Frequently Asked Questions
1. What makes Gentle Giants Natural Non GMO Ingredients Dog and Puppy Food so different from other dog foods?
ANSWER 1: CLEAN AND NATURAL NON GMO INGREDIENTS ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE HEALTH AND LONGEVITY OF YOUR DOG. Below is a video produced by the premier research organization in the U.S. on Genetically Modified Ingredients (GMOs) and how they affect the human and animal food supply. In this 8 minute video (a must watch for every pet parent), prestigious expert veterinarians throughout the U.S. and internationally explain the life threatening dangers of GMOs and Pesticides to our beloved pets in the food fed them.
ANSWER 1: CLEAN AND NATURAL NON GMO INGREDIENTS ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE HEALTH AND LONGEVITY OF YOUR DOG. Below is a video produced by the premier research organization in the U.S. on Genetically Modified Ingredients (GMOs) and how they affect the human and animal food supply. In this 8 minute video (a must watch for every pet parent), prestigious expert veterinarians throughout the U.S. and internationally explain the life threatening dangers of GMOs and Pesticides to our beloved pets in the food fed them.
ANSWER 2: CERTIFIED NON GMO INGREDIENTS IN GENTLE GIANTS NATURAL NON GMO DOG AND PUPPY FOOD:
Our ingredients are certified in writing by our ingredient suppliers to be Non GMO (they Do Not contain Genetically Modified Organisms).
ANSWER 3: NO EXCESSIVE FAT IN GENTLE GIANTS NATURAL NON GMO DOG AND PUPPY FOOD:
PUBLISHED ARTICLE: Yes, excessive animal fat can be a health problem for dogs:
- Pancreatitis
Unhealthy fats like tallow, lard, and fat trimmings can lead to pancreatitis, a life-threatening condition that affects the pancreas. Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, a hunched posture, swollen belly, listlessness, and fever.
- Obesity
Fats contain almost three times as many calories as proteins and carbohydrates, so too much fat can lead to obesity. Obesity can cause many health issues, including arthritis, back pain, bladder stones, cardiac disease, and diabetes. - Other health problems
Excessive fat can also lead to digestive upset, orthopedic diseases, respiratory disorders, and dermatologic issues. - Endocrine function
Obesity can disturb the endocrine function of white adipose tissue, which can lead to metabolic disorders. - Indicator of disease
Obesity can be an indicator of diseases such as Hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease.
TEST YOUR DOG'S DRY FOOD AND COMPARE THE RESULTS WITH GENTLE GIANTS NATURAL NON GMO DOG AND PUPPY FOOD:
Pick up 3 or 4 kibbles of the dry dog food that you are currently feeding to your dog and in one hand, rub your fingers firmly over the kibbles for 5 seconds. Put the kibbles down and rub your fingers together. They will feel slightly greasy (with some dog foods your fingers will feel very greasy). You are feeling animal fat that has been sprayed on the outside of every kibble your dog eats, completely encapsulating each kibble your dog eats. DO YOU WANT THAT ANIMAL FAT CLOGGING YOUR DOG'S ARTERIES AND INTESTINES?
WHAT WE BELIEVE: You wouldn't pour greasy animal fat down into your garbage disposal because you know that not only would it clog it, but if you left it there overnight the grease would harden like cement and likely ruin your garbage disposal. So, when you realize that, WHY WOULD YOU OR ANYONE ELSE WHO LOVES THEIR DOG EVER FEED THEIR DOG A FOOD THAT IS COMPLETELY COATED WITH ANIMAL FAT?
WHAT IS THE CRUDE FAT CONTENT ON THE BAG OF DOG FOOD THAT YOU ARE FEEDING TO YOUR DOG?
Next to the list of Ingredients (required by law on every bag of dog food) is a Chart entitled "Guaranteed Analysis" (also required by law on every bag of dog food). Look at the percentage of CRUDE FAT in the food you are feeding your dog and compare it to the 9% of fat in Gentle Giants Natural Non GMO Ingredients Dog and Puppy Food. We believe that any more fat in your dog's food than 9 or 10 percent is excessive and not to your dog's benefit.
Feeding dogs high-fat foods, including fatty human foods like meat trimmings, can lead to a potentially life-threatening condition called pancreatitis. And because fats contain almost three times as many calories as proteins and carbohydrates, adding extra fat to a dog's diet can lead to obesity.
