Best Dog Food for English Bulldogs

What Should English Bulldogs Eat?

To maintain optimal health, Bulldogs need high-quality dog food. It does not matter whether this food is home-made or commercially-made as long as quality ingredients are used that are essential to your dog’s health. You should always consult your veterinarian before feeding your dog a new diet to ensure you give them the proper nutrition. Make sure your dog’s diet is age-appropriate. You’ll need to provide your Bulldog puppy differently than a Bulldog adult. Bulldog seniors will need a different diet than puppies and adults. 

Another thing to keep in mind is your dog’s weight. This breed is particularly susceptible to weight gain to the point of becoming unhealthily overweight. For this reason, you’ll want to keep an eye on your pup’s weight and caloric intake. A healthy weight for adult male is around 50 pounds, while a healthy weight for an adult female Bulldog is about 40 pounds. Fat Bulldogs may be cute, but they are not healthy.

Compare the 7 Best Bulldog Food Recommendations

What is the Best Dog Food for English Bulldogs?

Protein is one of the best ingredients for a balanced diet. All dogs need a fair amount of protein to develop strong, lean muscle mass. Protein is particularly important for the English Bulldog’s body type. For puppies, the protein will help them build muscle. For adults, the protein will help them maintain lean muscle. 

In addition to protein, fat content is essential because it provides energy for your pup. Although fat is good for your dog, it is necessary to control your dog’s intake of fat to keep this amount in moderation. Ideally, your pup should be getting protein and fat from animal sources. The reason for this is because your Bulldog’s digestive system is designed for this type of food.  

After protein and moderate amounts of fat, your Bulldog should be consuming carbohydrates to get the best benefits from the fiber, essential nutrients, and energy. It is good to feed your pet with carbs from digestible sources, including vegetables, legumes, beans, and grains.

Some English Bulldogs may be prone to allergies. For this reason, you may need to omit the grains from your pup’s diet and stick to the other carb sources. To ensure your dog gets plenty of fiber, look for foods that contain prebiotic fibers with a total fiber content of about 5 percent.  

Your English Bulldog may benefit from some supplements in addition to protein, fats, and carbs. The best dog supplements such as chelated minerals give your dog’s bones and joints support by binding with protein molecules to improve absorption, chondroitin, and glucosamine. Additionally, supplements like prebiotics support your dog’s healthy gut flora, and probiotics help keep your pup’s digestion regular.   

Do Bulldogs Have Special Dietary Needs? 

The English Bulldog is a medium-sized dog breed. Bulldogs typically live for 8 to 10 years, a relatively short lifespan for dogs of this size. This short life span may be due to the various health conditions for which Bulldogs are susceptible. Common health conditions for Bulldogs include allergies, patellar luxation, reverse sneezing, brachycephalic syndrome, gastric torsion, entropion, cherry eye, demodectic mange, hip dysplasia, and skin fold dermatitis.  

Eye Conditions Common in Bulldogs

Bulldogs are prone to developing eye conditions such as dry eye, entropion, and cherry eye. Cherry eye is a condition that happens to English Bulldogs when glands underneath the eyelid protrude in the corner of their eye. Entropion is a condition in which your dog’s eyelashes grow inward and irritate their eyes. Dry eye occurs when tear production is not sufficient, causing your dog’s eyes to become dry. 

Musculoskeletal Conditions Common in Bulldogs

English Bulldogs may develop several different musculoskeletal conditions caused by their body’s mass and compressed build. Your dog may develop hip dysplasia, a common condition that causes hip and joint pain. Another common musculoskeletal condition is patellar luxation. Dog’s with patellar luxation have kneecaps that will slip out of place.

If your Bulldog has either hip dysplasia or patellar luxation, they are more susceptible to developing arthritis. You can help manage these health conditions in your pup by supplementing their diet with chondroitin and glucosamine. These supplements may also help to reduce your dog’s risk of developing arthritis later on.  

Food Allergies Common in Bulldogs

Other health conditions common in English Bulldogs include obesity and food allergies. Your pet can develop an allergy to any type of food. However, Bulldogs are most commonly prone to food allergies to ingredients such as grains, wheat, and corn wheat.

Food allergies to specific proteins are common as well. English Bulldogs are susceptible to developing allergies to foods such as beef, chicken, and pork. If you are worried about your pup developing a food allergy, try feeding them a diet free of grains. You may also want to limit the amount of certain types of food you give your pup to reduce the risk of developing an allergy.  

