During the spring of 2024, Petgood collaborated with Ellinor Hammarberg, a student in the Animal and Sustainability program at SLU, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. For her thesis, Ellinor conducted a study on our customers.
Feeding insect protein to dogs with food allergies: from the pet owner’s perspective.
“Pet owners’ perception of feeding dogs with diagnosed food allergies a diet based on insects was predominantly positive. 79% of the pet owners with dogs diagnosed solely with food allergies reported that all symptoms improved.
Ellinor Hammarberg, SLU, 2024
Another common symptom of food allergies is that the dog experiences gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, which is, of course, very troublesome for both the dog and the owners.
Therefore, the owners of dogs with food allergies were also asked questions about the dog’s gastrointestinal health. 88% of the owners who reported gastrointestinal symptoms in the study stated that the dog’s symptoms had improved after switching to insect-based food.
Healthier stomach and well-being
By switching to insect-based food, the owners who participated in the study experienced an improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms, such as firmer stools and fewer episodes of vomiting and diarrhea.
In cases of food allergies, a very common symptom is that the dog experiences skin problems. This can manifest as itching, skin irritations such as redness and dryness, or red paws that the dog licks.
In the study conducted at SLU, this was also the most commonly reported symptom by pet owners, and it was also the one where most improvements were observed. For the group of dogs with only food allergies, 94% of the owners reported a reduction or improvement in itching/skin irritation/red paws after the diet change.
Chleo, Staffordshire Bullterrier
Chleo previously experienced significant skin problems, which led to hair loss and bald spots. Chleo’s owner was recommended Petgood by their dog trainer and quickly noticed an amazing change!
We are so happy that a switch to our insect-based food has contributed to better skin and a healthier coat for lovely Chleo!
Recurring ear infections or infections that are difficult to heal can also be a sign of food allergies in a dog. Therefore, this symptom was also examined in the survey conducted at SLU.
For the group with only food allergies, 91% of the owners who reported that their dog had problems with ear infections noted an improvement after the diet change.