If you are an owner of a french bulldog, you must be aware of all the extraordinary and endless rewards packed in a tiny body. They have huge personalities and are very playful.
These dogs are very good with children, and because of their small size, they don’t take a lot of space. A special dog needs a special kind of diet to stay healthy, and you need to be very careful when looking to buy food for french bulldogs.
These dogs have different nutritional needs at each stage of their life, from puppy to old (senior) life stage. In this article, we will discuss all the nutritional needs of french bulldogs and review the best recommendations for them.
What Nutritions does a French Bulldog Needs?
Generally speaking, french bulldogs are not picky eaters; they will eat just about anything you give them without complaints. They seem to be classy and picky, but appearances can be deceiving.
If your french bulldog is not eating right, you should contact a vet to check. Normally whatever you give them they will eat it in minutes and this habit of them eating anything can bring trouble.
To cut to the chase, french bulldogs are not conscious. Whether what they are eating is good for them or not, you have to take care of this problem and be extra careful. You are responsible for knowing the behaviour of your dog and what it should and shouldn’t eat.
Especially when they are vulnerable to diseases in their younger days, so make sure to pay proper attention to what they eat.
The French bulldogs don’t need anything special or different from other dogs when it comes to nutritional needs. Like any normal dog, they need high-quality fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
The generous quantity and good quality of food make sure that they grow up healthy and without any problems.
Below we have mentioned all the nutritional needs and diets of a french bulldog.
1. Low-Fat Diet:
Unlike other types of dogs, french bulldogs require fewer calories due to their smaller bodies. Considering the calorie count, they also need less fat, and food with a lot of fats will make them overweight which is not good for dogs.
On top of that, they don’t have very strong active personalities, so they need less energy. Considering these points, choosing food with less fat content is essential for their health.
2. Moderate to Low Calories Diet:
As we said earlier, french bulldogs require less energy; they might seem very playful and energetic, but they do not require any kind of vigorous exercise. Just a normal walk daily is enough for them to stay fit.
The calorie count depends upon the need, but with french bulldogs, it is very low. If left to themselves, they do not mind spending the entire day lying in one place. If your dog is consuming high-calorie food, it will turn them obese, and they will suffer from complications.
For a dog, gaining weight is easy, but losing it is a different story altogether. If we look at the average calorie count for an adult french bulldog per day, it comes around at 550 to 600 calories/day.
This number is even less for older french bulldogs coming in at 400 to 470 calories per day. If your french bulldog is super active (which is quite rare), then they might need anywhere from 700 to 800 calories per day.
Keeping this in mind, select a dog food that has a lower calorie count and always measure the food before giving it to your dog.
3. Low Carbohydrates:
Unlike the hyperactive dog species, the French bulldogs are not that hard to work. They can be very sluggish and even spend an entire day without moving at all. The French bulldogs can develop food allergies, gas and can also lead to poor skin and coat.
These dogs require fewer calories as well as fewer carbohydrates. This dog is, in the truest of scenes, a lapdog.
4. Micronutrients:
Micronutrients like minerals and vitamins are the backbone of any living creature. Just like other living creatures, French bulldogs also require a proper dose of microprotein for optimal health. They need a good amount of calcium and phosphorus from their bones to grow strong and properly.
Minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc and vitamins like A, B, C also have a major factor in the proper growth of a bulldog.
5. Moderate Proteins:
When it comes to body type and build, French bulldogs are very similar to bulldogs. They have well-developed muscles and are stocky. They might be small in size, but they still need a proper diet for their bodies to develop properly.
A french bulldog needs moderate levels of proteins to have proper growth. Another thing to keep in mind is to make sure that the proteins are animal-based as they are easier to digest. Plant-based proteins can also be used, but they lack a few essential amino acids that help in the dogs’ growth.
French bulldogs are susceptible to developing allergies, and it is also the reason for choosing a diet with less protein. More often than not, protein is the main reason for french bulldogs to develop food allergies.
Do French Bulldogs need Special Diets?
When it comes to french bulldogs, they do not require any kind of special food. Like any other dog, they are prone to being overweight, which leads to several problems that are hard to get rid of.
These problems include hindrance in walking, heart problems, stress on joints, breathing issues, and spine problems. If left unchecked, these will lead to a very painful death.
So it means that your french bulldog does not require any special food, but it does require proper attention to its diet. Foods with fewer proteins, carbs, and fats are a good bet for keeping your dog healthy.
Almost every issue about your french bulldog can be removed by making sure that they are good and stay healthy.
