Best Dog Food for Bulldogs: Keep Your Chunky Champ Thriving

Got a Bulldog and are now looking for the best dog food for Bulldogs? Read on to find out!

The name Bulldog applies to a number of different breeds but the breed to which it most commonly refers is the English Bulldog.

Known for his wrinkled skin and friendly personality, Bulldogs make wonderful family pets and they are particularly good with children.

This breed is generally easy to train and he gets along well with just about everyone he meets, even other dogs and cats.

Bulldog Breed Overview

• Pedigree: Purebred
• Size: Not specified
• Weight: 40 to 50 pounds
• Energy Level: Low
• Lifespan: 8 to 10 years

The English Bulldog is a medium-sized breed known for his short, stocky body and wrinkled skin. These dogs have an undershot jaw and a massive build which can make them look a little intimidating at times but inside they have a heart of gold.

This breed is consistently ranked among the top ten breeds by the American Kennel Club (AKC) according to registration statistics, and for good reason. They are sweet, gentle, and patient dogs that love people and get along well with dogs and other pets.

If you’re looking for a companion pet who will love you unconditionally for the duration of his life, the Bulldog is a great option to consider.

 

Best Dog Food for Bulldogs

After reading the information above, you should have a better understanding of your Bulldog’s unique nutritional requirements. Although you now know what nutrients your dog needs, you may still be wondering how to choose the best dog food for this wonderful breed.

1. Ollie Fresh Pet Food Turkey Recipe

One of the best dog foods available in the market are Ollie Fresh Pet Food recipes. Their recipes are gently cooked human-grade, grain-free recipes made in small batches.

Ollie takes things to the next level by customizing the meals using specific information about your dog such as breed, activity level, and age. Ollie’s fresh foods are made and hand-packed in the USA.

This New York-based pet food company set out to turn the pet food industry on its head by offering fresh, custom meals for dogs similar to meal-prep services for humans.

According to the brand, they partner with a veterinary nutritionist to formulate their nutritionally-balanced recipes in accordance with AAFCO standards. All of their foods are cooked in small batches in their USDA-regulated kitchen.

Any of Ollie’s fresh dog food variants is packed with highly nutritious whole foods. We recommend their turkey recipe for bulldogs. Turkey is a highly digestible protein that is quite lean. These characteristics not only help bulldogs’ sensitive digestive systems, but also help them maintain a healthy weight and lean muscle mass.

Aside from turkey meat and liver, this recipe also has carrots which are rich in phytonutrients that help support eye health. Blueberries are included for its high antioxidant content.

These antioxidants fight free radicals and help promote a healthy immune system. This turkey recipe also has chia seeds which are a great source of copper, zinc, and manganese.

This human-grade recipe is gently cooked to ensure better nutrient retention. They contain no fillers or artificial enhancers like flavors, colors, or preservatives. None of the common allergy triggers such as wheat, corn, or soy are present in their dog food.

Their recipes are delivered frozen. Simply thaw in the fridge, and serve to your pup. Other Ollie pet food options are beef, chicken, and lamb recipes.

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2. Merrick Texas Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe

This is a grain-free dry dog food made with real deboned beef. This extra tasty recipe is high in protein at 34%. 65% of this recipe is high quality protein and healthy fats. The remaining 35% is made up of healthy produce, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other natural ingredients.

This beef recipe is actually a multi-protein formula that also includes fats from other animals. Aside from real deboned beef and beef liver, it also has lamb meal, salmon meal, pork fat, whitefish meal, and salmon oil. These are all high quality animal ingredients that are full of nutrients. No unnamed animal ingredient is included in this recipe.

While it is a multi-protein recipe, it does not contain any chicken or poultry ingredients. If your dog is allergic to poultry, he can safely enjoy this meaty high-protein formula.

This recipe is enriched with omega fatty acids to support skin and coat health. As bulldogs are known to have sensitive skin, they need all the help they can get when it comes to skin and coat health. Merrick Real Texas also has glucosamine and chondroitin to help maintain healthy hips and joints.

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3. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Healthy Weight Recipe

This is a grain-inclusive dry dog food recommended for adult pups in need of weight management. It is formulated without the extra calories from fat. If your bulldog needs to shed a few pounds or maintain a healthy weight, this formula could be the right one for him.

With deboned chicken as the most plentiful ingredient, you can be assured that your dog is getting only high quality, easy to digest protein with every meal. Life Protection Formula Healthy Weight Adult also has chicken meal, which is a highly concentrated protein source.

Fiber plays an important part not just in digestion, but also in keeping dogs feeling full. Wholesome grains such as brown rice and barley, as well as pea fiber provide carbohydrates, fiber, and nutrients. No corn, wheat, or soy are used in this recipe.

