Save the environment one bag of dog food at a time!
Animal agriculture is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. In America alone, feeding their dogs and cats generates up to 64 million tons of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gases per year, the equivalent of consuming 7 billion gallons of petrol! One of the ways in which we can actively help reduce these numbers is to consider offering our dogs sustainable dog food and environmentally friendly dog treats. What does that actually mean? Well in recent years bug-based dog food has become increasingly popular. Not only for its nutritional value but for its sustainability too.
As an example, switching a dog from a chicken-based diet to a cricket-based diet can save up to 480,000 gallons of water per year, depending on the size of the dog. Farming insects is much more sustainable than farming traditional livestock. You do not require land clearing, it emits less ammonia and considerably fewer greenhouse gases, and is far more efficient. Crickets, for instance, need 12 times less feed than cattle to produce the same amount of protein. Besides being better for the planet, bug-based dog food checks the boxes from a nutritional standpoint, too!
Why do our dogs need protein I hear you ask? Dogs need several different amino acids to grow and function properly, and some are classified as essential. These cannot be made by the body and must be obtained externally through foods that are rich in protein. They are essential in aiding healthy skin, hair and nails, fighting infections, helping immune system among other things. A great source of protein and can be farmed with sustainability in mind: crickets! Crickets could prove to be the most popular because they contain around 65% protein, are low in fat, and are also easily farmed with great benefits for our environment.
Choosing a high-quality food that contains insect proteins isn’t all that different than selecting one containing the more common meat protein sources. And don’t worry about any “eww factor” of seeing whole bugs in your dog’s food! Once processed into a meal, the kibble ends up looking the same as any other on the market. The ingredients of any dog food that uses insect protein should be a list of sustainably sourced, biologically appropriate, natural items, with no additives or artificial colouring.
"Take It Easy" Plant & Insect Based Dog Treats with Crickets, Camomile and Pumpkin 100g
You might still be a bit skeptical about trying out bug-based dog food using insects as an ingredient, and that’s totally understandable. But as we move to more sustainable options for food sources that have a lower environmental impact, whilst still giving your dog all the nutrients it needs, we’re discovering that sources such as crickets are not just as good, but perhaps better than what we’ve been using so far! If you are looking to try sustainable dog food and environmentally friendly dog treats, Petto Foods has got a range that your dog will love…