How to Choose the Best Food for French Bulldogs?
When it comes to dog food, you might think it’s all the same and won’t pay much attention to detail. This could lead to poor health conditions for your dog and immature growth. Every dog species might possess some similarities, but they are different in many ways, and in the case of a unique dog breed like french bulldogs, it is especially prominent.
Dogs do not need grains in their diet; it is also recommended to avoid any dog food with soy, wheat, corn, high protein, and carb count. French bulldogs are not very active compared to other dogs, so high levels of protein and carbs will make them obese.
Unnecessary things like artificial food flavourings, hormones, fillers, or any kind of genetically modified organisms can also lead to bad health and improper development. It is easy to tell what the dog food is made from by reading the list of ingredients on the back of the box.
Keep the food simple and use fewer ingredients to make sure that your dog stays healthy. With fewer ingredients, you can choose high-end food and do not worry about nutrients.
French bulldogs are a very gentle and loving dog breed. For proper growth, they need good food as well as love and care. Make sure to have a vet’s opinion on the best diet and ingredients for your french bulldog.
We are only providing the general information for normal dogs, hyperactive dogs, or malnourished dogs that need different diets, so be sure to contact a vet as well to get a professional opinion.
Below we have mentioned some essential things to consider when buying dog food for french bulldogs.
1. Calorie Count:
The French bulldogs have a very high tendency to gain weight very easily due to lower activity levels. Choosing food with less calorie count per serving is essential for maintaining good health.
Puppies and senior french bulldogs require less calorie count than the adult french bulldog. On average, an adult French bulldog might require about 780 calories per day which are divided into three meals a day.
It also depends upon the condition of your dog as well whether it is overweight or malnourished. You should have a general idea about things concerning your pet, but you should visit a vet for more professional and in-depth knowledge.
A vet will take into consideration the health and age of your dog and determine the average calorie count for your dog. You should always consult your vet before selecting dog food and its amount.
2. Age:
Age plays an important role in your dog food selection. There are dog foods that specially focus on the different stages of life of a dog. If you have a puppy, always go for puppy food and the same for the adult and senior french bulldogs.
Do not feed an adult french bulldog the food of a puppy because it has fewer calories than the recommended amount for an adult. Make sure to know your dog’s age and select food according to it.
3. Weight Control:
It is very easy for french bulldogs to become overweight as they have low activity levels. They are very beautiful and even cuter with round chubby faces, but their health is more important than being cuter.
The recommended weight for a french bulldog is about 28 pounds. This is the optimal weight for a french bulldog, and if your dog is already above the weight limit, then you need to cut back on the food.
The first thing to do is contact your vet and, with their suggestion, select a food that is specially designed for weight loss. This dog food must have a lower calorie count and low protein as french bulldogs are very sluggish.
If your dog is close to the limit of weight recommended for bulldogs, then make sure to keep an eye on what your dog eats.
4. Activity Level of your Dog:
French bulldogs are playful and loving dogs. They also go well with families with children as they are good with them and are protective of them. All in all, french bulldogs are very sluggish and tire out quickly.
French bulldogs do not require any special exercise; all they need is a walk regularly. It is very important to pick the food for your dog with their activity levels in mind. For normal activity levels, dogs choose food that has low to moderate levels of carbs and proteins.
Proteins are a lot more to consider as they are burnt last first; they have to burn carbs and fats. If your dog has a diet with high levels of fats and carbs, you should change it to something with fewer fats.
As we said, earlier french bulldogs require less energy from food due to their low activity level. If you are feeding them with high protein and fat foods, you will have a round ball instead of a dog in no time at all.
How to Tell if your Dog is Ready for a New Diet?
Before we review the best dog food for your french bulldog, we want to mention some essential things to know about adjusting your french bulldog’s diet. A dog’s digestive system is very sensitive to changes, and a quick change of food might leave them with an upset stomach.
It is important that you first introduce them to the new food and then change it with a small dosage over time. You might think that all dogs like expensive food, but your dog might leave the food altogether.
To be frank, it is not the food’s fault, but the sudden change in the diet causes the dog to stop eating. Slowly introduce your dog to the new food and, for several days, change the previous diet with the new.
Best Food for French Bulldog Review:
To ensure the best possible quality and your dog having a strong immune system, we have looked through a lot of different products online. To save you the time and energy of searching for individual dog food, we have prepared the list of best dog food for your french bulldog.
Royal Canin French Bulldog Puppy Dry Dog Food
- Loved by all dogs.
- Affordable price.
