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The doghouse

Insect dog food

32 replies

Greengreen88 · 09/08/2019 08:53

Anyone’s pooch tried it? Verdict?

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Parkandride · 13/08/2019 15:10

Parkdog spends a good chunk of his days eating dead flies so I'd try it if the price was right

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LaurieFairyCake · 13/08/2019 14:46

I don't do any fillers in my dog food so I would want much higher protein than that

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Xraydog · 13/08/2019 12:52

Okay I googled it as I like to think I’m environmentally aware and I do feel guilt at the amount of meat my dogs eat. Yora insect base dog food on “pets corner” is not much more expensive than most premium kibbles I have looked at.
Unfortunately the other ingredients are of a type I would rather avoid feeding my dogs- potatoes and oats.
I will keep looking and see if I can find a variety that has better fillers. I am very happy to try this out on my dogs.

Insect dog food
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Fucksandflowers · 13/08/2019 09:48

If insects and grubs are nutritionally complete then they could be equally as good for the dog as meat and bone?

But it isn't what they are built to eat..

All this talk of it being more environmentally friendly, but if humans stuck to their natural diet it wouldn't be a problem!

Livestock farming is only such a big issue because so many people won't give up meat despite it not being their natural diet and sickening them.

That isn't the fault of naturally carnivorous animals who are built to kill and eat other animals and have been deliberately bred by humans and are reliant on humans to look after them.

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Fucksandflowers · 13/08/2019 09:44

Is that what you say to those who feed their dogs on the cheapest of the cheap dog food which is predominately cereal and flavourings?

I would say that based on this thread, insect dog food is expensive.
If you have the money to fork out for expensive insect based food then you have enough money to feed the dog what it would naturally eat.

To deliberately choose to feed the dog a diet it is not naturally designed to eat when you have the means to do so is abusive imo.

While cheap dry foods are shit and almost all cereal, most cheap canned foods have at least 40% meat content, some like butchers are almost entirely made up of meat.

People on low incomes are not actively, deliberately choosing to feed their dogs crap diets, they have no choice.

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LaurieFairyCake · 13/08/2019 09:35

Fucks

I like my dog more than I like me Grin so they are going to get the best diet for them

If insects and grubs are nutritionally complete then they could be equally as good for the dog as meat and bone?

I would never feed my dog an inferior diet. I would literally go without myself to make sure she had it as I'm responsible for her.

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kjhkj · 13/08/2019 09:28

To deliberately feed an animal that can't consent and is 100% reliant on you a diet totally different to what they are naturally built to eat, I would go so far to say is abusive.

Is that what you say to those who feed their dogs on the cheapest of the cheap dog food which is predominately cereal and flavourings?

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kjhkj · 13/08/2019 09:27

Precisely. It isn't that anyone thinks there is an issue with feeding meat to dogs, its that for the sake of the planet we all need to reduce the amount of meat we eat. Humans are going to naturally be squeamish about the thought of eating insect protein but dogs are not. As such, if the diet is just as good for them then I can't see the issue. We should all be trying to reduce consumption of meat from cows and sheep.

My dog is raw fed. He is still a puppy but he eats a lot of meat.

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Fucksandflowers · 13/08/2019 09:26

pets eat something like 20% of the world’s meat and fish production

The natural diet of dogs and cats is fresh meat.
Cats are obligate carnivores so no meat is very dangerous for their health, it can cause blindness and heart failure.
While dogs don't need meat technically, they do much better with it.
Everything about these animals from their digestive tract, stomach PH, jaw construction, teeth, even their personalities is geared towards killing things.

Humans on the other hand do not have a natural meat based diet.
In fact, meat consumption has been linked to cancers and illness in people, eating raw meat like a dog or cat is highly likely to poison and maybe even kill us, our digestive tracts are longer, our teeth are all wrong, most of us are highly distressed by the sight or sound of suffering animals whereas most dogs and cats are actively excited by it...

