Complete and complementary kibble formulated for the species and life stage first, then optimised for kibble integrity, palatability, shelf life and cost.
Dry food is the largest pet food category and the hardest to get right on paper alone. The recipe decides not only nutrient levels but how the kibble expands, holds its shape, takes its fat coating and stays fresh — so formulation and processing have to be designed together.
We formulate complete and complementary kibble to the nutrient profile your market requires, calculate energy from analysed values, and prove the recipe in pilot extrusion with our manufacturing partners before it is handed over to your manufacturer.
Start your project with Guires PNLEvery format starts from the species, the life stage and the nutritional objective.
Adult, puppy/kitten, senior and all-life-stage recipes formulated to a recognised nutrient profile.
Concepts with tighter amino-acid and starch balance, so expansion and kibble strength still work.
Insect, plant and alternative proteins assessed for digestibility, amino acids and palatability.
Digestive, skin, joint, weight and urinary concepts with actives set at evidence-based levels.
Kibble size, shape and density matched to small, medium and large breeds.
Ingredient substitution and cost reduction without moving outside nutrient targets.
Starch level and type drive kibble expansion, density and texture — so the recipe and the extruder settings are designed together.
Coated fat and palatants must be protected from oxidation with the right antioxidant system and packaging.
Heat and moisture reduce sensitive vitamins, so overages are planned from the start and confirmed by analysis.
Dry food is not sterile after coating and cooling; hygiene and testing protect the finished product.
Species, life stage, market, price point and positioning.
Nutrient targets, energy calculation and costing.
Kibble prototypes through our manufacturing partners.
Proximate, minerals, vitamins, water activity and microbiology.
Acceptance or preference tests with partner panels.
Specification and process sheet for your manufacturer.
Peer-reviewed findings that shape how we develop this format.
Salmonella stayed detectable on dry pet food for 19 months, so hygiene after extrusion matters as much as the cook.
Coating, cooling and packing hygiene are part of every dry-food specification.
A 2026 survey of 126 dog and cat foods found fumonisin B1 in over 94% and more than one mycotoxin in over 92% of products.
Cereal and by-product suppliers are approved with mycotoxin testing.
In a 2026 study, 82.3% of 96 products met their declared guaranteed analysis — so nearly 1 in 5 did not.
Every prototype is analysed against its declared values before launch.
Each application has its own page with the evidence, the actives and the claim boundaries we work within.
Firm stools, comfortable digestion and a balanced gut microbiome.
Lighter, more satisfying diets that help pets reach and keep a healthy weight.
A healthy skin barrier and a glossy coat, driven by the right balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, protein quality and key micronutrients.
Chews, kibbles and treats that help keep teeth clean and breath fresh.
Every ingredient we choose for dry pet food is assessed for nutrient contribution, digestibility, processing behaviour, palatability and the rules in your market — and sourced to your specification.
Regulation updates, the latest research, recalls and market trends that shape dry pet food — written by our formulation, testing and regulatory teams.
Every project at Guires Pet Nutrition Lab runs inside an ISO 9001:2015 certified quality system and FSSAI-licensed operations, with documented methods, calibrated instruments, traceable raw materials and reviewed reports — so the results behind your product can be checked and defended.
Yes. We formulate to your manufacturer’s equipment and ingredient list, and hand over a specification they can run.
Yes, with attention to amino-acid balance and the open scientific discussion on diet and canine DCM, which our scientists follow closely.
Energy is calculated from analysed values using the method each market requires.
Real client projects — the problem, the science and the result.
An established Indian pet food brand asked Guires PNL to convert its top-selling adult dry dog food to a clean-label recipe — no artificial preservatives, colours or flavours — with equal palatability, an acceptable shelf life and an unchanged shelf price.
Read the case study →A pet food brand asked Guires PNL to deformulate a premium dry food for medium-sized adult dogs and rebuild it as their own complete and balanced recipe — matching its nutrient profile and its positioning for active, healthy dogs.
Read the case study →Tell us the species, the format and the market — we will come back with an approach and next steps.
Every Guires PNL product is formulated to comply with the FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines and the AAFCO Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles. Neither body issues certificates to manufacturers, so compliance is verified independently against their published standards — and every product comes with a complete documentation package for regulatory submissions in the EU, US, Australia and Asian markets.
How we verify compliance →