Gastric torsion (or bloat) is a condition where the stomach gets twisted up and cuts off the blood flow to your dog’s heart. This condition can frequently occur in English Bulldogs due to their deep-set chest cavity. If your pup overeats too quickly or drinks too much water too quickly, gastric torsion can occur.

Additionally, if your dog exercises too soon after eating or swallows a bunch of air, they can get bloat. One of the best ways to avoid gastric torsion is to help your dog maintain healthy body weight, feeding them the proper proportion of food, and waiting awhile after mealtime to exercise them. 

Diet for an English Bulldog Puppy

Bulldog puppies need a diet that contains protein as a first ingredient, carbs, and a little bit of fat for healthy development. Your puppy will do well on a quality puppy formula.

Check to see that the protein and fat percentages are around 20 percent for protein and 10 percent for fats. Avoid formulas with higher fat content because too much fat can cause your pup to gain more weight than healthy.  

Diet for an English Bulldog Adult

Your English Bulldog will be almost full grown by 12 months of age. When your pup gets to this stage of development where they are about ¾ the way to their full adult size, you should switch them over to an adult diet.

For adult Bulldog’s, a diet that contains between 18 and 30 percent protein and 5 and 16 percent fat is ideal. Avoid going below the minimum or over the maximum protein and fat percentages to keep your Bulldog at their healthiest weight.  

Diet for an English Bulldog Senior 

When your Bulldog reaches their senior years, they will start slowing down. This slow-down and inactivity can sometimes lead to unhealthy weight gain in older dogs. For this reason, you may want to switch your senior dog over to a low-fat diet or a formula made specifically for senior dogs.

The Best Dog Food for English Bulldogs: Our Top Picks

Look for dog food made from high-quality ingredients that include the appropriate type and amounts of animal proteins, fats, digestible carbs, and dietary supplements. Now that you’ve got a good idea of your dog’s nutritional requirements, you can shop for the best dog food for your pup. 

Canidae Life Stages Dog Food

The Canidae Life Stages Dry Dog Food for Bulldogs is for Puppies, Adults, and Seniors. This dry dog food is made with high-quality ingredients, starting with protein from chicken meal, turkey meal, lamb meal, and fish meal. For carbohydrates, Canidae uses brown rice, papaya, and peas. Probiotics help keep your dog’s digestion regular.

Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids are included as well. These fatty acids help to keep your dog looking healthy. Just as important as the ingredients included in Canidae Life Stages dog food are the ingredients that are left out. Canidae does not use any fillers or artificial ingredients in their recipes. Additionally, this Canidae recipe does not use any wheat, corn, or soy ingredients to which these pups may be allergic. 

Features

• Proteins: Chicken meal, lamb meal, turkey meal, fish meal
• Carbs: brown rice, peas, papaya
• Omega Fatty Acids

Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Bulldog

The Royal Canin Breed Health Nutrition Bulldog Adult dry dog food is good food for English Bulldogs because it supports their specific digestive and nutritional needs. The Royal Canin formula starts with chicken meal protein and a brown rice carbohydrate. Particular vitamins and mineral supplements help reduce pain from joint inflammation and hip dysplasia. Salmon oil helps to keep your Bulldog’s coat looking healthy.   

Features

• Chicken meall
• Brown rice
• Salmon oil

Wellness CORE RawRev Grain-Free Original Recipe

The Wellness CORE RawRev Grain-Free Original Recipe with Freeze-Dried Protein features high-protein dry food combined with freeze-dried raw animal protein pieces. With Wellness CORE RawRev, you get high protein dry kibble with freeze-dried de-boned chicken meal and turkey.

This recipe is grain-free, which is the best food for many English Bulldogs that are commonly allergic to grains. Instead of grains, the company uses peas and potatoes for its carbohydrate sources. In addition to high-quality proteins and grain-free carbs, Wellness CORE recipes include chelated minerals, probiotics, and omega fatty acids to promote digestive health.  

Features

• Proteins: de-boned turkey and chicken
• Carbs: potatos and peas
• Omega Fatty acids, minerals, probiotics

Taste Of The Wild High Protein Adult Dry Food

The Taste Of The Wild High Protein Adult Dry Food is some of the best dry dog food for Bulldog adults. This recipe starts with real buffalo as the first ingredient, combined with chicken, bison, and lamb for a protein-rich recipe (32 percent protein) your dog will love. This recipe contains ancient grains for carbohydrates, healthy omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. 

