Antarctic Krill, Healthy Premium Superfood for Dogs and Cats

Antarctic Krill in Pet Nutrition: A Premium Functional Ingredient

July 10, 2025

Team Carniwel

Celebrating Pet Parenting

Carniwel, where love, happiness, and togetherness come together to celebrate the extraordinary relationship between pets and their parents.

Krill Matters: What is Antarctic Krill?

Antarctic Krill is one of 5 species of crustaceans that can be found in the Sounthern Oceans. Although they can easily be confused with prawns, Antarctic Krill are much more nutritious and therefore considered a superfood.

A Longstanding Ingredient in Human Diets

Krill has been consumed in several cultures for generations. In Japan, it is known as okiami (オキアミ), while in Spain and the Philippines, it is called camarones. In the Philippines, krill is also called alamang, commonly used to make bagoong, a traditional salty paste. This long history of krill in the human diet highlights its safety, palatability, and nutritional value.

Benefits of Antarctic Krill in Humans

Antarctic krill has long been esteemed in human nutrition for its exceptional health benefits. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), choline, and the potent antioxidant astaxanthin, krill oil has been widely used in human supplements to support heart, brain, liver, and joint health. Additionally, krill oil's anti-inflammatory properties have been associated with reduced arthritis symptoms and improved cardiovascular health.

Ideal for Premium Pet Food Brands

In the fast changing pet food world, one of the challenges many premium pet food brands face is finding a distinctive, high-performance ingredient that meets the rising expectations of today’s conscious pet parents. These consumers are willing to invest in only the best for their pets, making ingredient quality and nutritional efficacy top priorities.

Antarctic krill stands out as a solution. High-quality krill meal is produced in human-grade production facilities, ensuring exceptional standards of safety, purity, and nutrition, benefiting both pets and humans alike.

Bridging Human Nutrition with Pet Wellness

Only recently have leading pet food brands begun incorporating this powerhouse ingredient into their formulations. By including Antarctic krill in pet diets, we are bridging the gap between advanced human nutrition and the evolving standards of pet wellness.

Superior Omega-3 Uptake in Dogs: Krill vs. Fish Oil

While omega-3 fatty acids are already valued in pet nutrition, not all omega-3 sources are equal. The source of the omega-3s can impact uptake into cell membranes. According to Lena Burri, Ph.D.. Director of Animal Nutrition and Health R&D at Aker BioMarine:

This structural difference means that omega-3s from krill are more efficiently absorbed by the body, enhancing their biological effect and delivering greater health benefits per dose, a clear advantage for premium pet food formulations.

Scientifically Proven Efficacy

Burri and other researchers from Aker Biomarine conducted a study on Twenty Alaskan Huskies to test the efficacy of krill-based pet food ingredients. One group of ten dogs was fed an extruded kibble diet supplemented with 1.7 grams of omega-3 fatty acids from krill meal for six weeks, including EPA and DHA. The second group received the same diet with 1.7 grams of EPA and DHA from fish oil. EPA levels in the krill group increased from 1.84% to 4.42%, compared to 1.90% to 2.46% in the fish oil group. Overall, dogs fed krill meal raised their omega-3 index from 3.9% to 6.3%, while the fish oil group increased from 3.9% to 4.7%.

Studies show that krill-based omega-3s raise the omega-3 index in dogs more effectively than fish oil, with better uptake into red blood cells and greater functional benefits. “This study aimed to measure the differences between the two in terms of uptake into red blood cell membranes,” said Burri. “This is important, as increased tissue omega-3 content can influence many biochemical and physiological functions in dogs, benefiting the skin, heart, liver, and immune system.”

A magic number in a sea of uncertainty

Sustainability further sets krill apart. Harvested from the pristine waters of the Southern Ocean under strict regulation by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), only a small fraction (less than 0.5%) of the total biomass is harvested annually. Krill fisheries are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Friends of the Sea, reinforcing their commitment to responsible sourcing. In contrast, the sustainability of fish oil varies greatly and has been a concern due to overfishing in certain regions.

Antarctic Krill – A Multi-Nutrient Marine Superfood for Pets

Phospholipid-bound Omega-3s:
EPA and DHA in krill are bound to phospholipids, enhancing absorption and incorporation into cell membranes compared to triglyceride-bound omega-3s in fish oil.

Systematic Health Benefits:
These fatty acids support brain development in early life, promote healthy skin and coat, boost immune function, and help reduce the risk of heart and kidney disease. In older pets, they may also help slow age-related cognitive decline and support nervous system health.

High-Quality Marine Proteins with Superior Digestibility

Krill is an excellent sustainable nutritional source of a broad range of various amino acids including essential amino acids. The protein in our krill ingredients for pets is highly bioavailable present as free amino acids, peptides and intact proteins. Our krill ingredients are good sources of several essential amino acids, especially Lysine, Threonine, Methionine, and Arginine which also reflect well the ideal protein composition in feed for puppies and kittens.

Natural source of Functional Nutrients

Choline:
Crucial for liver health and lipid metabolism
Supports brain development and neurotransmission.
Astaxanthin:
A powerful natural antioxidant
Helps neutralize oxidative stress
Works similarly to Vitamin E in enhancing immune defense

Nutrition

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Antarctic Krill in Pet Nutrition: A Premium Functional Ingredient