All about Insect-Based Dog Food
If you've landed on this page wondering “Can I feed my dog insects?!” the short answer to this is yes.
If you're now wondering ‘how’, ‘why’ and ‘what on earth’, fear not as we're here to answer all of your insect-based dog food questions and in the process show you why it's the future for both your pet’s health and our planet’s.
What Is Insect Based Dog Food?
Insect based dog food is similar to your normal dog food but instead of using meat or fish as the main protein source, it uses insects. In our case here at Grub Club, the insect protein we use is from Black Soldier Fly Larvae – a superfood in the doggy world.
Are insects good for my dog?
We're big animal lovers here at Grub Club HQ, so we enlisted the help of some of the world’s leading vets and pet nutritionists to develop an insect-based kibble that's tip top quality.
Insect protein like that from Black Soldier Fly Larvae is rich in omegas and amino acids, it's naturally hypoallergenic for dogs and can provide up to two times more protein per 100g compared to beef. Holy cow!
What are the health benefits of insect protein?
- It's low in fat
- Rich in iron and protein
- Rich in fibre
- Rich in detoxifying vitamins
- No risk of food-borne pathogens
- Easily digestible
Insects are also more in-line with the type of food a dog would eat if they were still living in the wild. Let's face it, they certainly wouldn’t be out there taking down a cow. By providing them with species appropriate food you will be helping to meet more of their dietary needs.
Do dogs like the taste of insects?
Bugs taste best – just ask our co-founder Hugh. But seriously, it's official: when compared to other popular meat-based treats, 90% of dogs chose Grub Club every time.
Check out some of our customer reviews:
"My dog is a fussy eater but absolutely took to the snacks! It's so good that I am able to feed my dog in an environmentally friendly way and reduce my carbon footprint with food he actually loves!"
"I had a trial pack of the All-Day Buffet, my girl loved it and is more enthusiastic about her food than any other. We've now subscribed and bought some treats which are all going down very well"
"I started buying the treats which my dogs love and then bought the kibble. One of my dogs can be fussy but she treats the kibble like treats and takes it to the mat where she eats her treats. I love that it's sustainable and high in protein"
"My dogs LOVE the All-Day Buffet - it has taken very little time to introduce it and switch from previous meal. They are happy, full converts... So easy, no faff and they seem to enjoy the crisp biscuit"
READ WHY WE'RE RATED AS 'EXCELLENT' ON TRUSTPILOT.
The Sustainability Bit
Did you know that livestock farming is one of the leading drivers of global deforestation and climate change? In fact, around seven football fields of land are bulldozed worldwide every single minute to create more room for farmed animals for ours and our pets’ consumption. The results are fewer trees to absorb carbon dioxide, more CO2 being released back into the atmosphere as said trees are felled and methane being emitted by the increased livestock’s backsides (it’s not their fault, their digestive system just works in a complex plus gassy way).
If we carry on this way we truly are heading for a climate disaster. When talking about reducing our carbon footprint we usually associate that with driving less, turning lights off, and reducing our flying habits but have you ever turned your sights to your pet?
Here are just a few shocking facts:
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20% of all of the world’s fish and meat is consumed by our pets
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106 million tonnes of CO2 is generated every year by the pet food industry
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In 2020, researchers found that it takes an area twice the size of the UK to satisfy the world’s demand for pet food
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A dog living an unsustainable lifestyle could well produce more than twice the amount of CO2 than that of a 4×4 car
However, when we take a look at insect based dog food the facts are far more positive:
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1 ton of insects can be grown in 2-3 weeks using a land area of just 20 square metres
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Insect based protein will therefore create 96% less CO2 than livestock
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They need no light or water to thrive
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They are fed off of organic matter
So, in easy to digest terms*, food made from insects will use 47x less land, 25x less CO2 and 25x less water. Looking good so far, right?!…
*a totally accidental (but brilliant) pun
Introducing Grub Club
We couldn’t just sit by and allow the pet food industry to have such a detrimental effect on our planet. We couldn’t allow mediocre food to be the only dog food on offer and we couldn’t allow the power of insect protein to be overlooked for another moment.
We know making this switch may seem controversial, it may seem a little bizarre and feel out of the ordinary but this SHOULD be the new ordinary and that is what we aim to achieve so come and join our sustainable dog food revolution and start leading the way to a better future.