Features

• Proteins: Buffalo, chicken, bison, lamb
• Carbs: ancient grains
• Omega Fatty Acids

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Salmon Adult Recipe

The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Salmon Adult Recipe is designed specifically for dogs with sensitive tummies. This recipe starts with high-quality proteins (34 percent), including chicken meal and fresh salmon. Carbs are grain-free, and healthy fats (15 percent) are used. Blue Buffalo uses fresh fruits and vegetables combined with omega fatty acids, synthetic vitamins, and chelated minerals. All of these ingredients combine for a balanced nutritious diet your pup will love.   

Features

• Proteins: Chicken meal, fresh salmon
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Omega Fatty Acids

Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe

The Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe is great for dogs with food allergies. This company sells Bulldog dog food with limited ingredient grain-free recipes to support your pup’s nutritional diet needs. The lamb and sweet potato recipe features de-boned lamb and grain-free, digestible carbs such as lentils and chickpeas. On top of this, there are omega fatty acids and chelated minerals for a healthy digestive system. 

Features

• Proteins: de-boned lamb
• Carbs: lentils and chickpeas
• Omega Fatty Acids, chelated minerals

How Much Food Should I Feed My Bulldog? 

To keep your pup in good shape, feed them a well-balanced diet of high-quality ingredients in the right portions to help maintain healthy body weight. For puppies, you will likely need to feed them three meals per day to ensure proper growth and development.

When your pup becomes an adult, two meals will probably be more appropriate to ensure your pup does not gain excess weight. It is a good rule of thumb to feed adult pups between one-half cup to two full cups of food each day. Give your pet half of this daily allotment in the morning, and the other half in the evening around the same time every day to maintain regular digestion.  

If you are not sure how much to feed your dog, start by choosing the right food. Look for high-quality ingredients with lots of protein and just a little bit of fat. Then, check the feeding recommendations for your dog’s weight and age. You may need to adjust your pup’s portion size a little over time. It is a good idea to keep an eye on your dog’s weight if you notice them gaining too much or losing too much, that is when you should adjust their portion sizes.  

Feeding Your English Bulldog

Now that you’ve found the best dog food for English Bulldog, you’ll need to think about feeding your dog and storing the food. Most adult English Bulldogs will eat from one-quarter cup to one full cup of dog food per meal. For this reason, it is a good idea to get a bowl large enough to hold one cup of food.

Not all dog bowls are created equal. You want a bowl that is safe, durable, and easy to keep clean. The most durable materials for dog bowls are stainless steel or ceramic. A bonus is that these materials are easy to clean. They also do not hold on to bacteria like plastic dishes are prone to do. Since these dogs are susceptible to overeating too fast and getting bloated, you may want to look into getting a slow-feed dog bowl for your pup. Store your dog’s food in a sealed air-tight container to keep it fresh.  

When to Feed Your English Bulldog

Food for Bulldogs should be portioned out to provide the appropriate caloric intake each day. For this reason, you may want to consider dividing your dog’s daily potions into two to four meals (depending on your dog’s age, weight, and activity level).

You may want to feed your pup half their daily food in the morning and the other half in the evening. Breaking up your Bulldog’s meals in this way will help with healthy digestion versus feeding them all of their food at one time. Would you want to eat your breakfast, lunch, and dinner in one sitting?  

If you pile a large amount of food into your dog’s dish, they will likely continue to eat until there is no food left. This overeating causes weight gain, bloating, and digestive discomfort. Bloating, in particular, is dangerous for this breed. Give your dog multiple smaller meals throughout the day rather than one large meal to avoid bloating.  

What Foods Can Bulldogs Eat? 

English Bulldogs are known to be prone to allergies to certain foods. To help prevent your dog from eating something they may be allergic to, give them the highest-quality food possible. Some pet owners prefer to feed their pups a raw diet to provide them with the closest food they would be eating in the wild.

You can also give your dog freeze-dried food or dehydrated food. These foods are usually a little bit less expensive than fresh or raw foods but still provide your pup with the nutrition they need.

There are also many high-quality kibble brands you can try. Look for kibble made from all-natural ingredients and fortified with supplements. Wet food is a good option if you are looking to feed your pup a higher protein diet; however, dry kibble is better for your dog’s teeth.

The kind of food that will be best for your pet will depend on several factors. Consider your dog’s health, age, weight, and dietary needs to determine the best option. If you are uncertain, you may want to ask your veterinarian for advice.  

Proteins

Bulldogs are omnivorous, so they thrive on a protein-rich diet. Protein provides your pup with amino acids that help to keep your dog’s body in good working shape. If your dog is not getting enough protein in their diet, it could lead to weakness and even organ failure.

