Best Food for French Bulldogs
Rocky Kanaka
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Today’s Frenchie is short, muscular, large-headed, bat-eared, and short-faced. Bred for companionship, any French Bulldog owner will tell you that they become deeply attached to their humans, and are always up to some sort of goofy mischief. Because they’re so cute, you might be tempted to feed them treats all day, but French Bulldogs need a complete diet just like any other dog.
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French Bulldog Nutrition Needs
All dogs, including French Bulldogs, need the same basic nutrition: lots of protein, fat, and dietary fiber. Facultative carnivores, dogs get the majority of their nutrition from animal protein but also benefit from the addition of certain fruits, veggies, and grains to their diet.
When you are choosing dog food for your French Bulldog, start by asking yourself these four questions:
- Is your French Bulldog a puppy (3–14 months), an adult (up to 7), or a senior (7+)?
- How big is your French Bulldog? They are typically small-medium dogs, around 16–28 lbs.
- How active is your Frenchie?
- Does your French Bulldog have any health concerns?
Once you have the answer to each of these questions, you’ll have a better idea of what kind of dog food you should be looking for.
French Bulldog-Specific Health Concerns
French Bulldogs are unfortunately prone to more health issues than the average dog, including:
- Ear infections
- Skin infections
- Allergies
- Upper respiratory infections
- Breathing issues
- Eye issues (like conjunctivitis and cherry eye)
- Hip dysplasia
While diet can’t prevent or cure these conditions on its own, making sure to give your French Bulldog the right nutrients can help to keep them healthier for longer and improve how quickly they heal. For example, French Bulldogs can benefit from omega-3 and 6 fatty acids for skin health, and immune-boosting ingredients like kale, turmeric, and blueberries.
Best Food for French Bulldogs with Sensitive Stomach
French Bulldogs with sensitive stomachs often do well on novel protein-based diets. Chicken and beef are the two top food allergens for dogs, and since Frenchies are especially prone to allergies, many vets recommend putting them on a novel protein diet. Some of our recommendations for the best dog food for Frenchies made from novel proteins include Wild Raw and Spot & Tango.
Best Dog Food for French Bulldogs
Let’s dive into our top four picks for best natural food for French Bulldogs in every category, including a healthy kibble option!
1. Best Raw: Raw Wild
| First 5 Ingredients | Elk, Deer, Sunflower Seed Oil, Wild Caught Alaskan Pollock Oil, Potassium |
| Food Type | Raw, grain-free |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 18% Protein – 10% Fat – 0.45% Fiber – 70% Moisture |
| Feeding Instructions | Feed ½ lb. per day or ¼ lb. per meal* |
| Cost Per Meal | $4.15 per meal – $465.12 for 48 lbs. (best option for savings) |
What Reviewers Say:
2. Best Air-Dried: Sundays For Dogs Beef Recipe
If you struggle to get your Frenchie to eat their food, but they love treats, they’ll probably love Sundays For Dogs. Air-dried in small pieces that look, taste, and feel like jerky, Sundays For Dogs can also be used as training treats if you’re working on teaching your Frenchie new tricks, or they just deserve an extra snack at the end of a long hard day of naps.
Other than the delicious recipe, we think Sundays For Dogs deserves consideration for best food for Frenchie thanks to the turmeric to reduce inflammation, blueberries for antioxidant and immune support, and tart cherries to protect the joints.
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| First 5 Ingredients | Beef, Beef Heart, Beef Liver, Beef Bone, Quinoa |
| Food Type | Air-dried, grain-inclusive without wheat, peas, corn, or legumes |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 30% Protein – 20% Fat – 4% Fiber – 15% Moisture |
| Feeding Instructions | Feed ½ cup (2.2 oz.) per day or ¼ cup (1.1 oz.) per meal* |
| Cost Per Meal | $1.92 per meal* – $69 for 72 oz. (best option for savings) |
What Reviewers Say:
3. Best Fresh-Frozen: Spot & Tango Lamb & Brown Rice
Lamb is an amazing protein option for dogs who are prone to allergies, since lamb is one of the proteins with the fewest incidents of triggering allergic reactions. Be aware that this formula does include chicken eggs, so it’s not a good choice for dogs with serious poultry allergies. This low allergen option is also delightfully delicious, and has plenty of dietary fiber (from fruits and veggies like blueberries, which are great for immunity) to keep your French Bulldog regular. On the list of the best food for French Bulldogs, this is also the closest to “human food” and is a good option for picky eaters.
