At Jiminy’s, we believe pet food should do more than just fill a bowl — it should support your dog’s health and the planet they live on.
In this video, founder & CEO Anne Carlson explains why Jiminy’s uses insect protein instead of traditional proteins like beef or chicken — and how that single change can make a meaningful difference for dogs struggling with allergies, digestion issues, joint health, and aging, all while dramatically reducing environmental impact.
You’ll learn why insect protein is a complete, highly digestible, nutrient-dense superfood for dogs — and how choosing Jiminy’s can mean happy pets and a healthier planet. Let’s dig in.
If you'd rather read, here's the transcript:
Hi, I’m Anne Carlson – the founder & CEO of Jiminy’s. At Jiminy’s, we make sustainable dog food and treats using insect protein rather than beef or chicken. Our products are sustainable because the smaller the animal, the less land and water it needs – and you can’t get much smaller than an insect. By feeding your dog our nutrient dense insect protein, you can have a healthy dog AND a healthy planet. That’s huge, I’m excited to have this opportunity to dig into \ more detail with you today about insect protein’s incredible nutrition – let’s get started!
To begin with, think of Jiminy’s foods and treats as a novel protein like kangaroo or bison. We can help dogs that are having issues with protein allergies. A lot of dogs are sensitive to proteins – especially chicken – and they suffer from symptoms like itching, hot spots, and chronic licking. We’ve been able to help get dogs off of medications like Apoquil by simply switching their diet to Good Grub or Cravin Cricket. This is exciting and we’re thrilled to be able to help these dogs who’re struggling with allergies.
Insect protein is a great natural solution for our pets and is actually a key part of both a dog and a cat’s diet in the wild. It boosts immune systems, improves mental acuity and mitigates arthritis symptoms!
And as a replacement for traditional animal protein (e.g., cow, chicken, pig), insect protein delivers everything that a quality protein should.
- It has all of the essential amino acids that a dog needs.
- It contains the essential amino acids at appropriate levels for dogs and
- It’s highly digestible.
So, from a protein perspective it’s equal to cow or chicken, but what really sets insect protein apart from a nutrition perspective is that it’s also rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It’s a superfood!
It’s great for dogs who have gut and digestion issues like upset stomach, soft stool, chronic diarrhea, and gas. The exoskeleton in an insect provides fiber which feeds the good bacteria in the dog’s gut. That means it’s prebiotic, so it improves the dog’s gut microbiome and helps to solve these serious gut problems.
We’ve also learned that our insect protein is a natural source of omegas and Medium Chain Fatty Acids. And our grub protein is rich in Lauric acid and that helps improve cognitive function in aged dogs by providing the brain with energy. A pet parent may worry their dog isn’t as sharp as they used to be, so we can help with that.
Glucosamine is great for joint health and combatting arthritis and insect protein is a natural source that can help aging dogs.
I’m just scratching the surface. What’s important to remember though is that all of Jiminy’s products use insect protein and it’s as good in not better than any other protein in the store.
To sum up:
- Insect protein’s a novel protein – great for dogs with allergies.
- It’s prebiotic – great for dogs with gut health problems.
- Our food and treats offer great nutrition – but we’re also sustainable and humane.
And let’s not forget that we have a small carbon pawprint! Choose Jiminy’s for Happy Pets and a healthy planet!
Thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Insect Protein Dog Food
1. What is insect protein in dog food?
Insect protein is a high-quality, nutrient-dense protein source made from insects like crickets and black soldier fly larvae. It provides all the essential amino acids dogs need, along with naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and fiber.
2. Why does Jiminy’s use insect protein instead of beef or chicken?
Jiminy’s uses insect protein because it delivers complete nutrition for dogs while requiring significantly less land, water, and resources than traditional animal proteins. The result is a food that supports dog health and reduces environmental impact.
3. Is insect protein a good option for dogs with allergies?
Yes. Insect protein is considered a novel protein, similar to kangaroo or bison, meaning most dogs haven’t been exposed to it before. This makes it an excellent choice for dogs with sensitivities to common proteins like chicken or beef.
4. Can switching to insect protein help dogs with itching or skin issues?
Many dogs with protein sensitivities experience symptoms like itching, hot spots, and chronic licking. Switching to a novel protein like insect protein can help reduce these reactions by removing common dietary triggers.
5. Is insect protein safe and natural for dogs?
Absolutely. Insects are a natural part of a dog’s ancestral diet in the wild. When responsibly farmed and properly processed, insect protein is safe, digestible, and highly nutritious for dogs.
6. Does insect protein support digestion and gut health?
Yes. Insects contain a natural fiber in their exoskeleton that acts as a prebiotic, feeding beneficial gut bacteria. This helps support a healthy gut microbiome and may improve issues like gas, soft stool, diarrhea, and upset stomachs.
7. How does insect protein support immune health?
A healthy gut plays a critical role in immune function. By supporting beneficial gut bacteria and providing nutrient-dense protein, insect protein helps strengthen a dog’s immune system from the inside out.
8. Can insect protein help aging dogs?
Yes. Insect protein naturally contains medium-chain fatty acids and lauric acid, which provide efficient energy for the brain and may support cognitive function in senior dogs. It’s also a natural source of glucosamine, which supports joint health and mobility.
9. Is insect protein as nutritious as traditional animal protein?
From a protein standpoint, insect protein is nutritionally equivalent to beef or chicken — providing all essential amino acids at appropriate levels and with high digestibility. What sets it apart is the added benefits of fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals.
10. Are all Jiminy’s products made with insect protein?
Yes. Every Jiminy’s food and treat uses insect protein as its primary protein source, delivering consistent health benefits across the entire product line.
11. Does insect protein help reduce environmental impact?
Yes. Insects require far less land, water, and feed than traditional livestock. Feeding insect protein helps lower the “carbon pawprint” of your dog’s diet while still providing complete nutrition.
12. Who should consider feeding their dog insect protein?
Insect protein can be a great choice for:
-
Dogs with food allergies or sensitivities
-
Dogs with digestive or gut health issues
-
Senior dogs needing joint or cognitive support
-
Pet parents who want a more sustainable food option
13. What’s the biggest takeaway about insect protein?
Insect protein is:
-
A novel protein for dogs with allergies
-
Prebiotic and supportive of gut health
-
Nutrient-dense for whole-body wellness
-
Sustainable and humane for the planet