When you look for protein in your dog’s food, it is essential to consider the source of the protein in addition to the amount of protein. Look for all-natural meats. Raw meats are even better. Avoid processed proteins and animal by-products. Your dog will thrive on proteins from chicken, beef, and fish.  

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are essential to a balanced diet because they provide your pup with fuel for energy. Your dog needs to eat the right type and amount of carbohydrates. Some dog food manufacturers will over-use carbohydrates in their formulas because carbs are a relatively cheap ingredient compared to proteins.

However, too many carbohydrates contribute to unwanted weight gain. Additionally, low-quality carbs are not suitable for your pup either. Avoid simple starches such as corn. Look for slow-burning carbs like barley, brown rice, and sweet potatoes to give your dog the energy they need while keeping their weight in check.  

Can Bulldogs Eat Grains? 

For a lot of dogs, grains are fine to eat. However, Bulldogs, in particular, are commonly allergic to grains. For this reason, you may want to opt for a grain-free diet to avoid any allergic reactions.  

Fats

Your dog needs a small amount of fat in their diet. Manufactured dog foods typically contain an appropriate amount of fat content. However, it is always a smart idea to check the label just in case. Some lower quality foods may have higher than desirable fat contents compared to higher quality dog food brands.

Fats and fatty acids are essential to a healthy Bulldog diet. Fats can help your dog’s body absorb the vitamins and nutrients in their food and help with the digestion process. These fatty acids help to keep your dog’s coat looking healthy and shiny. The best kind of fats will come from animal sources. You may also want to look for dog foods that add Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Look for fat sources like flaxseed oil, fish oil, and animal fats. 

Fruits & Vegetables

There are a lot of vegetables that are great for your Bulldog’s nutrition. Veggies like asparagus, brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, green beans, peas, pumpkin, spinach, and sweet potatoes are great additions to any dog’s diet. Look for dog foods that contain a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Your dog’s primary source of essential vitamins and minerals is these fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are a necessary addition to your dog’s primary protein source, carbohydrates, and fats. Do not feed your dog a diet of only fruits and vegetables, however. They need the other ingredients as well for a well-rounded, healthy diet.  

What Should You Never Feed Your English Bulldog?

While there are many great healthy foods to feed your pup there are also a few to avoid. Some foods are not suitable for dogs; others can be downright harmful. For this reason, it is essential to be careful about what kinds of foods you introduce to your pet. Some human foods are not safe for dogs. The following list comprises foods you should never give to your pup. 

Alcohol

Adult humans may enjoy an alcoholic beverage once in a while. However, dogs should not share your beer. Alcohol causes severe vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. In some cases, alcohol can have adverse effects on your dog’s nervous system, such as loss of coordination and trouble breathing. Worst case scenario, your pup could go into a coma and die. Smaller dogs have an even greater risk of adverse effects of alcohol than larger dogs.  

Avocado

Keep your dog away from avocados and avocado plants. Avocados contain a substance called persin that can be toxic to dogs if consumed in a large quantity. You don’t want your dog swallowing an avocado or chewing on the plant and digesting this toxin.  

Caffeine

Large quantities of caffeine can cause tremors, heart palpitations, restlessness, and trouble breathing in dogs. Do not feed your pup anything that contains caffeine.  

Chocolate

Although chocolate may be at the top of the list for many human treats, but it is a no-no for dogs. This is because chocolate contains a toxin called theobromine. In small amounts, theobromine can cause your dog to experience an upset stomach and vomit. In large quantities, your dog could get seizures, tremors, or even die.   

Garlic and Onions

Garlic and onions are yummy additions to many human dishes. They are not suitable for dogs, however. Digestion of garlic and onion in dogs can cause anemia because they damage your pup’s red blood cells. Symptoms of anemia can include weakness, shortness of breath, vomiting, and loss of appetite. 

Grapes

It only takes a few grapes or raisins to make your pet sick. They may vomit and become lethargic. Additionally, some reports suggest a correlation between pets eating grapes and raisins and experiencing kidney failure.   

Milk

Both milk, and dairy products in general, are not suitable for dogs. Milk will upset your Bulldog’s tummy and may cause diarrhea.  

Final Thoughts on the Best Dog Food for Your English Bulldog

Now that we’ve covered the basics of Bulldogs and their dietary requirements, it’s time for you to go shopping for your pup’s new favorite food. To make sure you are giving your Bulldog the best food for their digestion, healthy weight, and nutritional needs, look for high-quality ingredients, plenty of protein, some carbs, and moderate fats and supplements.