We analyzed 2,776 dog-food recipes. The results weren’t what we expected.

Weekly Roundup

Friday · 10/02/2026 · Issue #402

We read the back of 2,776 dog-food recipes

Then we built a tool around them.

We just launched The Panel, The Underbite's new ingredient map. It puts 2,776 ingredient lists from 408 brands in one searchable place.

Look up any ingredient and see how the market uses it. Put up to four brands or recipes side by side. See which brands build their recipes alike.

Our free report, What's in the Bag, covers the first five things we found in the data, including which berries and greens are mostly there for the label. Want to dig into the data yourself?

Underbite Pro members get full access to The Panel — search 2,776 recipes, compare brands side by side, and explore a dataset that keeps growing.

See the Panel →

In This Issue

Quick Hits

Business Roundup

In The News

Job Board

Most Popular Articles/Interviews

Quick Hits

🚀 LEAP Venture Studio opens applications with Cohort 11 information session

💍 Spot & Tango hosts NYC dog-lover singles mixer, promising to buy one lucky couple’s engagement ring

🤖 Pet owners increasingly turn to AI for care advice, prompting new veterinary guidance

🧪 Wisconsin bill targets Ridglan Farms amid controversy over dogs bred for medical research

🕯️ Jasper launches free memorial platform giving pet parents a new way to remember lost pets

🐶 Teen entrepreneur turns handmade dog bandanas into a growing pet brand

🤖 Veterinary AI use hits 83.7% as strategically prepared practices report six times the results

PE Heavyweights Take 10% Stake in Fresh Dog Food Brand Lyka

Private equity veterans Chris Hadley and Clark Perkins have jointly backed Australian fresh dog food company Lyka, taking a roughly 10% stake.

Umios and Wah Kong Form Pet Food Joint Venture in Asia

Umios and Wah Kong have completed a strategic pet food joint venture focused on expanding their presence across Southeast Asia.

Joii Pet Care Partners With Spot Pet Insurance

Joii Pet Care is partnering with Spot Pet Insurance to provide 24/7 virtual veterinary access to its customers, with Spot having protected more than 1 million pets.

Pumpkin Says Voice AI Drives 5× More Pet Insurance Sales

Pet insurer Pumpkin says its Poppy voice AI agent is generating five times the sales of its previous human-dialer channel while routing licensed conversations to employees.

CareCredit Brings Embedded Financing Directly Into Vetspire Workflows

CareCredit partnered with Vetspire to integrate financing directly into veterinary practice workflows, reducing the need for separate payment systems and processes.

Mars Selects 3 Startups From 83 Pet Food Applicants

Mars Petcare and Big Idea Ventures selected EcoBean, Loopworm and Space Ark Biomedical from 83 applicants across 33 countries for their pet food innovation program.

Native Pet Expands Beyond Dogs With 5 Cat Supplements

Native Pet is entering the cat category with five supplements, marking the brand's first expansion beyond dog-focused products since launching in 2017.

55% of Pet Owners Reconsider Another Pet as Costs Rise

New research finds 55% of pet owners are reconsidering getting another pet because of rising costs, while 60% say pet ownership is becoming a luxury.

FunnyFuzzy Pet Retailer Shut Down Over £6.3M in Unexplained Transactions

UK authorities shut down online pet retailer FunnyFuzzy Tech UK after investigators identified £6.3 million in unexplained transactions.

Sparkle Grooming Opens New Salon in Missouri

Sparkle Grooming Co. opened a new salon in Cottleville, Missouri, continuing the pet grooming company's expansion into new markets.

3 Workers Hospitalized After Chemical Leak at Purina Plant

A chemical leak at Purina's Flagstaff dog food plant sent three workers to the hospital for evaluation after roughly 10 gallons spilled from a corroded distribution line.

New Bill Targets Dog and Cat Testing in U.S. Labs

The bipartisan COMPACT Act would restrict federal funding for certain research involving dogs and cats while adding transparency and rehoming requirements for animals leaving laboratories.

New Bill Aims to Address Nationwide Veterinarian Shortage

New federal legislation aims to address the U.S. veterinarian shortage by expanding access to veterinary education and strengthening the pipeline of veterinary professionals.

Dogs Eat 72% of Microbial-Protein Kibble in New Study

A study of 30 dogs and 30 cats found both readily accepted kibble containing microbial protein, pointing to another potential alternative protein source for pet food.

Jessica Pegula Teams Up to Give Rescue Dogs Second Chance

Tennis star Jessica Pegula partnered with The Farmer's Dog on an initiative aimed at helping rescue dogs find permanent homes.

Cats Take Center Stage at International Feline Competition

Cats of different breeds competed for judges and crowds at a feline show captured in a new photo gallery from the Associated Press.

Countries With More Cats May Have Happier People, Study Finds

New research examining cat ownership across countries suggests populations with more cats may also report higher levels of happiness.

Hofstra Launches First Collegiate Puppy With a Purpose Partnership

Hofstra University partnered with America's VetDogs to raise Dutch, a future service dog being prepared to assist a veteran or first responder with disabilities.