Aside from the high quality protein and reduced calories from fat, it also has L-carnitine: an important amino acid that helps support a healthy weight.

This chicken recipe has the exclusive LifeSource Bits: a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that support the immune system, life stage requirements, and healthy oxidative balance. These bits are cold-formed to ensure the retention of nutrients.

It also contains glucosamine to support joint health and mobility. It is enriched with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.

Like all of their other formulas, this chicken recipe contains no artificial enhancers such as flavors, colors, or preservatives. All of its animal ingredients come from chicken only. If your dog is sensitive to other animal protein sources, this Blue Buffalo chicken recipe is a nutritious meal that he can enjoy.

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4. CANIDAE PURE Healthy Weight Real Chicken & Pea Recipe

This is a grain-free dry food formulated for big boned pups such as the bulldog. It is designed to help them maintain a leaner muscle mass. With only 9 key ingredients, this recipe is less likely to trigger allergies in sensitive pups.

Made with real chicken and chicken meal, this limited ingredient formula provides high-quality protein to help your dog build strong muscles. With 28% protein, a little goes a long way. This formula helps dogs feel fuller for longer.

Chicken is a highly digestible protein that is also popular among dogs. They love it’s meaty flavor. Sweet potatoes, peas, garbanzo beans, and potatoes provide nutritious sources of carbohydrates, fiber, and protein.

This chicken recipe is free from gluten, grains, antibiotics, hormones, corn, wheat, or soy. It has none of the common allergy triggers in dogs.

No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives are used in this PURE Healthy Weight formula. As bulldogs tend to be quite sensitive, this recipe from Canidae is ideal for a lot of bulldogs.

After the kibbles are cooked, they are coated with Canidae’s HealthPLUS blend of probiotics, antioxidants and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids. This promotes healthy digestion, immune system, as well as skin and coat.

Overall, this recipe is a limited ingredient dry food that ticks all the boxes for many bulldogs. It not only helps them keep healthy weights, it also improves their digestion and helps with their allergies by having only the necessary natural ingredients to keep them healthy.

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5. Wellness Simple Limited Ingredient Lamb & Oatmeal

A grain-inclusive limited ingredient dry dog food that is ideal for very sensitive dogs. It is gluten-free and poultry-free. All of its animal ingredients come from lamb only.

The Wellness pet food company understands that meal time is about more than just eating, it is about nourishing your dog’s body and providing him with the nutrients he needs to live a long and healthy life. Wellness uses only the finest natural ingredients with no fluff or fillers and their products are loaded with natural flavor.

This company designs their formulas to offer exceptional nutrition, using premium proteins and digestible carbohydrates to create a foundation for whole-body health and wellness. If you’re concerned that your bulldog may have food allergies, this recipe might be a good choice.

Not only is this formula made with a novel protein, but it contains a lower number of main ingredients which helps to limit the risk for triggering food allergies. Lamb is an excellent source of protein for dogs and it is a lean source of protein as well which is perfect for bulldogs.

It is also made with digestible carbohydrates like oatmeal, peas, and rice as well as chicory root extract for supplementary fiber. This formula is supplemented with probiotics for healthy digestion as well as chelated minerals to improve nutrient absorption.

The source of fat in this is canola oil. Canola oil provides the calories needed for energy, as well as the essential fatty acids and alpha-linolenic acid necessary to promote healthy skin and coat.

This meal has flaxseed as an additional source of fiber and essential fatty acids. Flaxseed is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids which helps give shiny coats.

It is also high in fiber which helps move food through the digestive tract. Fiber is especially beneficial for bulldogs. It helps keep the excessive farts at bay.

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6. FirstMate Pacific Ocean Fish Meal Original Formula

This is a grain-free limited ingredient dry dog food. It is perfect for bulldog fish-lovers. Made with only wild fish from the herring family, this recipe provides only high quality protein with every meal.

The FirstMate company is based in Canada. They follow the strictest rules and regulations to ensure the quality and safety of their products. This company believes that the best nutrition is simple, which is why they use only the highest-quality ingredients in their products. They do not bulk them up with unnecessary fillers.

FirstMate offers a selection of dry and wet dog food products and they make their own foods in company-owned facilities. Furthermore, this company offers a money-back guarantee.

This kibble would be a great choice for your bulldog because it is loaded with premium animal proteins and it is highly digestible.

73% of its protein content comes from wild Pacific Ocean fish meal. The remaining 27% of its protein comes from vegetables. Fish meal is a highly concentrated protein source. It is easy to digest, packed with flavor, and rich in essential fatty acids.

