In this article
Review Summary
We give Jiminy’s Dog Food a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Introduction
Insects are full of essential proteins and nutrients and are a sustainable food source. Jiminy’s uses crickets to provide dogs with an excellent source of protein. It is also beneficial for dogs with food allergies and is exceptionally eco-friendly.
Jiminy’s is produced in the United States and is the perfect dog food for any dog parents concerned about the environment and interested in purchasing cruelty-free products. The demand for sustainable and high-quality products is greater than ever before, as many natural resources might be renewable but are also in limited supply.
Jiminy’s gives you guilt-free and high-quality dog food that many dogs actually seem to prefer over traditional dog food. If your pup has any kind of food sensitivities or allergies to traditional protein-based dog foods, Jiminy’s could be the perfect dog food for your pup.
Please read on if you would like to learn more about this unique addition to the dog food market and how insect-based dog food could be your dog’s next new favorite food.
At a Glance: The Best Jiminy’s Dog Food Recipes
Jiminy’s Dog Food Reviewed
Jiminy’s Dog Food is unique in the dog food world. Insects are a lean and sustainable protein and contain high sources of fiber, iron, and amino acids. At of writing, Jiminy’s has two food recipes: Cricket Crave, which is made with crickets, and Good Grub, which is made with grubs.
Traditional animal farming is one of the most significant contributors to climate change, with approximately 65% of nitrous oxide contributing to global warming. The biggest footprint on Earth comes from livestock. Animal livestock takes up 83% of farmland but only provides 18% of food calories. It also produces 60% of the greenhouse gas emissions compared to all agricultural processes.
Using insects instead of traditional beef, poultry, and pork products reduces the natural resources needed, is ecologically friendly, and is more humane.
As far as your dogs are concerned, powdered crickets are just as digestible as beef and chicken, and they also happen to be hypoallergenic and a natural prebiotic.
Jiminy’s doesn’t contain any artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors, and veterinarians have designed all of its recipes.
The two formulas are oven-baked in small batches so the food is less processed, making for easier digestion, and it helps retain all the nutrients.
Who Makes Jiminy’s and Where Is It Produced?
Jiminy’s is produced in the U.S., with most of the ingredients also sourced from the U.S. Some ingredients also come from Canada, and coconut oil is brought in from the Philippines.
Its dog food is available across the U.S. in over 1,000 retail stores. If you order it online, it is shipped from either Moreno Valley, CA, or Louisville, KY.
Which Types of Dogs Is Jiminy’s Best Suited For?
Jiminy’s is best suited for adult dogs. If you have a puppy, you’ll need to wait until they are transitioning to adult dog food before trying out Jiminy’s.
Which Types of Dogs Might Do Better With a Different Brand?
Aim for a puppy food that has been made specifically for puppies, such as Blue Buffalo’s Life Protection Formula. Otherwise, speak to your vet if you have a dog with food allergies and sensitivities or if your dog is a senior before switching to insect-based dog food.
Discussion of the Primary Ingredients
Jiminy’s two recipes use different ingredients, but they both have a similar formula. The main ingredient is ground-up insects, followed by oats, high-quality vegetables, and a variety of vitamins and minerals.
It only uses a natural mold inhibitor (with citric acid and buffered distilled white vinegar) and natural antioxidants as natural preservatives. There are no artificial ingredients.
The Food Is Hypoallergenic
The main instigators for most food allergies and sensitivities in dogs are protein, with beef and chicken being the top culprits. Dogs with food allergies generally do better eating food with novel proteins, and it doesn’t get much more novel than insects. Jiminy’s can also be used in an elimination diet to determine what the dog might be allergic to, as insect protein is not an allergen.
It’s Vet Formulated
Jiminy’s is formulated by a veterinarian with two Ph.D.s, one in animal nutrition and the other in entomology. He has been developing and designing dog food for over 20 years, and his degree in entomology makes him quite the expert in insect protein too. Jiminy’s also meets the standards of the Association of American Feed Control Officials.
It’s Humane in More Ways Than One
Jiminy’s is a great choice for anyone worried about the ethical treatment of agricultural livestock, but it also treats its insects well. The crickets live in dark and warm places, and they’re raised in barns in an environment that closely mimics how they live in the natural world. They are technically free-range, as they live out their natural lives being crickets.
They are only harvested when they are at the end of their natural life cycle (about 6 weeks) after mating and laying eggs. The temperature is lowered, which enables them to enter a kind of hibernation, which is when they are harvested. The grubs are gathered as larvae.
It Has a Long Shelf Life
Unopened bags of Jiminy’s food have a shelf life of 1½ to 2 years, and opened bags can last for 18 months. Just remember to seal the bags after each use.
It’s Not Really High Protein
The only issue with this food is that it isn’t necessarily considered high in protein. The food sits closer to a moderate amount of protein, which is fine, but check the nutritional information before buying if you want something higher in protein.
A Quick Look at Jiminy’s Dog Food
- High-protein source
- Sustainable manufacturing
- Veterinarian formulated
- Ecologically friendly and made humanely
- Made with wholesome ingredients without artificial ingredients
- Expensive
- Only two recipe options
- Only available in the U.S.
Recall History
Jiminy’s doesn’t have a recall history, mainly because of its use of insects. Many recalls occur because the manufacturing of traditional animal agriculture tends to have more issues around pathogens.
Insect farms promote excellent hygiene practices, and the insects themselves don’t have the same safety issues with poop as seen with agricultural animals.
Reviews of the Jiminy’s Dog Food Recipes
Let’s take a closer look at the two recipes of Jiminy’s Dog Food in more detail.
1. Jiminy’s Cricket Crave Dog Food
The main ingredient here is ground-up crickets. The crickets are a natural prebiotic and a source of iron, fiber, and taurine. Following are oats, quinoa, sweet potato, and brown rice, which all provide their fair share of all-important protein, as well as fiber and antioxidants. There’s also flaxseed, which is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids.
- High sources of protein and fiber
- Improved digestion
- Dogs may not like it
2. Jiminy’s Good Grub Dog Food
The Good Grub recipe starts with dried black soldier fly larvae, followed by oats, sweet potato, and dried beet pulp. The grubs are a natural source of B vitamins, fatty acids, and choline, which aid brain health. It can provide healthy skin and a shiny coat due to the three oils in this food: sunflower, fish, and flaxseed.
- Higher in protein than the cricket recipe
- Aids in brain health
- Provides healthy coat and skin
- Could have more veggies
What Other Users Are Saying
- Forbes — It rated Jiminy’s as the Best Sustainable Dog Food and said, “Given the quality and eco-friendliness, we’re here for it.”
- The Strategist — “My dog loves these cricket protein treats more than she loves me!”
- Amazon — As dog owners, we like to double-check Amazon reviews from other customers before we buy something. Read customer reviews here.
Final Verdict
Who knew that dogs would enjoy eating insects so much? If you’re interested in making a smaller ecological footprint and doing so humanely, switching your dog to insect-based dog food, particularly Jiminy’s, is a great way to go.
That said, it’s expensive, and the company hasn’t managed to use recyclable bags for its dog food yet (although its dog treats are kept in recyclable bags). But many dogs seem to love this food, and it’s a healthy and guilt-free alternative and well worth the price.