- Available at most dog food shops.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- For puppies
- Dry
- 5, 14 ,28-pound packs
Sojos Complete Natural Freeze-Dried Natural Raw & Dehydrated Grain-Free Dog Food
- It is recommended for adult dogs
- Raw
- 1, 2, 4, and 7-pound bags
Wellness Core Natural Reduced Fat Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- It is recommended For adults
- Wet and dry
- 8, 31, 40-pound bags
Detailed Review of Products:
1. Royal Canin French Bulldog Puppy Dry Dog Food
- Loved by all dogs.
- Affordable price.
- Available at most dog food shops.
- Almost no meat involved.
- Very small amounts of natural ingredients are used.
The first product is specifically made for french bulldogs puppies. It is dry dog food and is perfect for pups of age eight weeks to 12 months. These perfect pellet-shaped treats are really easy for the pups to pick up and eat.
It helps in improving a pup’s immune system and natural defences against diseases and allergies. The Royal Canin reinforces the skin of the pup to give them a beautiful coat of fur and healthy skin.
The Royal Canin also helps improve pups’ immune systems and reduces gas and odor due to the highly digestive proteins and fiber content. It is made with Brewers rice and chicken (bones and joints). It also contains beet pulp and wheat.
2. Taste of the Wild High Prairie Puppy Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- The high protein content of 28 percent.
- It has omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
- It is grain-free and similar to what one eats in the wild.
- Difficult to source and not widely available.
- A bit expensive.
The taste of high wild prairie comes in many different flavours for french bulldogs for any age. It is made from roasted bison and roasted venison and is dry dog food. It has a high protein content of about 28 per cent so that the puppy has stronger bones, stronger muscles, and joints.
It is very nutritional and provides the perfect amount of energy for your french bulldog to make it through the day. This dog food gets the minerals from fruits and also has superfood. Every serving of this delicious treat has K9 strain proprietary probiotics that help in healthy digestion and a better immune system.
3. Sojos Complete Natural Freeze-Dried Natural Raw & Dehydrated Grain-Free Dog Food
- For optimum quality control, it is made in small batches.
- Take less space.
- It has no artificial preservatives.
- Affordable.
- It needs to be soaked in water, so it takes longer to prepare the meal.
Sojos complete is the perfect choice for dog owners who like to give their pups the best and natural food. The Sojos complete does not have any added grain and is also gluten-free.
The benefit of raw food is that it has higher nutritional value as cooking removes some of the nutritions. It also has a comparable shelf life to dry food as it is dehydrated. The preparation of Sojos complete is very simple and only requires water.
Add water to the dehydrated mat and wait for 15 minutes and serve.
4: Purina One Smart Blend Natural:
Purina one smart blend is among the best dog food for adult french bulldogs, and almost every dog owner has heard of it if not used it. This is the perfect choice of food if you want your french bulldog to cut on his weight.
Purina one smart blend contains 15 per cent fewer calories than the Purina lamb and rice. So if you want weight control, then go with the one smart blend with turkey option. It also contains 25 % less fat, so you can be sure of your dog’s health.
It comes in both dry and wet styles, so you can use whichever one you like or rather your dog likes. The antioxidant blend helps support the immune system and protects against allergies.
5. Wellness Core Natural Reduced Fat Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- A lot of meat.
- It has a less fat option.
- No meat by-products.
- It can cause an upset tummy for some dogs.
Wellness core natural french bulldog food is very efficient and offers great protection and a balance of nutrition. It is available in both grain-free and grain recipes, whichever one your dog prefers.
It also has limited ingredients, so it is good for food-sensitive dogs as well. It is made from fresh meat ingredients and has a high concentration of proteins. The high protein and omega acids from the fresh ingredients give the dog a really shiny coat and a healthy coat.
It is made in the USA, and the freshest and globally available ingredients are used in the preparation. The omega fatty acids, glucosamine, antioxidants, taurine, and probiotics ensure a healthy immune system and a healthy heart.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How much dog food is for a six-month-old French bulldog?
At six months of age, you should use a bodyweight chart to know the exact amount of food for your french bulldog. On average, you should give about 2 to 2.5 cups a day three times a day.
What is the best diet for a French bulldog?
A french bulldog’s diet should include a healthy amount of high-quality animal-derived proteins, meat, and fish.
Conclusion:
Health is very important whether it is your own or your french bulldogs. Today’s foods have a lot of different things that might be harmful to the immune system, so choosing a good dog food is very important.
The guide above should be very helpful in choosing the best dog food for your French bulldogs.