PUBLISHED ARTICLE: Health issues in dogs and cats caused by excessive fat percentage content in the food they eat:
- Excessive fat in a dog or cat's food can lead to a range of health issues, most notably obesity, which in turn can cause problems like diabetes mellitus, joint pain (arthritis), heart disease, respiratory issues, liver disease, skin problems, decreased immune function, and a reduced lifespan; essentially, excess fat can contribute to a multitude of health concerns due to the extra calories and potential strain on the body's systems.
Specific health issues related to high fat diets in pets:- Diabetes:
Excess fat can lead to insulin resistance, increasing the risk of developing diabetes.
- Diabetes:
- Pancreatitis:
A high-fat diet can trigger pancreatitis, a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. - Liver disease:
Obesity linked to high-fat diets can lead to fatty liver disease (hepatic lipidosis). - Arthritis:
Extra weight puts pressure on joints, accelerating the development of arthritis. - Cardiovascular disease:
Obesity can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease. - Respiratory problems:
Excess weight can put strain on the respiratory system, especially in breeds with flat faces. - Skin issues:
Overweight pets may struggle to groom themselves properly, leading to skin infections. - Urinary tract issues:
Obesity can contribute to urinary tract problems in cats. - Reduced fertility:
In both male and female pets, obesity can negatively impact reproductive health. - Consult your veterinarian: Always discuss your pet's dietary needs with your vet to ensure they are getting the right amount and type of fat based on their breed, activity level, and overall health.
- Read food labels carefully: Pay attention to the fat content listed on pet food
PUBLISHED ARTICLE: Too Much Fat In Dog Food Can Be A Problem
Low tolerance to dietary fat
Some dogs develop chronic Diarrhea because they have a low tolerance to fat in their diets. Simply switching these dogs to a low-fat dog food can result in normal poop within a few weeks! So, for some dogs with chronic or intermittent sloppy bowel motions, a food trial with a restricted fat diet may be helpful. If successful, an improvement will usually be seen within 3 weeks. Remember, before embarking on a diet change to treat Diarrhea, it is important to consult with your veterinarian to rule out other medical causes of Diarrhea through appropriate diagnostics tests such as blood and fecal analysis.
Pancreatitis
Unlike humans, a dog’s gastrointestinal system cannot handle a diet too high in fat. In fact, in some dogs, this can trigger a nasty cascade of events leading to pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is a severe inflammatory disease affecting the pancreas, which is the organ responsible for digestive enzyme and insulin production. Under normal circumstance, the digestive enzymes are activated once they reach the stomach. However, in the case of pancreatitis, the enzymes are activated too early, within the pancreas itself, leading to a painful and potentially life-threatening condition known as an acute abdomen.
ANSWER 4: NO EXCESSIVE PROTEIN IN GENTLE GIANTS NATURAL NON GMO DOG AND PUPPY FOOD:
PUBLISHED ARTICLE: Why is high protein bad for dogs? Protein Overload and Kidney Function (NIH Gov). This process can be particularly taxing for the kidneys, potentially leading to strain, with studies showing it is a cause of kidney dysfunction, and even long-term damage, especially in dogs with pre-existing kidney conditions.
Additional Medical illnesses:
EXCESSIVE PROTEIN AS A CAUSE FOR HYPERTROPHIC OSTEODYSTROPHY:
PUBLISHED ARTICLE: What is Bone Inflammation (Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy)?
The rapid growth rate of some puppies and juvenile dogs can cause abnormalities in their bones, such as with Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy. With Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy, your puppy’s legs (usually only the front two) get swollen around the growth plates most often in the radius, tibia, and ulna. The bones that are the most severely influenced are the ones that grow the fastest. Although it primarily only affects the front two legs, it can also occur in the paws, ribs, and jaw. This is usually seen within the first few months of life, but some dogs do not have any signs of it until they are two or three years old. It is an incredibly painful disease that can be bad enough to make the dog lame, and if the damage is severe, it can cause permanent disability. The cause is still unknown, but veterinary experts suspect a diet high in protein, low vitamin C levels, or a reaction to an immunization shot may have something to do with it.
PUBLISHED ARTICLE: While the exact cause of Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD) is unknown, a diet excessively high in protein is considered a potential contributing factor, particularly in young, rapidly growing large breed dogs, as it may put stress on bone development and potentially lead to abnormal bone growth associated with HOD.
Excessive Protein as a cause for Panosteitis: Yes, high-protein diets are a suspected cause of panosteitis in dogs:
Prevention: To help prevent panosteitis, you can feed your large-breed puppy a high-quality puppy food formulated for large breeds. You should feed your puppy the recommended amounts on the bag and make sure they are in a healthy body condition.
