Best Dog Food For Bulldogs (TOP 4 picks in 2021)

*Calculated using Dog Food Advisor’s calorie calculator. Consult with your vet to get a specific amount for your Bulldog.

To give you an idea of what the activity levels are for this breed, a typical Bulldog will do about 30 minutes of exercise a day, while an active/working dog will do an hour or more.

Common health problems in Bulldogs and how choosing the right food can help

Sensitive stomachs and allergies

Bulldogs have a very sensitive digestive system and can suffer from upset stomachs, indigestion, and flatulence. They need a high-quality dog food that is free of artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors, as these are likely to cause her upset. They can also severely compromise their immune system, leading to a greater risk of developing food allergies.

Since Bulldogs do often suffer from food allergies, in my opinion, all grains should be avoided, as they are common allergens for dogs, as well as beef and dairy.

Gastric Torsion

Gastric torsion is a very serious condition that can occur in deep-chested dogs like Bulldogs. It happens when the stomach expands, becoming overstretched by lots of gasses, and twists, which cuts off the blood circulation.

This condition is usually caused by a dog eating large meals in one sitting or on exercising directly after eating. Bulldogs tend to eat very quickly, and they often swallow a lot of air when they eat due to their short muzzles. This can cause a buildup of gasses and can make them more susceptible to gastric torsion.

To avoid her suffering from this condition, feed your Bulldog 2 - 3 small meals a day rather than a large amount in one sitting. It is also a good idea to choose a small or medium bite kibble over large bite, as the smaller size will encourage her to eat more slowly and cause less gas buildup.

Bone and joint problems

Rapid growth in Bulldog puppies

Though a medium-sized breed, Bulldog puppies are prone to rapid growth like many large breed dogs, which can put stress on their developing skeleton and lead to joint problems, which Bulldogs are already susceptible to.

Therefore, it is a good idea to feed your Bulldog puppy a dog food that is specially designed for large breed puppies. These will have the right macronutrient balance to encourage slower growth and put her at less risk of developing joint problems.

Hip and elbow dysplasia

Bulldogs are bred to be squat, and their bone structure plus their heavy weight often puts a strain on their joints. According to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, they are the number #1 breed for suffering from hip dysplasia, with 72% being found dysplastic. They are number #4 for elbow dysplasia, with 35% being found dysplastic.

In both cases, there is a malformation of the joint, which leads to joint pain, arthritis, and, in severe cases, lameness.

You can help your Bulldog by keeping her at a healthy weight, as any excess weight will put further strain on her joints. You can also look out for chondroitin and glucosamine in dog food. These nutrients can relieve joint pain as well as help rebuild damaged cartilage.

Tumors and cancers

Bulldogs are particularly susceptible to developing mast cell tumors; in most cases of the disease, it is seen at around 8 years of age.

It is important to keep your Bulldog’s immune system strong to ward off cancer. The best way of doing this by feeding her a high-quality dog food that contains plenty of cancer-fighting antioxidants, like Vitamins A, C, and E.

Heart diseases

The English Bulldog is, unfortunately, at risk of quite a few heart conditions, including mitral valve disease and other diseases that stop the heart valves from opening as they should.

Symptoms can include:

• Dizziness and fainting
• Weight loss
• Difficulty breathing
• Coughing

Again, maintaining optimal weight in your Bulldog is paramount for her heart health.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help dogs with heart diseases, especially with heart murmurs, though not as a preventative measure. You should look for a dog food that contains fish or flaxseed oil, as these are high in omega-3s.

You should also opt for a low-sodium dog food, as excessive sodium is detrimental to heart health.

Macronutrient requirements for Bulldogs

Protein

Since Bulldogs are prone to weight gain (plus they aren’t the most active of dogs), they don’t need a large amount of protein.

I would say that between 20 - 25% suits a Bulldog just fine, while more active Bulldogs should have about 30%.

It is important that the protein your dog consumes is from high-quality sources such as whole meats like chicken, turkey, or fish.

Steer well clear of dog foods that include by-products or generic terms such as “animal meal” in their ingredients list. These are much less digestible forms of protein, and your dog will not get the proper nutrition from these ingredients.

Fat

Fat is an essential macronutrient for dogs, as it provides them with energy and keeps their skin and coat in a healthy condition. It is recommended that all adult dogs get between 9 - 15 % fat.

Bulldogs are short-haired, so they won’t need a large amount of fat to keep their coats nourished. Plus, since they are prone to weight gain (which has a very negative impact on their health) I recommend a dog food that contains no more than 13% fat for your Bulldog.

Carbs

A low-carb dog food is the way to go for a Bulldog. Lots of carbs will just make them gassy and more likely to gain weight.

A good way of checking this is by reading the ingredient list - if the first ingredient is a carbohydrate, it’s a sure sign the food is high in carbohydrates. Ideally, the first two ingredients should be a source of protein instead.

