Boar
46 foods contain this ingredient
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About Boar
Wild boar is a red-meat protein some dog and cat foods use in place of common proteins like chicken or beef.
Boar is used as an alternative or novel animal protein in dog and cat foods, supplying high-quality protein and essential amino acids and often used in limited-ingredient or hypoallergenic formulas. It can be a nutritious option but should be properly sourced and rendered to mitigate risks from parasites or contaminants associated with wild game, and manufacturers must ensure formulations meet species-specific needs (for example adequate taurine for cats) and avoid cross-contamination for food-sensitive pets.
Related ingredients
- Derived from
- wild or farmed Sus scrofa (wild boar/feral pig)
- Primary role
- animal protein source
Why it's used
Because most pets have never eaten it before, boar functions as a novel protein for elimination diets and food-sensitivity trials, where a history-free protein helps identify or avoid trigger ingredients. It also fits limited-ingredient formulas that pair a single animal protein with a single carbohydrate source.
Common concerns
- Trichinella parasite Wild boar meat is a documented source of Trichinella infection, and the CDC lists wild boar among the game meats linked to trichinellosis outbreaks in people who ate undercooked meat, with dogs fed raw trimmings or offal from wild boar also found seropositive for Trichinella exposure in field studies.
- Cooking and processing dependence The CDC notes that curing, drying, smoking, or microwaving alone do not reliably kill Trichinella larvae in game meat, and that freezing (unlike with commercial pork) may not kill freeze-resistant strains found in some wild game, which is why thorough commercial cooking or rendering during pet food manufacturing matters.
- Taurine adequacy for cats Because boar is a lean, low-organ-content meat when used in muscle-meat form, cat food formulators need to confirm the finished diet still meets feline taurine requirements rather than assuming any red meat automatically supplies enough.
Also relevant
Sourcing and supply chain matter more for boar than for common commodity proteins, since wild-harvested boar carries different parasite and contaminant exposure than farm-raised animals.
3 sources cited
- Wild boar is a recognized route of Trichinella transmission and dogs fed boar trimmings/offal have tested seropositive for exposure
- CDC guidance that curing/drying/smoking/microwaving do not reliably kill Trichinella, freezing may not kill freeze-resistant game strains, and wild boar is named among at-risk game meats
- General background on trichinellosis as a disease from eating raw or undercooked meat, including wild game
Common Questions
What category is Boar?
Boar is categorized as a protein ingredient in the KibbleLab database.
Is Boar part of an allergen group?
Yes. Boar is grouped under the Red Meat allergen group in the KibbleLab database.
Which foods contain Boar?
46 foods in the KibbleLab database contain Boar, including NutriSource, Orijen, ROAM Pets.
Foods with Boar
Alphabetical by brand. Scores run 0 to 10, higher is better, on published veterinary science.
Find the right food for your pet
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