There’s a new recipe in the Billy + Margot dog food range, but will it benefit your diet-sensitive dog?
The primary protein in this new food comes from Black Soldier Fly larvae, said to have a rich amino acid profile and hypoallergenic properties. This should make the food much easier on your dog’s digestive system, mitigating the sensitivity issues often associated with traditional animal proteins and grains.
Did you know Black Soldier Fly larvae are incredibly efficient at converting organic waste into high-quality protein and fat, requiring far less water, land, and feed than traditional livestock?
This makes the larvae an eco-friendly alternative that helps reduce the environmental impact of pet food production while providing a nutrient-rich, digestible protein that supports your dog’s health.
Let’s take a look at important considerations if you’re looking to feed the new Billy + Margot Insect Protein Dry Dog Food for your dog with dietary sensitivities:
Why does your dog suffer dietary sensitivities or intolerances?
According to David D’Angelo at Pet Food Reviews Australia, most diet-sensitivities in dogs are triggered by inappropriate foods, even in commercial dog foods. He further elaborates “It’s not so much a dietary-sensitivity, it’s more because a dog shouldn’t be fed these ingredients in the first place.
According to veterinarian Dr. Emily Dawson, BVSc (Hons), the most common cause of dietary-sensitivities in dogs is chicken protein, but D’Angelo believes wheat and cereal grains are a more common trigger, particularly in dry dog food brands sold in Australia which may not use quality ingredients.
If your dog displays signs of a dietary sensitivity, then have you consider what in their current diet may have been the cause?
The rise of Black Soldier Fly larvae as a viable protein source in dry dog food
Black Soldier Fly larvae have been gaining attention as a food source primarily in the last decade, but did you know their use in various forms of animal feed dates back even further?
The larvae were initially used for their efficiency in composting organic waste, but their price as a viable ingredient in pet food cannot be overlooked.
High protein content and environmental benefits merely serve to increase the appeal, and even if it may sound yucky to us, the real question is are they good for our dogs?
Well, yes, I think so.
Not only do our dogs depend on animal protein rather than carbohydrates, Black Soldier Fly larvae are also rich in essential amino acids to support health, and being hypoallergenic means they could well be an excellent alternative to traditional animal proteins.
The commercial viability of Black Soldier Fly larvae as a protein source has significantly grown since the mid-2010s.
For example, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) has promoted the use of Black Soldier Fly larvae in Kenya since 2015, training thousands of farmers in raising these insects for animal feed (source: The Rockefeller Foundation). In Europe, Black Soldier Fly larvae have been approved for use in pet food for several years, and their acceptance in the United States is growing as well (IQI Petfood).
The sustainable production of Black Soldier Fly larvae, which requires significantly fewer resources compared to traditional livestock, has made it such an attractive option for both animal and human consumption.
You could argue this is the most innovative protein source as of 2024, and we can expect it to play a critical role in the future of sustainable food production, addressing both environmental concerns and the increasing demand for high-quality protein.
So tell me, can you imagine yourself eating Black Soldier Fly larvae, or feeding it to your dog?
Perhaps the real question is whether we can stomach it, but should we change our way of thinking?
What else may be good about Billy + Margot Insect Protein dry dog food?
The truth is, a quick look at the ingredients of Billy + Margot Insect Protein dry dog food showed us the Black Soldier Fly Larvae component of the recipe may not be as much as we think.
It’s the first ingredient, and the protein is a respectable 34% which is high for a dry dog food, but we also find peas, pea protein, lentils, and chickpea flour as main ingredients.
David D’Angelo, who speaks more about the Billy + Margot dog food range in this review, says it is common for pet foods to accentuate the name of the first ingredient on the packaging, but the reality is the next set of ingredients tell the real truth about the product. In the case of Billy + Margot Insect Protein dry dog food, are we feeding them much in the way of insect protein, or is it more protein from peas and other legumes?
Billy + Margot Insect Protein Dog food does have further benefits though, with the inclusion of TruMune™ postbiotics which should help balance the good and bad bacteria in your dog’s gut.
Being available at PetBarn will appeal to many Australian dog owners on sheer convenience, as not all of us like to buy online.
You can purchase Billy + Margot Insect Single Protein + Superfoods Dry Dog Food at Petbarn or online for $39.99 for a 1.5kg bag.
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