Is Crocodile Meat A Healthy & Sustainable Novel Protein For Our Dog?
Talking about crocodiles would lead most people to think about an intimidating and scaly reptile. Majority of pet parents will never imagine themselves to be like Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin and his family, but a select few do.
In addition to nutritional benefits, crocodile is often used as a single novel protein diet for pups with food sensitivities and food allergies. Food allergies are very common amongst the dog community in Singapore, which leads to an increased demand for advanced novel proteins such as crocodile meat.
Is Crocodile Meat Healthy And Nutritious For Our Dogs And Cats?
Yes, crocodile meat has one of the highest protein and lowest fat content in any lean meat. It’s lean protein per serving ratio rivals that of chicken breast, turkey breast, and lean pork. For each serving of crocodile meat (100g), there is 21.5g of protein, 2.9g of fat, 65mg of cholesterol, totalling 415kJ of calories. That is the highest protein to fat ratio, and lowest calories you can find in the majority of commercial meats.
Furthermore, crocodile meat has naturally-occurring Omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for heart health. Our furry friends will also benefit from its rich vitamin and mineral content, an excellent superfood for regular consumption.
What Is An Advanced Novel Protein; And How Do They Help Dogs Overcome Food Allergies?
A novel protein is a source of protein that is rare or uncommon in regular dog food. This can include any single new protein that your dog has not tried before. Common examples of these rare & uncommon proteins include Crocodile, Kangaroo, Frog, Turkey, Rabbit, and Venison.
Certain novel proteins include a better amino acid profile that benefits food allergy immunity in dogs. Kangaroo meat, for example, has a very high concentration of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) when compared with other foods. CLA has been attributed with a wide range of health benefits including anti-carcinogenic and anti-diabetic properties.
Where Do I Get Novel Protein Treats For My Dog With Food Allergies?
There are multiple specialty diets in the Singapore market catered to novel protein diets, and majority are vet-recommended solutions. Beyond the veterinary medicine space, it is often challenging for pet parents feeding novel protein diets to access crocodile produce for their furry companions.
At BELLY UP, we are committed to providing access to premium and natural crocodile treats and produce for our customers who may require novel protein treats for their sensitive pups.
How Do You Source Your Crocodile Meat?
We source our crocodiles sustainably through federal-regulated Australian farms. BELLY UP’s crocodile treats are sourced from the Northern Territories in Australia, where sustainable crocodile farming is legally enforced by the Australian federal government.
In the 1900s, wild crocodile and wild alligator hunting was rampant without regulations, which caused large numbers and species of crocs and gators to dwindle until they became endangered or extinct. To deter and protect populations of crocodiles from further extinction, America and Australia placed these populations under an Endangered Species Act (1973) to stop wildlife hunting of these species, but instead encouraged farming to supply the wildlife industry with a sustainable approach to the demands of crocodile leather.
In addition, crocodile meat is not widely consumed, and is considered as a by-product by the croc farming industry. Handcrafting this meat into sustainable pet treats, and working closely with our suppliers to ensure that we only produce from international trade regulated (CITES) facilities with open farming practices, has become most important for us.
Check-out our sustainably-sourced crocodile treats today!
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xo
Nellie