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Spot & Tango is unique because they don’t sell set amounts of their fresh-frozen food–after filling out a quick questionnaire about your Frenchie, you’ll be given a custom plan with shipments of food sent every few weeks.
| First 5 Ingredients | Lamb, Brown Rice, Spinach, Carrots, Peas |
| Food Type | Fresh-frozen, grain-inclusive without wheat or corn |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 11.8% Protein – 6.64% Fat – 2.64% Fiber – 70% Moisture |
| Feeding Instructions | Feed 300 calories per day or 150 calories per meal* – Note that Spot & Tango recommends portion sizes based on your dog’s specific information, and sends enough food for your dog’s needs |
| Cost Per Meal | $3.48 per meal – $48.82 for one week of food* |
What Reviewers Say:
Source: https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/62c83a170c20b4453c33c43d
4. Best Healthy Kibble: Spot & Tango UnKibble Cod & Salmon Recipe
French Bulldogs are, as we’ve mentioned, prone to allergies, which is why we love the Cod & Salmon UnKibble from Spot & Tango. Made with two varieties of fish that are high in omega-3s, this formula is super nourishing for the skin and coat. Fish is also a low-allergen food for most dogs, so this is a good protein option for Frenchies.
Easily a top contender for best dry food for French Bulldogs, UnKibble is leaps and bounds above the kibble competition.
| First 5 Ingredients | Cod, Salmon, Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin, Sunflower Seeds |
| Food Type | Kibble, grain-free–other recipes are grain-inclusive |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 29.67% Protein – 22.06% Fat – 1.15% Fiber – 3.82% Moisture |
| Feeding Instructions | Precise serving size customized according to your dog’s details! |
| Cost Per Meal | $1.74 per meal* – $60.78 for two weeks of food* |
What Reviewers Say:
FAQ
You probably still have some questions…good thing we have more answers!
What is the best dog food for French Bulldogs with gas?
If your Frenchie has gas, chances are something in their food isn’t agreeing with them, and they either have an allergy or a sensitivity to that particular ingredient. Choosing a low-allergen option like Raw Wild or Spot & Tango can help to eliminate those ingredients and reduce your pooch’s gas.
What is the best dog food for French Bulldogs with skin allergies?
All of the options we’ve included are appropriate for dogs with sensitive skin, but if you are particularly concerned for their skin health, we recommend Raw Wild, Sundays For Dogs, or Tailored Pet.
What is the best dry food for a French Bulldog puppy?
We recommend Spot & Tango! They offer custom formulas that suit the needs of your French Bulldog puppy.
What is the best wet food for a French Bulldog puppy?
We recommend Spot & Tango, which offers different recipes made for your puppy’s needs.
What is the best food for French Bulldogs with sensitive stomachs?
Spot & Tango’s fresh-frozen food is easy to eat, chew, and digest, making it extra sensitive on the stomach. They also make low-allergen options, and allow you to customize your French Bulldog’s food to eliminate ingredients they are sensitive to.
What’s the history of the French Bulldog?
Despite their name, French Bulldogs originated in England, where a now-extinct breed of so-called “toy Bulldogs” became popular in the mid-18th century. These miniature Bulldogs were particularly popular in Nottingham, where England’s most prodigious lace makers lived and worked.
When the English industrial revolution pushed lace makers to immigrate to Northern France, where their industry was still in demand, they brought their toy Bulldogs with them. In France, the toy Bulldogs were crossed with an untraceable variety of other breeds, creating a breed standard by the late 19th century that became iconically French.
What is the best food for gassy French Bulldogs?
Gassy dogs do well on a grain-free diet, and many owners say they hear (and smell) less gas after making the switch. Some of the best grain-free dog food for French Bulldogs is made by Raw Wild, which also makes their raw formula from novel proteins like venison and elk.
What is the best dog food for French Bulldog puppies?
Any of the dog foods featured on this list would work well for a Frenchie puppy! Be sure to consult with your veterinarian about portions and feeding schedules.
Also, you can check out the best dog foods for Pitbulls here!