PUBLISHED ARTICLE: Panosteitis: Growing Pains in Dogs (Veterinary Partner - Created by Veterinarians)
We have all heard the term growing pains, and when this term is applied to dogs, more often than not, it is referring to Panosteitis. Growing pains in children involve leg pains of unclear origin, which generally resolve when the child enters the teen years. Panosteitis in dogs is a specific painful bone condition involving the long leg bones of large breed dogs, generally between ages 5 and 18 months. The condition can be quite painful during its flare-ups but ultimately resolves permanently when the pup outgrows it. As in humans with growing pains, the cause of Panosteitis is not clear-cut. Panosteitis is often referred to as growing pains because of its similarity to the human malady.
Diagnosis of Panosteitis is relatively straightforward. The clinical picture of an adolescent large breed dog with a long bone lameness is suggestive of numerous developmental bone diseases, and Panosteitis is only one of them, but it does have some characteristic features: Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy, Osteochondrosis Dissecans, Panosteitis, etc. In Panosteitis, about three to four male pups are diagnosed for every female, though either sex can get affected.
Further, while larger breeds are more usually affected, any breed potentially could develop this condition.
The lameness can shift from one leg to another and can be accompanied by fever. Painful episodes typically last two to five weeks but recur, often changing legs, until the puppy outgrows the condition. Some individuals experience a recurrence around age 2 years, but again the symptoms simply regress as before.
What Causes Panosteitis?
The most current theory is that the recent trend in high-protein dog foods is to blame. The idea here is that protein accumulation in the bone marrow leads to fluid accumulation and swelling inside the bone. Because the bone is a rigid structure and cannot expand, pressure is exerted on the blood vessels, leading to tissue death, inflammation, and the Panosteitis phenomenon.
2. Who are the people that developed Gentle Giants Natural Non GMO Ingredients Dog and Puppy Food and what is their experience with feeding and caring for dogs?
Founders of Gentle Giants Natural Non GMO Ingredients Dog and Puppy Food, Burt Ward and Tracy Ward have operated the world's largest giant breed dog rescue for more than 30 years and have personally saved more than 15,500 dogs and hundreds of cats in the since the first week in August of 1994. All 15,500 dogs have lived IN THEIR HOME WITH THEM AS MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY for the entire 30 years. Every dog and cat was found a safe, loving forever home.
Living in their home as members of their family, and personally caring for about 50 dogs at a time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year for 30 years has given them a level of expertise unequaled by anyone else. They have hands on experience and knowledge of feeding and caring for dogs that they loving share with everyone who contacts them. Burt and Tracy will spend hours of time answering endless questions and helping people learn to properly care for their dog and to properly feed their dog to maximize the health and longevity of each dog's precious life.
Burt and Tracy take no salary from the daily assistance they provide to loving pet owners who reach out to them, and they take no salary from the sales of their pet foods to help keep their wonderful food as affordable as possible so all pets can benefit. Theirs is an effort of love with a goal to help all precious pets live the longest, healthiest, happiest lives possible. And they have succeeded at that. First with their own dogs.
Tracy and Burt have succeeded in extending the lives of their rescue dogs significantly, with one of their dogs living an amazing healthy life up to 27 1/2 years. Currently, 5 of their rescue dogs are over 20 years of age. Equally important, Burt and Tracy's dogs are so healthy eating Gentle Giants Natural Non GMO Dog and Puppy Food and following their Special Feeding and Care Program that they rarely need to see a veterinarian except every 3 years for a rabies vaccination.
Second, after many years of feeding Gentle Giants to their own dogs, pet parents who have followed Gentle Giants Special Feeding and Care Program and fed Gentle Giants Natural Non GMO Dog and Puppy Food to their own dogs are getting the same results - incredible constant good health and amazing longevity.
Scott Johnson has been feeding Gentle Giants Natural Non GMO Dog and Puppy Food for more than 16 years to his dog Lucky who turned 30 years old on January 3, 2024. Lucky is still in excellent good health and will be 31 years old on January 3, 2025.
When Scott got Lilly, she was constantly having seizures. But since feeding her Gentle Giants her seizures have stopped.
On April 28, 2024, Burt and Tracy were awarded four prestigious awards for their life's work of helping all pets live the longest, healthiest, happiest life possible with a wonderful quality of life.