However, if you are looking for a poultry-free fish recipe for your bulldog, this may not be the one for him. This formula’s main source of fat is chicken fat. If your dog is not sensitive to this ingredient, chicken fat not only adds another layer of flavor to this dry food, but it is also rich in healthy fats.

This formula is naturally grain-free so it is less likely to trigger your bulldog’s food allergies. It contains no corn, wheat, or soy. Potatoes are the main sources of carbohydrates. These are easy to digest even for sensitive tummies.

Aside from omega fatty acids, it is also enriched with glucosamine. This helps support joint health in dogs.

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7. Evanger’s Chicken with Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe

This is a high quality grain-free kibble that is described by the brand as semi-moist. According to them, their dehydrated food consists of rough grinding and mixing. The product is then air dried at low temperatures to retain many of the nutrients, enzymes, and flavor.

This pet food company is unique in that they offer formulas that are nutritionally balanced for both dogs and cats as well as products for other pets. When it comes to their dog food, they offer an assortment of gourmet, hand-packed dinners and balanced meals for all life stages.

This company uses only USDA-inspected meats and their products are free from corn, wheat, and soy products as well as artificial preservatives and other low-quality additives. This brand prioritizes balanced nutrition and natural flavor, so your bulldog is sure to love whatever recipe you choose.

This recipe is a great option to consider because it features protein-rich chicken as the main ingredient, with fresh fruits and vegetables as natural sources for key nutrients.

It provides 33% crude protein and 16% crude fat, plus probiotics for digestive support and chelated minerals for optimal nutrient uptake. It is also rich in glucosamine and chondroitin to benefit your bulldog’s bones and joints.

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8. Purina Beyond Wild Prey Turkey, Liver & Duck Pate

Here we have a high protein grain-free meal designed to satisfy your dog’s natural cravings.

Crafted with high-quality protein sources, this recipe features real turkey as the first ingredient, complemented by nutrient-rich liver and flavorful duck.

Each serving of this poultry-based wet food provides high quality protein to help your dog maintain a lean muscle mass. This is very important for the chunky, big boned bulldog.

Aside from providing protein and flavor, turkey, duck and chicken also have glucosamine. Glucosamine helps support joint health. Joint health is another aspect of the bulldog’s health that needs attention, especially as they get older.

The grain-free formula mirrors the diets of dogs’ wild ancestors, focusing on wholesome, easily digestible ingredients. Packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, it supports overall health and vitality.

The pate texture is smooth and irresistible, making it a favorite for even the pickiest eaters. Free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, this recipe is made with purposeful ingredients, ensuring your furry friend enjoys both taste and nutrition in every bite.

Overall, it is a highly palatable dog food that your bully is sure to enjoy. It is protein-rich and is free from common allergens that could trigger reactions in sensitive pups.

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9. Wholesomes Puppy Chicken & Rice

This product is specially crafted to meet the unique nutritional needs of growing puppies, providing a well-balanced diet that supports their development and overall health.

The primary ingredient, real chicken meal, is a high-quality protein source essential for building strong muscles and supporting energy needs during the active puppy stage.

Combined with wholesome rice, a gentle carbohydrate source, this formula is easy to digest, ensuring optimal nutrient absorption while being kind to sensitive stomachs.

It is supplemented with vegetables and fruits for carbohydrate energy, dietary fiber and natural nutrients. It has beet pulp, flaxseed, apples, blueberries, carrots, cranberries and spinach that are rich in nutrients and antioxidants.

The inclusion of omega fatty acids from chicken fat and flaxseed promotes healthy skin and a shiny coat, while DHA from fish oil supports cognitive development and vision in young puppies.

Enriched with essential vitamins and minerals, this recipe ensures that your puppy receives the complete nutrition needed for strong bones, robust immunity and overall vitality.

The addition of prebiotics and fiber aids in healthy digestion, and the absence of artificial additives, corn, wheat or soy makes it a wholesome and safe choice for your furry friend.

This recipe’s optimum levels of calcium and phosphorus help young pups get the right mineral balance to build strong teeth and bones.

Perfectly balanced and made with love, it is the ideal foundation for a healthy, happy and thriving puppyhood.

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10.  Chicken Soup for the Soul Mature Chicken, Turkey & Brown Rice Recipe

This senior formula is a grain-inclusive dry dog food formulated for the nutritional needs of senior pups. This savory chicken and turkey recipe is sure to keep your senior pup excited for mealtimes.

As dogs age, you will notice changes not just in their health and behavior, but in their appetites as well. Dogs who were once voracious eaters sometimes start becoming picky with their meals and treats. It is important to feed them food that has the right nutrition for their aging bodies, keep their appetites stimulated.

