Best Food for French Bulldog Puppy Guide

Best Food for French Bulldog Puppy Guide

Owning a new French bulldog puppy can be one of the most exciting and fun times ever. French bulldogs are known for their incredibly cute faces and their strong personalities. To keep your little guy as healthy as possible, it’s important to consider the type of food you are going to feed him or her.

A French bulldog’s diet should contain plenty of high-quality protein from sources like chicken, meat, and fish to keep them really strong and healthy. Omega fatty acids are also really important for your French bulldogs’ skin and coat health.

If you are not sure where you should look to find the best food for your French bulldog, we have you covered. We have the most important information listed about your French bulldog’s dietary needs, along with some of the best brands of food based on their ingredientsprice, and taste.

Top 3 Picks for French Bulldog Puppy Food

Best Overall: Life Protection Formula from Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo is well known for its top-quality dog food, and that includes being a perfect formula for your energetic French bulldog. They have a wide variety of foods, including puppy-specific food, but this formula is best for when your French bulldog is transitioning out of the puppy stage and into adulthood.

Best for Puppies: Chicken & Rice Puppy Food by Purina Pro Plan

Much like the reputation that Blue Buffalo has, Purina is also a top leading dog food brand. This puppy food made with easy-to-digest chicken and rice is ideal for your growing French bulldog puppy and will give him or her all of the necessary nutrients they need to grow up big and healthy.

Best Bargain: Canidae Small Breed Food

If you are looking for top-tier food that won’t break the bank, Canidae can provide you with all of that and more. This brand is known to have some of the best recipes for dogs that are prone to allergies or skin irritations, which includes your French bulldog. The product and value are great for both your wallet and your little buddy.

Do French Bulldogs Need Special Food?

French Bulldog Puppy Food

Yes. Since French bulldogs are more susceptible to fast weight gain, issues with their bones and joints, and skin allergies, it’s important to prepare yourself for finding special foods to keep them healthy.

As with most flat-faced dogs, such as Boston terriers, bulldogs, and pugs, they need a special diet that will promote heart health and food that is limited in grains due to intense skin allergies.

It is important to feed your French bulldog a food that is high in protein but also high in antioxidants and vitamins to support your puppy’s growing lifestyle. There are many brands of foods that make a puppy version that is suitable for puppies and adult versions that create a nice, seamless Segway into normal adult dog food.

Food Allergies for French Bulldogs

French bulldogs seem to have most of their skin allergies from foods high in fillers such as by-products and meals. Other key allergens for bulldogs include grains such as corn, wheat, and soy. There are plenty of foods that are considered grain-free because they purposely keep these kinds of fillers out of their foods, which is ideal for dogs with sensitive stomachs or allergies.

What Ingredients Should Be in Your French Bulldog Food?

While there are so many great ingredients that your French bulldog may love, every dog will be different in what types of foods they can handle and digest. Some of the best ingredients for French bulldogs that you should be looking for include:

  • Lamb
  • Chicken
  • Salmon
  • Peas
  • Lentils
  • Tapioca
  • Garbanzo beans
  • Flaxseed
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Beets
  • Vitamins
  • Minerals

What to Look for In Food for French Bulldog

Dog Food

French bulldogs should eat foods that are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to support all the stages of his or her life. They need foods that are high in protein but limited in grains, such as rice, wheat, soy, or corn. Here are some other important factors to look for when shopping for a new kibble for your French bulldog.

Real Ingredients

IF you can’t understand most of the ingredients on your food’s ingredients list, or there are a lot of words you can’t even pronounce, this should be seen as a bad sign. There are many dog foods out there that are high in fillers and preservatives, which could really harm your French bulldog or French bulldog puppy in the long run.

Look for foods with all-natural ingredients that have a smaller ingredients list. If you can understand the ingredients, or at least most of the ingredients, odds are this food is made with quality, real food ingredients that should be safest for your French bulldog. Stay away from really long lists with ingredients you can’t even pronounce.

Consider Allergies

While French bulldogs are known to have skin allergies from fillers such as wheat, corn, and soy, your dog will probably be different from most dogs. It’s important to keep an eye on your French bulldog to see what he or she is allergic to or what foods just don’t sit right with him.

If they are constantly scratching or developing welts or irritants on the skin, odds are they are allergic to whatever food you are feeding them. Try to switch to a limited ingredient food with no fillers or grains. If that doesn’t’ help, an allergy test may be required from your veterinarian’s office to determine just what exactly your French bulldog is allergic to.

