biostudies-literatureCabrita ARJFundação para a Ciência e TecnologiaEuropean Regional Development Fund2643https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9558554biostudies-literatureUnknown12(19)The growing pet population is questioning the sustainability of the pet food system. Although microalgae may constitute a more sustainable food resource, the assessment of their potential for canine diets is almost non-existent. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of three microalgae species (<i>Tetradesmus obliquus</i>, <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> and <i>Nannochloropsis oceanica</i>) grown locally in industrial photobioreactors as alternative food resources for dogs. A detailed characterization of their nutritional composition and metabolomic profile was carried out and related to the nutritional requirements of dogs. Overall, the essential amino acid content exceeded the amounts required for dogs at all life stages, except methionine and cysteine. The three microalgae were deAnimals : an open access journal from MDPINutritional Composition and Untargeted Metabolomics Reveal the Potential of <i>Tetradesmus obliquus</i>, <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> and <i>Nannochloropsis oceanica</i> as Valuable Nutrient Sources for Dogs.PMC9558554POCI-01-0247-FEDER-035234; Lisboa-01-0247-FEDER-035234; ALG-01-0247-FEDER-035234SFRH/BPD/70176/2010CEECIND/01620/2017POCI-01-0247-FEDER-047003UIDP/50006/2020SFRH/BPD/111181/2015UIDB/50006/2020Almeida AFonseca AJMMaia MRGLima SACGuilherme-Fernandes JValente IMCabrita ARJfalseNutritional Composition and Untargeted Metabolomics Reveal the Potential of <i>Tetradesmus obliquus</i>, <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> and <i>Nannochloropsis oceanica</i> as Valuable Nutrient Sources for Dogs.The growing pet population is questioning the sustainability of the pet food system. Although microalgae may constitute a more sustainable food resource, the assessment of their potential for canine diets is almost non-existent. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of three microalgae species (<i>Tetradesmus obliquus</i>, <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> and <i>Nannochloropsis oceanica</i>) grown locally in industrial photobioreactors as alternative food resources for dogs. A detailed characterization of their nutritional composition and metabolomic profile was carried out and related to the nutritional requirements of dogs. Overall, the essential amino acid content exceeded the amounts required for dogs at all life stages, except methionine and cysteine. The three microalgae were de2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Oct2025-04-18T22:39:19.863Z2025-04-07T10:23:14.731ZS-EPMC95585543623038310.3390/ani12192643