The solution is surely for everyone to stick to their natural diet..?
No meat for the people and meat for the carnivorous pets?
Or just stop keeping pets if you are that bothered.

To deliberately feed an animal that can't consent and is 100% reliant on you a diet totally different to what they are naturally built to eat, I would go so far to say is abusive.

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LaurieFairyCake · 13/08/2019 09:22

I think there's an established environmental issue with eating so much meat - it's very hard on the environment.

Loads of scientists are urging us to eat less.

I only buy the best for my dog and if insects and grubs are as nutritionally complete as organic beef and bone then I'm in.

I remember reading a horrible article last year saying our diet as humans was going to radically change and we would be eating far more insects by 2050 (deliberately!) 🤮

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BiteyShark · 13/08/2019 09:02

I think insect dog food could really solve a problem!

That's the key isn't it. You (and others) think there is a problem with feeding meat to pets but for me I don't. Therefore I wouldn't swop a perfectly good diet for my dog unless it was for medical reasons.

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Greengreen88 · 13/08/2019 08:57

I asked for the link to be taken down because people thought this was an ad! It wouldn’t be a very good ad if it was Grin

But if you search “insect dog food” there are only a few brands (I looked) and I haven’t tried any so can’t speak for any.

Yeah same with as much veggie / vegan as I can while the dog gets gourmet, organic meat Hmm

I think insect dog food could really solve a problem!

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LaurieFairyCake · 13/08/2019 08:51

I was planning to ask this question. I eat as much veggie/vegan as I can while my dog eats organic beef and bone from Laverstoke Farm at £2.50 a day Grin

Has the link gone ? I squirt salmon oil on her food because of her skin so I don't think she'd be fussed at the difference

Obviously we should all be helping the planet Confused

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kjhkj · 13/08/2019 08:47

I'm surprised at the hostility. I think its a great idea and could help tackle climate change etc.

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Greengreen88 · 13/08/2019 08:42

I read that pets eat something like 20% of the world’s meat and fish production, which means pet food is responsible for 20% of the industry's environmental impact. Insect dog food is meant to solve that problem.

I have majorly cut down on my own meat consumption (veggie at home, only eat meat out on special occasions or that sort of thing) because of environmental reasons. Happy to play around with my own diet, a bit nervous to do so with my dog’s.

Wasn’t expecting insect dog food to be so controversial tbh!

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Branster · 12/08/2019 23:01

I thought the title was about an insect found in the dog’s food Smile

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Branster · 12/08/2019 23:00

Why are you asking OP? Is it something you’d consider for your own dog?
I must admit the concept doesn’t appeal to me. As a rule, if my dog is happy eating what it is currently being fed and is fit, slim, healthy, coat in good condition and so on, there is no reason to change its diet.
And I would never subject my dog to experimenting with novelty foods.

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Greengreen88 · 12/08/2019 22:49

I can see why you’d think that, because of the link, but I promise I’m not! I can get MN to take down the link. I actually think the reviews on there seem a little too ravey to be real, which is why I’m looking elsewhere for opinions.

And there’s nothing much out there on the internet, apart from the odd press-release piece in a few newspapers, hence this thread.

I do think it seems like a great idea in theory. I just don’t know how healthy or tasty it is for dogs.

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PinkBlossomInSummer · 12/08/2019 22:45

I do think you’re trying to advertise this btw.

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PinkBlossomInSummer · 12/08/2019 22:45

That’s a no from me.

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Wolfiefan · 12/08/2019 22:43

I can guess what my dog would think. So no.

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Greengreen88 · 12/08/2019 22:31

Definitely not an ad! Bit scared to try it, just wondering if anyone else has!

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Wolfiefan · 12/08/2019 22:14

Is this an ad?
No. Haven’t tried it and no I won’t.

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Greengreen88 · 12/08/2019 22:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kjhkj · 12/08/2019 08:20

No I wouldn't feed my dog food made from insect larvae/maggots.

Thats a slightly strange view given that dogs eat all sorts of stuff anyway and we might all be eating insect protein in decades to come.

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