It offers not only a nutritious meal, but also a very tasty one. Chicken and turkey are flavors that are quite popular among pups of all ages. They are also easy to digest even for the sensitive stomachs of older bulldogs.

Chicken fat also gives this dry dog food an added boost of rich chicken flavor. It is also a source of essential fatty acids needed by dogs. This recipe also has omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that promote healthy skin and coat.

Also, it has glucosamine and chondroitin to help support joint health. It also has L-carnitine that helps turn fat into energy. This helps mature pups keep leaner muscles.

As bulldogs have very sensitive digestive systems, they could really benefit from meals that are not only easy to digest, but also contain ingredients that promote good gut health. This recipe has prebiotic fiber from dried chicory root. According to experts, having good digestive health allows the body to absorb more nutrients.

Like all recipes from the brand, this formula for senior dogs has only wholesome grains, fruits, veggies and herbs as the sources of carbohydrates, fiber, and natural nutrients. No animal by-product meals or any unnamed animal ingredients are used in making this recipe. It has no artificial flavor, colors or preservatives.

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All ten of these dog food products are high quality and provide excellent nutritional value to dogs. When making a change to your dog’s diet, be sure to transition him slowly from one food to the next to limit the risk for gastrointestinal upset.

Once your dog has made the transition, follow the feeding instructions carefully according to your dog’s weight and keep an eye on his body weight and condition to prevent obesity.

Your veterinarian can help you keep your bulldog at a healthy weight which, combined with a healthy diet, is the key to maximizing his longevity so you can enjoy his companionship for years to come.

 

Dietary Considerations for Bulldogs

The English Bulldog is classified as a non-sporting breed by the AKC and it is a medium-sized breed. The term “Bulldog” first appeared in literature around 1500, though the spelling was much different then. The modern Bulldog is the product of centuries of selective breeding, one of many breeds developed for the blood sport bull-baiting.

After blood sports were banned, the Old English Bulldog fell by the wayside until concerned breed enthusiasts revived the breed and worked to promote what is now known simply as the English Bulldog or just the Bulldog.

The Bulldog typically weighs between 40 and 50 pounds and the breed standard doesn’t require a certain height. These dogs have short legs, massive heads, and stocky builds with folds of wrinkled skin all over the body but particularly on the face.

It is unfortunate but true that the Bulldog has a shorter life expectancy than most dogs of his size. While small-breed dogs can live upwards of 12 to 15 years and large-breed dogs usually live for about 10 years, the Bulldog’s average lifespan is only 8 to 10 years.

This is largely due to some health problems to which the breed is prone such as brachycephalic syndrome, food allergies, bladder stones, and gastric torsion. Brachycephalic syndrome is a set of anatomical abnormalities which can restrict the dog’s breathing.

Food allergies, if left untreated, can prevent your Bulldog from absorbing the nutrients he needs and gastric torsion is a deadly condition that is common in deep-chested breeds. The best way to meet your Bulldog’s nutritional needs is to choose a high-quality dog food made with premium animal proteins and other wholesome ingredients.

If you’re concerned about food allergies, think about feeding your dog a limited ingredient diet or one made with a novel source of protein and carbohydrate to limit the risk for triggering any food allergies or sensitivities.

In terms of his nutritional needs, the Bulldog is not significantly different from any other breed. These dogs require plenty of protein in their diet to support their growth and development as puppies and to maintain lean muscle mass as adults.

Fat provides a highly concentrated source of energy for dogs but it contains 9 calories per gram (as opposed to 4 calories for carbs and protein), so don’t choose a formula that has too much fat in it. As for carbohydrates, stick to highly digestible sources like brown rice, oatmeal, or starchy vegetables, and limit your dog’s fiber intake to 5% or less.

You may also want to choose a formula that is supplemented with probiotics for healthy digestion as well as glucosamine and chondroitin to support your dog’s bones and joints so that they remain healthy and able to support your Bulldog’s weight.

Another dietary consideration you must make for the Bulldog is in regard to his calorie intake. The average dog needs about 30 calories per pound of bodyweight to support his metabolism – large dogs need a little less and small dogs a little more.

As a medium-sized breed, the Bulldog falls somewhere in the middle of this spectrum. Because this is a brachycephalic breed, however, you may want to err a little more on the lower end of the spectrum to prevent your dog from gaining too much weight and becoming obese.

Not only does obesity increase your dog’s risk for serious health problems, but it makes the complications of his brachycephalic facial structure more pronounced – Bulldogs are extremely prone to overheating and exercise intolerance. Moderating your dog’s intake to help him maintain a healthy body weight is of the utmost importance.