As we have already seen, it is best to avoid grains, as they could cause her allergic reactions. Instead, she can get her carbohydrate intake from vegetables like sweet potato or legumes such as chickpeas or lentils.

Vitamins and minerals

To prevent the development of tumors in your Bulldog, opt for a dog food that is full of antioxidants, which help fight free radical damage as well as keep your dog’s immune system strong.

Ideally, you want to see a variety of fruit and vegetables in your dog’s food, particularly blueberries and leafy greens. Vitamin supplements are okay, too, but whole food sources are preferable, as they contain a whole lot of other nutrients, too.

What is the best dog food for Bulldogs?

Below are my top 4 choices for the best dog foods for Bulldogs. To prevent stomach upset or allergic reactions, each of them is free from beef, dairy, and grains, nor do they contain artificial preservatives, colors or flavors.

#1 Wellness Complete Health Grain-Free Adult Whitefish and Menhaden Fish Meal Recipe

For me, this grain-free recipe from Wellness Complete Health wins hands down as the top choice of dog food for a typical Bulldog.

It includes 26% protein which comes from two types of fish, and just 12% fat, which is ideal for a Bulldog. While there are two sources of protein, the second ingredient listed is potatoes, which makes its carb content higher than desirable.

The fish in this recipe, plus the addition of canola oil, makes it high in omega-3s. This, on top of the fact that there is no added salt, means it is a good choice if your Bulldog suffers from heart problems.

Wellness also adds in some glucosamine and chondroitin to support her joints.

Finally, Wellness Complete Health calls itself this for a reason - it doesn’t skimp on the fruit and vegetables in this formula, including 6 antioxidant-rich sources. This makes it a food that supports your dog’s immune system and helps prevent diseases like cancer.

Blue Buffalo is a favorite of mine; I love their high-quality recipes that focus on providing dogs with healthy and nutritious food. I think this recipe from Blue Buffalo Freedom suits typical Bulldogs well.

The protein content is in the middle of the bracket I suggested, at 22%, coming from lamb and turkey, which are the first two ingredients. The fat content is just slightly over, at 14%, but as the protein is fairly low, I think this balance is fine for a Bulldog.

The omega-3 content isn’t low, but it isn’t high, either, so if your dog suffers from heart problems, you might want to supplement this food or look for a food that has a slightly higher amount.

Blue Buffalo Freedom does include a lot of glucosamine which is great for her joint health. However, there is no chondroitin here, which makes it less well balanced than the top choice in this review.

Finally, where Blue Buffalo Freedom doesn’t disappoint is in the antioxidant department. They provide an array of fruit and vegetables, which come cold-pressed and, therefore, extremely potent! They also include lots of supplements on top of this.

This is a food that will help your dog’s immune system stay strong and ward off illnesses like heart disease and cancer.

I have chosen another recipe from Wellness, this time Wellness CORE, as a good option for highly active/working Bulldogs who get more than one hour of vigorous exercise a day.

The protein content is very high, at 34%, coming from chicken and turkey, while the fat content is mid-range, at 16%. While the protein content may seem like a lot - even for a highly active Bulldog - the carb content of this food is low, which makes this recipe very well-balanced, in my opinion.

The use of salmon oil and flaxseed provides good sources of omega-3s, but, as with Blue Buffalo Freedom, if your dog suffers from heart problems, you may need to supplement this food.

There is, however, a lot of joint support for your Bulldog, with the inclusion of chondroitin and glucosamine.

As with the first recipe, Wellness CORE packs this formula with tons of fruit and vegetables to provide an antioxidant-rich diet for your Bulldog’s immunes system health.

This dog food is a great choice for Bulldogs with sensitive stomachs or food allergies. The idea of Limited Ingredient diets is to minimize the number of ingredients your dog consumes and, therefore, lessen the chances of causing an allergic reaction. It can also be a good way of testing what your dog does and doesn’t react to.

This recipe includes 22.5% protein from just one source, duck, and just 11% fat, which is fine for a typical Bulldog. The low fat content makes it a good choice for overweight Bulldogs who need to shed a few pounds.

There is a high amount of omega-3s in this recipe, which supports her heart health. There aren’t many fruit or veg sources, given that it is a Limited Ingredient Diet food. However, Natural Balance includes many supplements to give her the antioxidants she needs to support her immune system.

There are no additional nutrients to support joint health in this formula, so it is not the top choice for Bulldogs with joint problems.

Conclusion

In my opinion, Wellness Complete Health is the top choice for typical Bulldogs, providing lots of joint support and antioxidants, while Blue Buffalo Freedom comes in at a close second.

Wellness CORE is a good choice for highly active Bulldogs, while Natural Balance Limited Ingredient is a great option for Bulldogs with sensitive tummies or heart problems.

What do you feed your Bulldog? Leave a comment below!