’s blood. It is obtained by spinning whole blood down in a centrifuge, which separates out the blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) from the plasma. This process of separating blood into its component parts is used in blood testing and transfusions. However, it is also performed to make use of blood as a by-product in the production of meat for human consumption.

Plasma can be found in the blood of all animals, but it is usually sourced from pork and beef when it is to be used in human and pet food. Only the blood from healthy animals is used, and it is drained during the slaughtering process. The plasma obtained from this blood is spray-dried and turned into powder, where it can be readily used in food manufacturing.

What is animal plasma used for?

The proteins in plasma help to improve the texture of food, especially pet food products such as wet foods like pates and chunks. Spray-dried animal plasma acts as an emulsifying and binding agent and potentially replaces the need for hydrocolloids. These are gums that thicken, emulsify or coat foods. Hydrocolloids are linked with negative effects on digestibility, and stool quality and can contribute to intestinal inflammation, unlike plasma.

The proteins in plasma, namely albumin, globulin and fibrinogen, form a stable structure when cooked. This is what helps to give food a desirable texture, as well as having the advantage of adding additional nutrients. Gums don’t add any valuable nutrition to manufactured food.

Are by-products in pet food bad?

The term by-product worries a lot of pet owners. Some people think this means sub-standard when this is not the case at all. In the wild, predators don’t waste anything, eating the muscle, organs and blood of their prey. This helps them to benefit from the maximum nutrition possible.

If an animal were to just eat lean cuts of meat and nothing else, their diet would soon be lacking in a whole host of nutrients. So, by-products needn’t be viewed with suspicion, it just means that they were obtained during the processing of something else.

Making use of these by-products means that we are being as sustainable as possible with slaughtered animals, while at the same time helping to enhance our pets’ nutrition.

Does plasma have any health benefits?

There are plenty of plasma health benefits! Plasma is packed with high-quality proteins which pets can readily digest and make use of. Spray-dried animal plasma has a 70-80% protein content, as well as being a good source of minerals and trace elements, especially iron. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and other functional proteins that support the immune system are found in plasma.

All of this means plasma can help to support –

Muscle repair and growth
Skin and coat condition
Immune-system health
Improved digestion
Brain health, through neuroprotective benefits
Improved food intake due to its palatability

One 2023 paper sums this up by saying ‘Plasma is the vital liquid component of blood that holds the blood cells in suspension and contains a diverse mixture of bioactive components with antimicrobial and immune effects that can improve animal growth and support immune function.’

Plasma enhances the flavour of pet food and treats, meaning that pets are likely to eat better. Studies show that cats show a statistically significant preference for diets containing spray-dried animal plasma. This is great news for all pets, but especially those that are fussy with their food or have a reduced appetite.

Let’s summarise - what makes plasma our friend?

It should hopefully be clear by now that plasma is a friend and not a foe! Let’s summarise all the reasons why plasma in pet food could be a good thing –

Plasma is a rich source of easily digestible proteins, as well as other minerals and trace elements.
Plasma has more nutritional value than other binding or texture-adding agents that might be used in pet food manufacturing.
Plasma helps us to make use of more components of slaughtered animals. Nothing of dietary value should go to waste.
Plasma enhances the palatability of pet food, meaning that cats and dogs are more likely to eat food containing it compared to other varieties.
Plasma can improve the health of our pets, including supporting a healthier digestive system (reduced gut inflammation and improved stool quality) and immune system.

Research in this field is ongoing, but certainly, the evidence so far is very promising. Spray-dried plasma pet foods, as well as plasma dog treats and plasma cat treats, need not be viewed with suspicion. They could help to significantly improve your pet’s diet over other commercially available products.

Check out DotDotPet's plasma based pet treats here