Want to know whether insect protein is good for dogs? Read our expert guide on the health & environmental benefits of insect based dog food here!

5 Benefits of Insect Protein for Dogs

We don’t know if you’ve heard but there’s a buzz happening right now around a brand-new protein-rich ingredient that can be found in particular types of dog food and it is something we know an awful lot about here at Grub Club – insects! Yes, ordinary meat has had its day, insect protein for dogs is the future and we have all the intel right here along with 5 benefits that may truly surprise you.

 

Is insect protein good for dogs?

We always like to cut to the chase (just as our doggy friends do) – so the answer to the above question is YES! Insect protein is a superfood for your pooch. It is enriched with higher protein levels than your typical meat sources (chicken, beef, lamb), low in fat, easily digestible and bursting with omegas and amino acids. Intrigued? Let’s find out more…

What Bugs Are Used in Insect Dog Food?

Here at Grub Club, we selected the best of the best when it comes to insect choices and only use Black Soldier Fly Larvae in all our dog food and treats. As one of nature’s most efficient up-cyclers, these grubs are a much-needed sustainable protein source for dogs… And can even be for you! What’s amazing is that, in one year, a single acre of black soldier fly larvae can produce more protein than 3,000 acres of cattle and, on top of this, the grubs are fed solely on organic plant matter making the whole process zero waste. Super sustainable as well as super nutritious!

 

Benefits of Insect Protein for Dogs

There are SO many benefits of feeding your dog insect protein that we could easily sit here all day chewing your ear off on this topic but fear not, we won’t, instead, we are sharing our top 5 favourite benefits to get you just as hyped up about this revolutionary ingredient as we are…

 

Hypoallergenic Dog Food

It is no secret that more and more dogs are displaying allergic reactions due to the ingredients found within their food, with the most common allergens being meat-based protein sources and grains. Signs of a dietary allergy, sensitivity, or intolerance can include:

• Itchy skin
• Dry, flaky skin
• Hair loss
• Rash
• Chronic ear infections
• Obsessive licking
• Chewing of paws
• Inflamed, red paw pads
• Gastrointestinal upset (gas, sickness and/or diarrhoea)

Insect protein is what is known as a novel protein. In a nutshell, it is a new protein to dogs and therefore new to their immune systems, meaning no histamine will be dispersed and no reactions will occur. By introducing a complete dog food with a novel protein source – one such as our All-Day Buffet! – you can eliminate those troublesome ailments and be left with a happier, more relaxed pet.

Improved Gut Health and Digestion

By switching to a dog food like ours you will also see a marked improvement in overall gut health and digestion in your pet. The main reason for this is because insect protein is a hypoallergenic ingredient which is gentle on sensitive tummies. On top of this, our All-Day Buffet is grain-free, bursting with prebiotics that help to balance out and support your dog’s digestive health and it also contains yucca extract which is a proven digestion booster, meaning you will see positive results within no time. Looking for an extra gut health boost for your dog? Check out our Poop Perfector gut health dog treats and read our post about how to improve your dog's gut health.

Packed Full of Essential Vitamins and Minerals

It has been scientifically proven that edible insects are high in levels of vitamin B12, iron, zinc, fibre, essential amino acids, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids AND antioxidants. How amazing is that from just one small ingredient? 

And just to add more goodness into the mix, the other doggy health-focused ingredients in our Grub Club dog food include:

• Apple – vitamin-rich and neutralises free radicals
• Blueberries – bursting with antioxidants and providing that daily detox goodness as well as being a great source of fibre and vitamins C and K
• Linseed – rich in dietary fibre and omega 3 to support a healthy heart and tummy
• Sweet Potato – rich in vitamin A and beta carotene for healthy eyes, bones and skin

With a complete dog food like Grub Club’s, your pooch will be getting all the vitamins and minerals they need every single day.

Low in Fat

Pet obesity has been on the rise with the main culprits being poor quality dog food, too many treats/titbits, feeding human food and lack of exercise. Now we can’t help with the latter but the rest is doable. As you have seen above, insect protein is high in all the good stuff but did you know it is also low in fat? Yep, those bugs just keep giving and giving.

Eco-friendly and Sustainable

Making sustainable lifestyle changes is key in securing a safer and greener future for generations to come. We are sure that you have all heard of the term carbon footprint and understand that reducing ours, even if it is a tiny bit, can have a positive impact but did you know that one great way of doing this is to not only reduce your meat intake but also your dog’s? All meat, in particular beef, carries a high carbon footprint along with other environmental issues such as these:

CO2 – Producing 1kg of protein from beef emits approximately 2.850g of CO2

Water – Around 15.500 litres of water is needed to produce 1kg of protein from beef

Feed – Cattle need on average 20kg of feed to produce 1kg of protein

Land – 250 m2 of land is used per kg of beef protein and on top of this, it is estimated that around seven football fields of land are bulldozed worldwide every single minute to create more room.

Insects on the other hand don’t:

CO2 – Producing 1kg of protein from insects causes emissions of as little as 1g of CO2

Water – To produce 1kg of protein from insects requires approximately 5 litres of water, however, many insects themselves do not require any water or even any light whilst they are farmed (hence why the black soldier fly larvae is a perfect choice)

Feed – Insects require around 1.7kg of feed to produce 1kg of protein and this will be organic matter

Land – Producing insects requires approximately 3.5 m2 per kg of insect protein

Insect-based protein will therefore create around 96% less CO2 than livestock 

The facts speak for themselves, insect protein is by far the most sustainable choice.

 

Grub Club Pets’ Hypoallergenic Insect-Based Dog Food

Hopefully, by now you are just as excited about insect protein for dogs as we are (well, maybe not quite as excited, we have to admit it’s a huge passion of ours) and can fully appreciate all the benefits they hold for your best friend. This is precisely why, after months and months of research and taste testing, we came up with the Grub Club All-Day Buffet and treats. We just knew this was the best future for our pets and for you as owners. So if a highly nutritious, well-balanced, hypoallergenic, low in fat, tasty and sustainable dog food is what you are looking for why not shop our range of hypoallergenic insect-based dog food today?

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