Are you a proud French bulldog owner searching for the best food to nourish your furry companion? Look no further, as we’ve got you covered. Finding the right food for your French bulldog can be a daunting task, requiring careful consideration of the nutrients that support their growth and well-being. Puppies, adults, and seniors all have distinct nutritional needs, which makes choosing the optimal formula for your dog critical.
But don’t worry, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore the essential nutrients that every French bulldog needs and offer valuable insights into choosing the best food for your Frenchie. So, keep reading to discover the top food formulas we’ve chosen to help your French bulldog thrive.
Dietary Requirement of French Bulldogs
Average Protein
Although French bulldogs seem quite tiny, their body build resembles other bulldogs. They’re stocky and well-developed.
For this reason, they need protein to maintain that muscle. But, many dog owners go wrong here, feeding their dogs too much protein thinking it’s the right way.
Instead, feed them only a moderate amount of animal-based protein. Going for plant-based protein is alright at times, but animal-based is easier to digest.
Also, plant-based protein doesn’t have amino acids your dogs need to develop muscle.
The breed is susceptible to allergies, so feeding them too much protein can easily trigger the issue.
Low Calorie
This breed is known for its moderate energy levels. They love playing but don’t need too much more than a 20-minute walk in terms of exercise.
Your Frenchie is more likely to enjoy a sedentary lifestyle, which is why it doesn’t need too many calories.
Excess calories can easily lead to obesity because your dog is probably not going to burn all that. So, make sure to check the calorie intake, keeping it at low to moderate at best.
An adult Frenchie needs about 600 calories a day, while a senior needs between 400 and 470 calories. First, however, think about their activity level. The most hyperactive dogs can go for 800 calories a day.
Low Fat
French bulldogs require a lot fewer calories and fat than the rest of bulldogs. This is especially the case for puppies.
Check the fat content of the food you’re interested in, making sure it’s not too high. Most dogs are rather lazy, so too much fat can lead to obesity and other complications.
But, again, go for a bit more fat if you have a hyperactive Frenchie, closely monitoring how this affects their health.
Low Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are essential, but French bulldogs prefer the lower amount. In addition, these dogs tend to develop food allergies and gas problems you can keep at bay with a low-carb diet.
Go for dietary fiber to reduce the risk of these problems developing. They don’t need so many carbs as other breeds due to their sedentary lifestyle.
Fiber
Fiber is critical for your dog’s digestive system, as are carbohydrates. French bulldogs have a sensitive stomach, although they’ll try to gallop everything.
They love eating, but their weak digestive system often can’t handle too much. This is where fiber comes into play as it helps their stomach process the food.
Now, this doesn’t mean fiber will fix the issue, so make sure to keep an eye on what your dog eats.
Micronutrients
Micronutrients like minerals and vitamins are essential for all dogs, and French bulldogs are no different. These are the backbone of each formula, providing your dog with many benefits.
Things like phosphorous and calcium are critical for your dog’s bone development. Other essential micronutrients are zinc, magnesium, iron, potassium, and vitamins A, B, and C.
Top 10 Best Dog Food for French Bulldog
Merrick Lil Plates Small Breed Dry Dog Food with Real Meat
This is a 12-pound bag of grain-free chicken formula, although other variations exist. Beef, salmon, and lamb are also an option with or without healthy grains.
The chicken and sweet potato recipe is one of the most popular options many dogs love. And, it’s formulated specifically for small breeds.
It contains real chicken as the first ingredient, so you can be sure of its quality. Plus, the kibble is small, so your Frenchie won’t struggle to chew it.
The sweet potato in the recipe provides fiber, helping your dog digest the rest of the ingredients. On top of that, it features probiotics and prebiotic fiber.
It’s a grain-free formula, which means it doesn’t contain any peas or lentils that could irritate your dog’s stomach. Finally, this Merrick has glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega-3, and 6 fatty acids.
Standout Features:
Small kibble size
Real chicken
Rich in omega-3 and 6
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Breeders Choice Pet Foods
This might be your best option if you’re after a large bag of quality dog food. It’s a 28-pound bag, although smaller variations exist as well.
The formula contains chicken meal and brown rice, providing your dog with all the nutrients required. However, what stands out the most is that it helps with weight management.