High Protein

Because French Bulldogs are high-energy dogs, they will need food that is high in protein. This means your food’s number one ingredient should be a source of protein such as chicken, lamb, or salmon. French bulldogs seem to do the best with these types of protein, but other sources of protein could include different kinds of fish, beef, or turkey, depending on your dog’s sensitives.

Stay away from foods that contain a lot of grains or foods that contain fillers, as these foods are made mostly of carbohydrates and won’t fully support your dog’s immune system or nutrition needs.

Veggies

Vegetables are great in your dogs’ diet, and while most of the foods on this list contain plenty of vegetables to keep them strong and energized, you can always give your dogs some veggies on the side. Some of the best vegetables to give you French bulldog include spinach, kale, sweet potatoes, green beans, and peas.

You can even give your dog some fruits in moderation, including apples, raspberries, blueberries, and bananas if you want to mix it up or use these fruits as a type of treat.

Small Bites

Small bites or snacks should be given to your French bulldog as a reward or just as a fun surprise for him or her. All of the vegetables and fruits listed above would make great treats on their own, but if you would like to buy store-bought treats, make sure you are looking for a treat that is high in protein, such as chicken jerky, turkey jerky, or all-beef snacks.

Things like rawhide and holiday treats should be avoided as they contain a lot of artificial dyes, and rawhide can make your French bulldog choke. Rawhide gets very slimy and soft and not easy to break down, so look for easy-to-digest treats instead.

How Much Should I Feed My French Bulldog?

bulldog

This really depends on your French bulldogs’ size, but usually, a French bulldog should eat about a half cup of kibble in the morning for breakfast and at night for dinner. This amount should be adjusted if your French bulldog is larger or smaller. Check out your food’s labels to get the proper feeding amounts given the weight and size of your dog.

How to Stop My Bulldog Puppy from Eating Too Fast

A great way to get your French bulldog to stop eating too quickly is by buying a slow-feeder bowl. These bowls come with intricate designs and tunnels that create a more methodical eating tactic than a standard bowl alone. With these bowls, feeding time becomes more of an interactive moment than a gobble fest.

Another great way is to feed your French bulldog smaller meals throughout the day, so he or she is getting all the nutrition he or she needs without overindulging.

The Best Food for a French Bulldog Puppy

French Bulldog Adult Breed Food by Royal Canin

royal canin

Royal Canin is one of the best foods you can give your little French bulldog due to the high-quality ingredients. Not to mention, this kibble is specifically tailored to aid a French bulldog’s diet, so there are so many good things in this formula for them.

  • First 3 Ingredients: Brewer’s rice, wheat, chicken by-product meal
  • Features: Small bites, easy to digest
  • Best for: Adults, French Bulldogs specifically. But good for puppies due to small bites design

This kibble is even tailor-made for French bulldogs’ teeth, so they can pick up their kibble easily and digest it perfectly. This food supports muscle tone, which is very important in a small to medium breed like a French bulldog.

Pros

  • Specifically made for French bulldogs
  • Easy to pick up and digest
  • Supports muscle tone
  • Reinforces skin barrier

Cons

  • Not ideal for picky eaters

Nulo Grain Free Dog Kibble

nulo food

Nulo has created a great, all-natural food that is perfect for all breeds and sizes, but French bulldogs do exceptionally well while eating this food. It is a formula that is grain-free and made with clean ingredients to help your dog keep up a balanced diet and healthy weight.

  • First 3 Ingredients: Deboned Salmon, turkey meal, menhaden fish meal
  • Features: grain-free, allergy-friendly
  • Best for: Small breed dogs

This kibble is ideal for dogs with high energy levels, as your French bulldog. As they can be sensitive to grains and allergies, this food is made without any fillers such as corn, wheat, gluten, soy, or any fake additives. This formula will promote a healthy coat and lean muscles, too.

Pros

  • All-natural food
  • Grain-free
  • Great for small and large dogs
  • Supports cot and lean muscles

Cons

  • Not good for dogs who are sensitive to fish
  • It has a funny smell

Shredded Formula by Purina Pro Plan

purina pro plan

What is a shredded formula, you may ask? Well, Purina Pro Plan has created a super nutrient-dense kibble that is actually shredded to create smaller and more tender pieces of kibble that your dog will love. The taste and texture of this formula will have your little guy jumping around excited for dinner time.

