Alfalfa is safe at food-grade amounts used in commercial pet foods and is well tolerated by most dogs and cats. Large supplemental doses are not recommended without veterinary guidance.
Alfalfa is a flowering legume cultivated as a forage crop. It's harvested, dried, and pressed into pellets or sold as meal or powder. It contains vitamins A, C, E, and K alongside calcium, iron, and amino acids.
Pet food manufacturers include alfalfa as a plant-based protein and green ingredient. Supplement companies sell dried alfalfa tablets, mainly for horses, with smaller doses marketed for dogs.
Alfalfa appears in dry kibble, canned pet food, and limited-ingredient diets as a minor plant protein source. In commercial contexts it's labeled as alfalfa meal, alfalfa pellets, or alfalfa nutrient concentrate.