It’s reduced in fat and calories, so it fits less active French bulldogs. Plus, the omega-3 and 6 fatty acids help promote your dog’s skin and coat while also improving their overall health.
Another thing that helps here is the avocado. It does wonders for the skin and coat, but it also helps to boost the immune system.
This Breeders Choice recipe is free of corn, soy, wheat, and by-products. It also doesn’t contain any artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors.
It’s packed with minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins essential for French bulldogs to thrive. And, it’s been around since 1955.
Standout Features:
Rich in vitamins and minerals
No fillers or artificial ingredients
Rich in antioxidants
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Royal Canin French Bulldog Adult Breed Specific
Royal Canin is a well-known brand and a choice of many French bulldog owners. This dry food is meant for dogs at least 12 months old, meeting their specific nutritional needs.
The kibble has the perfect size for this small breed, so your pet is unlikely to struggle. It’s easy to pick up and chew.
The formula is rich in L-carnitine and has just enough fiber and protein this breed benefits from. With this, it supports muscle development and toning.
These proteins are easily digestible, so this should reduce gas, especially since your dog is probably not too active.
All the essential nutrients added help to reinforce the skin barrier and prevent wrinkles. And, you can choose between 17 and 6-pound bags, depending on your dog’s needs.
Standout Features:
Balanced fibers and protein
Easily digestible
Perfectly sized kibble
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Instinct Raw Boost Small Breed Dry Dog Food
This Instinct food is designed specifically for small breeds. It contains natural ingredients but doesn’t have any grains.
It has cage-free chicken as the number one ingredient. Plus, it’s rich in glucosamine, calcium, phosphorus, and chondroitin for bone and joint health these dogs sometimes struggle with.
Apart from being grain-free, it’s also free from artificial colors and preservatives. Instead, it contains small dried food bites rich in fatty acids and probiotics for adults, puppies, and seniors.
This is a chicken recipe, but you can also go for beef or duck if your dog prefers them. As it’s formulated specifically for small breeds like a French bulldog, it contains small kibble that’s easy to pick up and chew.
You can choose between a 4-pound and 10-pound bag depending on how many dogs you have.
Standout Features:
Grain-free formula
Freeze-dried raw bites
Minimally processed ingredients
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Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Sensitive Stomach & Skin Recipes
This Hill’s Science Dry dog food might be your best choice if your dog already has stomach issues. It’s formulated specifically for a sensitive stomach, promoting digestive health as a whole.
It has the perfect amount of prebiotic fiber, which supports the gut microbiome in adult dogs. Plus, all the other ingredients and nutrients are easily digestible, helping to avoid gas and other stomach issues.
This is a chicken and barley recipe many dogs love. And, it comes in a 30-pound bag, which means you won’t have to buy it frequently.
It’s rich in omega-6 fatty acids to promote your dog’s coat and skin. The vitamin E added serves the same purpose, so it won’t take long before you see it working.
Apart from helping with gut health, it also helps to support the heart.
Standout Features:
All-natural ingredients
Vitamin E and Omega-6
Small, easily digestible kibble
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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
Blue Buffalo is another popular brand known for its overall quality. It features real meat as its first ingredient, providing natural protein for your dog’s healthy muscles.
One thing to keep in mind is that it has whole grains. This isn’t a bad thing, but it can be if your dog is allergic. If not, feel free to feed them the formula.
It’s designed specifically for you to manage your dog’s weight. It contains the right amount of calories and protein for your Frenchie to get a satisfying meal without compromising their health.
These bits contain a unique blend of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Holistic veterinarians and nutritionists carefully selected all the ingredients to provide the best for your dog’s immune system.
This particular recipe contains deboned chicken and brown rice. It doesn’t contain by-products, soy, wheat, corn, or any other filler.
Standout Features:
No artificial preservatives or flavors
Carefully selected ingredients
Balanced calories
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Wellness Core Natural Reduced Fat Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
This Wellness Core contains premium proteins and ingredients to help your Frenchie thrive. In addition, it doesn’t have any fillers or by-products that could potentially harm your pet.
It’s a grain-free formula, although it also comes as a limited-ingredient one if your dog doesn’t have as many stomach sensitivities.