  • First 3 Ingredients: Chicken, ground rice, poultry by-product meal
  • Features: Shredded formula, bite-sized, easy to chew
  • Best for: Small breed dogs

This is a high-protein formula that uses real ingredients like chicken. It is fortified with so many probiotics to support your French bulldogs’ immunities and digestive health. It’s the perfect formula for smaller breeds such as French bulldogs.

Pros

  • Shredded formula dogs love
  • Nutrient-dense
  • Bite-sized
  • Made with real chicken

Cons

  • A bit pricey
  • Not all dogs may like it

Purina Pro Plan Puppy Formula

purina pro plan

Much like the version for adult French bulldogs above, this Purina Pro Plan formula is made specifically for puppies. It has all of the same nutrient-dense properties Purina Pro Plan has but is specially tailored to support your puppy’s more sensitive tummy.

  • First 3 Ingredients: chicken, corn gluten meal, brewers rice
  • Features: Small bites, perfect for puppies
  • Best for: Puppies, small breed dogs

This kibble is rich in chicken and rice and is fortified with plenty of great probiotics to help support your puppy’s digestion and overall immunity health. This is a perfect blend to feed your puppy right after they are weaned from mom’s milk and ready for more solid foods.

Pros

  • Made with real chicken and rice
  • High in protein
  • Contains live probiotics
  • Supports immune health

Cons

  • Made specifically for puppies
  • A bit pricey

Blue Buffalo Life Protection All-Natural Dog Food

blue buffalo food

Winner of our best overall category, Blue Buffalo is a leading brand in superior dog foods due to their nutrient-dense and grain-free formulas. This blend of kibble is ideal for your French bulldog due to the use of real ingredients that support the active lifestyle of small breed dogs.

  • First 3 Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice
  • Features: hypoallergenic, holistic blend
  • Best for: sensitive eaters, allergy issues

There are plenty of antioxidant-rich bits within this kibble that contains the necessary vitamins and minerals to support the immune health of your dog and keep them healthy through all the stages of his or her life. This food contains no corn, wheat, soy, or artificial preservatives, which makes it perfect for dogs with allergy issues.

Pros

  • Made with real meat
  • Great for adults
  • It contains plenty of antioxidants
  • All-natural dog food

Cons

  • Made for adults only
  • Expensive

Grain-Free Small Breed Blend by Canidae

canidae pure petit

Canidae has made a great kibble that is a limited ingredient formula, making it an ideal choice for your French bulldog. As French bulldogs can be prone to skin allergies, this formula of kibble is made with only eight ingredients, so it won’t upset your dog’s skin flora.

  • First 3 Ingredients: lamb, lamb meal, peas
  • Features: hypoallergenic, grain-free
  • Best for: small breeds, sensitive eaters

Because this is a small bite kibble, it is much easier for small breeds to eat. This is a grain-free formula that does not contain any wheat, corn, or soy. It does have plenty of Omega 5 and comes with three crucial fatty acids to help boost your dog’s skin and coat health.

Pros

  • Limited ingredient formula
  • Made with real lamb
  • Great for fatty acid intake
  • Supports a healthy immune system

Cons

  • Not great for large breeds
  • A little pricey

FAQs

Question: What Food Should You Not Feed a French Bulldog?

Answer: French bulldogs should not eat foods that are high in grains or fillers. They should also stay away from human foods such as chocolate, artificial sweeteners, and anything with alcohol in it.

Question: How Much Should a French Bulldog Eat?

Answer: French bulldogs should eat twice a day in smaller portions. Depending on your dog’s size, about a half cup of kibble in the morning and a half cup of kibble at night should work, with some snacks here and there in between feedings.

Question: Do French Bulldogs Need a Lot of Food?

Answer: No. Since French bulldogs are a smaller breed, they do not need to eat a lot of food at all. In fact, they require smaller amounts as they are susceptible to weight gain and health issues.

The Verdict

So, there you have it – some of the best French bulldog puppy food you can find in today’s markets. Whether you have a new French bulldog puppy or you want good transitional food from puppy into adulthood, all of these brands will have something perfect for you.

Personally, I’d go with the Life Protection Formula from Blue Buffalo for its overall quality of ingredients.

Did you find this article useful? We hope you did. Do you have any experience with any of these food brands? We would love to hear from you. Feel free to share your experiences below and then check out our other helpful tips like this guide to the best bulldog toys!

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