How Insect Protein Promotes Optimal Health for Dogs

Posted by Russell Gibbons on 27th Oct 2023

How Insect Protein Promotes Optimal Health for Dogs

Insect Protein has many health benefits for our pets, our Environment and to our Communities!

As devoted pet parents, we understand the significance of our canine companions in our lives. They are not just pets; they are cherished family members. 

As such, the type of protein in our Dog Treats, and Dog Food, has a direct impact on their well-being. 

In this article, we'll delve into the specific health benefits of insect protein for dogs, highlighting its high protein content, low-fat characteristics, and how these advantages contribute to keeping your beloved four-legged family member in the best of health.

On top of this, we will also explore why Insect protein is a great choice for the planet as well as for our society.

Once we understand these topics you will know why Huds and Toke are now using Insect Protein in their new range of semi-moist Bug Chews dog treats made with Black Soldier Fly protein and natural prebiotics.

Insect Dog Treats

First things first.....  

Why is Insect Protein awesome for dogs?

1.  A Protein-Rich Diet: 

Building Strong and Lean Muscles: 

Just like humans, dogs require a diet rich in protein to thrive. Protein is the fundamental building block for strong muscles, and insect protein is a standout choice in this regard.

Insect protein is a complete source of high-quality protein, providing all the essential amino acids that dogs need for muscle development and repair. This ensures that your furry family member maintains lean, strong muscles, contributing to their overall health and vitality.


2.  Maintaining an Ideal Weight: 

Low-Fat, High-Nutrition: 

One of the keys to keeping your dog healthy is maintaining an ideal weight. Obesity in dogs can lead to a range of health issues, from joint problems to heart disease. Insect protein can be a valuable ally in this endeavour.

Insect protein is naturally low in fat, making it an excellent choice for dogs that need to shed a few pounds or maintain a healthy weight. This low-fat content ensures that your pet receives optimal nutrition without the excess calories that can contribute to weight gain.

High Protein Dog Treat

3.  Supporting Digestive Health: 

Easy on the Tummy: 

A healthy digestive system is crucial for your dog's well-being, and the right diet plays a pivotal role in ensuring this. Insect protein boasts advantages for digestive health.

Insect protein is highly digestible, which means your dog can absorb and utilize the nutrients more efficiently. This is particularly beneficial for dogs with sensitive stomachs or digestive issues, ensuring that they receive the nourishment they need without straining their system.

Further to this, when you combine this high protein source with a natural pre-biotic like we do in our Huds and Toke Bug Chew dog treats, you super charge the digestive benefits for your puppy.

4.  A Glossy Coat and Bright Eyes: 

Skin and Coat Benefits: 

As pet parents, we love to see our dogs with shiny coats and bright, clear eyes. Insect protein can play a significant part in achieving this.

Insect protein is rich in essential nutrients, such as zinc and omega-3 fatty acids, which support healthy skin and a lustrous coat. 

These nutrients promote a soft and shiny coat while contributing to bright, clear eyes, enhancing your pet's overall appearance and well-being.

5.  Increased Energy and Vitality: 

Staying Active and Playful: 

A healthy diet not only maintains your dog's physical health but also their energy and vitality. Insect protein provides a nutrient-rich source of energy.

With its balanced nutritional profile, insect protein helps dogs stay active and playful.

It provides the fuel they need for all those joyful moments, from chasing balls to going for long walks, ensuring that your four-legged family member enjoys a high-quality life.

6.  Anti-inflammatory Properties:

Help reduce inflammation in our Dogs.

A New study, via the University of Jerusalem, reveals the anti-inflammatory power of Black Soldier Fly Larvae.

The study investigated how BSFL oil, abundant in beneficial medium chain fatty acids, impacts inflammation.

the study revealed that BSFL oil uniquely countered inflammation triggered by different immune signals. The researchers also pinpointed how BSFL oil triggers cellular changes that could curb inflammation, setting it apart from other treatments. These findings suggest that BSFL oil holds novel promise as an inflammation-regulating agent, offering new avenues for future research and interventions.

This is a really exciting discovery which has wonderful potential for the health of our Pets.


Now that we understand the benefits that Insect Protein, which Huds and Toke uses in our new Bug Chews Dog Treats; lets find out why it's also a great choice for our environment as well as our society!

The Environmental Advantages of Insect Protein: 

Caring for our pets doesn't stop at their health; it extends to the world they inhabit. Embracing insect protein is a responsible choice that benefits our furry family members and the environment.


1.  Low Water Usage: 

Insect farming is incredibly water-efficient compared to traditional livestock. This helps alleviate the strain on our precious water resources, an essential consideration in a world facing increasing water scarcity.

To be more precise, Insect farming uses ONLY 4% of the water normally used in Beef farming....  and is considerably more energy efficient as well!

2.  Reduced Land Use: 

Insect farming requires minimal land compared to traditional meat production, conserving natural habitats and reducing deforestation, making it an ideal choice for eco-conscious pet parents.

In-fact, Insect farming requires ONLY 2% of the land traditional Beef, Lamb and Chicken farming requires.

Healthy Dog Treats

3.  Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The carbon footprint of insect farming is significantly smaller, as insects produce fewer greenhouse gases. This choice contributes to mitigating climate change and securing a healthier planet for our pets and ourselves.

The methane emissions from insects could be up to 90% less than traditional farming practices.

This is because insects digest food much differently to ruminants such as cattle and sheep.  These large animals create methane because of the fermentation process in their gut.  Insects don't digest food via fermentation and as such release significantly less methane gases for the same amount of protein created.  


4.  Efficient Resource Conversion

Insects are resource conversion experts, efficiently transforming food into protein. This ensures minimal resource wastage and a sustainable food source for our pets.

Insects are 12-25 times more efficient at converting food into protein compared to the other meat farming practices.

Advantages for our Communities by using

Insect Protein:

Waste Food Recycling:

Insect farming is nature's way of recycling. Insect farms are increasingly used to convert organic waste into valuable protein. This not only reduces the strain on waste management but also transforms discarded food into a valuable resource.

Reducing Food Waste:

Insect farming helps combat global food waste by using food scraps as insect feed. This aligns with responsible consumer choices that reduce waste and promote a more sustainable food system.

Resource Efficiency:

Insects' unmatched efficiency in converting food into protein contributes to the circular economy's resource-efficient principles, closing the loop on resource utilization.


So, for those of us who consider our pets family, the well-being of our beloved companions is intrinsically linked to the well-being of the planet. 

Insect protein provides a unique opportunity to enhance the health of our pets while reducing our ecological footprint.

By choosing insect protein, we're making a thoughtful choice for our furry family members, ensuring they receive the very best in nutrition while contributing to a healthier and more sustainable world. This decision exemplifies responsible pet parenting, prioritizing the needs of our pets and the planet they call home.


Australian Made Healthy Dog Treat

The Huds and Toke Bug Chews range is a new and super innovative Semi Moist Dog Treat which has been designed with all of the above in mind.  

They are a really healthy dog treat, made with Sustainable Insect Protein, Natural Pre-biotics, very high in protein and low in fat.  Designed to be semi-moist so that it is easy for all dogs to chew on and 100% Australian Made!

Please feel free to check out this new range.  

The Huds and Toke team are really proud of this dog chew product and we hope you and your dogs love it as well.

Thank-you for your support.  We truly appreciate it.  Please contact us if you have any questions.

Have a great day from the entire team at Huds and Toke.

@Hudsandtoke

#Hudsandtokefamily

Australian Made Insect Dog Treats