The protein levels are designed specifically for this breed. It helps with muscle development but at a level safe for a French bulldog.
Another thing we should mention is the rich ingredient list. It features things like flaxseed and salmon oil for their daily omega fatty acids intake. It also has antioxidants, probiotics, glucosamine, and taurine.
What stands out is that this one is made in the USA, although the ingredients are sourced globally. In addition, it doesn’t have any GMO ingredients, so you can be sure of its quality.
Standout Features:
Deboned turkey
Grain-free, limited ingredients
Supports bones and joints
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Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Healthy Weight Formula Adult Dry Dog Food
Purina is an excellent choice if you’re after a large bag of quality food. It comes in a 31-pound bag, so you won’t have to buy it as frequently.
The formula contains turkey as the first ingredient. Then, it’s blended with other nutrients to bring the best for your dog’s heart, digestive system, and weight.
The protein content is formulated specifically for small breeds like French bulldogs. And, it contains 25% less fat and 15% fewer calories than other Purina recipes.
As a result, it’s more suitable for French bulldogs since they often struggle with obesity if fed too many calories.
It contains natural sources of glucosamine which is meant to help your pup’s joints and bones. This is especially important for developing dogs.
It’s a tasty option dogs love because it contains real meat pieces processed into small kibble. In addition, it smells like real food, so you won’t have to trick your dog into eating it.
Standout Features:
Rich in glucosamine
Omega-6 fatty acids for skin and coat
High-quality protein
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Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, Original Turkey & Chicken
This is the original Core recipe as opposed to the reduced-fat one we mentioned earlier. It’s quality-made and meant to improve your dog’s health with continuous use.
The superfoods are specifically picked and balanced to deliver all your dog needs for bones, coat, gut health, and weight management.
And, the best is that it doesn’t contain any fillers and ingredients that could irritate your Frenchie’s stomach. Still, it’s best if you switch them to a new food slowly.
This one doesn’t contain any grains. However, it’s rich in omega fatty acids from salmon and flaxseed oil, so it’ll improve your dog’s coat and skin health.
The protein comes from fresh meat ingredients, but the levels are balanced not to irritate the digestive system. It’s also packed with antioxidants, probiotics, glucosamine, and taurine for the heart.
Standout Features:
Carefully sourced ingredients
Rich in antioxidants and omega fatty acids
No meat by-products
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Farmina 5.5-Pound Natural And Delicious Chicken Grain-Free Formula Dry Dog Food
Farmina comes in a small 5.5-pound package, so think about if this is enough for your dog’s needs. It’s specifically formulated for French bulldogs and other small breeds with grain-free and gluten-free recipes.
The kibble is relatively small, which is perfect for small breeds to pick up and chew. But, such small kibble is packed with nutrients, protein, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
It contains enough fiber to help your pet’s gut health without irritating their stomach. Plus, it has chicken as the first ingredient. It also contains pomegranate, dehydrated herring, dried carrots, and a herring and salmon oils blend.
This grain-free formula contains 70% of high-quality animal ingredients and 30% vegetables, fruits, and minerals. And it meets the nutritional levels required by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.
Standout Features:
Small kibble size
Balanced protein and fiber
No grain or gluten
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What to Look for When Buying Dog Food for French Bulldogs
Calorie Content
These dogs tend to become obese if you’re not careful. This is why the calorie content is so important to watch closely.
It’s difficult to tell how many calories your Frenchie should consume since this depends on their life stage and activity level.
On average, this breed requires two or three meals made up of about 780 calories altogether. However, your puppy or senior Frenchie might need even less.
For this reason, it’s best if you ask your veterinarian. A professional can help you determine the right calorie content based on your dog’s lifestyle.
Weight Control
It’s very easy for French bulldog owners to overfeed their dogs. It’s one of those breeds that love eating, so they’ll eat anything you put before them.
Although this is a good thing, it can also lead to overeating and obesity. For this reason, you should monitor the calorie intake and, with that, your dog’s weight.
The standard for adult French bulldogs is 28 pounds. If your pet has more than that, you should consult a vet and reconsider their diet.
Many brands offer weight loss and management formulas, so it shouldn’t be too hard for your dog to lose a few pounds.
Activity Level
French bulldogs are playful but also a bit lazy when compared to other small breeds. It takes little for them to tire due to the anatomy of their noses. As a result, too much activity can result in respiratory issues.
Due to their low activity level, French bulldogs require moderate amounts of calories, fat, carbs, and protein. Fat, carbs, and calories should be lower than the protein level they’re consuming.
Too much of all these things often lead to obesity and several other issues directly connected to weight.
Developmental Age
As always, you should focus on feeding your dog a formula specifically made for their age group. For example, feeding a Frenchie puppy with adult dog food is a bad idea.
This way, your dog won’t get the nutrients required for healthy development. The same goes for adult dogs and seniors needing specific nutrients they can’t get from puppy food.
However, seniors can be a bit tricky because they often have a few health issues. If that’s the case, it’s best to consult your vet.
How Often Should You Feed Your Bulldog
The amount of food you give to a French bulldog will have a huge say in their health. Vets and animal specialists recommend feeding this breed twice a day.
However, a puppy would need more food than that. In most cases, vets advise at least four meals for a puppy. You can reduce this to a lower number as the puppy grows and develops into an adult.
Another thing you should pay attention to is the portion size. Use a measuring cup as it can help you be more consistent with it. This way, it’s unlikely your Frenchie will become obese.
As you know, overfeeding can lead to many problems, especially if you’re using highly caloric food. So, think about what your French bulldog eats and how much of it.
Ideally, a Frenchie shouldn’t have more than 28 pounds, so don’t forget to monitor their weight.
What Food Should You Not Feed a French Bulldog
In general, French bulldogs should avoid certain foods that are bad for other dogs as well. First and foremost, stay away from artificial preservatives. This is found in many mass-produced foods, so make sure to check the ingredients list.
Stay clear from wheat, corn, and other similar ingredients used as fillers. Wheat is likely to make your Frenchie gassy, while corn might spike an allergic reaction.
Plus, these two can easily give your dog hives and skin irritation.
And, as we said, stay away from too much protein. Not only it won’t do your French bulldog a favor, but it can seriously harm their health.
FAQ
Can French Bulldogs eat human food?
French bulldogs lack self-control, so feeding them too much human food would result in them refusing dry food. For this reason, make sure not to break their good eating habits by offering them human foods too often.
Things like eggs, fish, meat, carrots, and broccoli are safe for them to eat. On the other hand, chocolate, onion, garlic, avocado, and grapes are not.
But your Frenchie doesn’t know what’s toxic, so try to keep these things away from them.
Can I feed my French Bulldog wet food?
Kibble is the most nutrient-dense food for a French bulldog. However, quality wet food is also a good option, especially if your dog is picky with the kibble.
You can feed them wet food only or use it as a topper over the kibble. Most high-quality formulas are easy to digest and will help keep your dog hydrated.
But, as always, it’s important to check the ingredients to make sure it’s safe for your Frenchie to consume.
Can French Bulldogs eat chicken?
Some French bulldogs can’t eat chicken because they’re allergic. However, it’s a healthy option if your dog doesn’t have an allergy.
Now, this is only the case for thighs and breasts since they contain vitamin B, which can help the neuronal and immune systems.
Other parts might not be as suitable. For example, the skin is made up of mostly fat which is better to avoid.
Do French Bulldogs have a sensitive stomach?
Frenchies have sensitive stomachs, so you want to be careful with the food you’re using. But, you should also keep in mind the portion size and how often you’re feeding your Frenchie.
So, make sure you’re feeding them the right food in moderate quantities. This way, you’ll avoid irritating their stomach or causing different health issues and obesity.
Are Avocados Dangerous for French Bulldogs?
Avocados contain persin, which is a toxin dangerous for French bulldogs. It can damage your dog’s stomach severely, so it’s always best to avoid it.
Avoid food that contains avocado, and be careful when you’re eating it so that your dog doesn’t steal some.
Final Thoughts
French bulldogs are fun to have around. The breed is playful, loving, and easy to live with, even if you’re in an apartment building.
However, it requires a special diet like most other dogs. It has a sensitive stomach and is susceptible to specific health issues you want to be mindful about.
These foods should help you avoid all that as long as you’re careful about the portion size.
