Best Dog Food for English Bulldogs | The Top 5 for 2024
Alex Vicente • Updated on August 18, 2023
- This review contains affiliate links. Read more here.
- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
In my opinion, the best dog food for English Bulldogs is the Royal Canin Breed Bulldog Adult Dry Dog Food. I have reviewed some other amazing alternatives so make sure you scroll down this page to chek them out.
English Bulldogs are known for their adorably wrinkly faces, but did you know these cuddle-bugs often have sensitive digestive tracts? The best dog food for English Bulldogs is formulated in specially sized pieces, is easily digestible, avoids common allergy triggers, and supports the bones and joints.
Not all bulldogs are active individuals, which means you’ll want to consult with your veterinarian about feeding different brands of food.
Table of Contents
What Is The Best Dog Food For English Bulldogs?
To find the best dog food for English Bulldogs, I reviewed several products and chose those with high-quality ingredients, excellent brand reputations, and essential nutritional formulas that make them ideal diets for your companion.
Tailored Nutrition for Pure-Breed Dogs.
At Royal Canin, they partner with veterinarians, breeders and other pet experts to recognize the effect of each nutrient as they develop a formula perfect for a particular breed.
The Royal Canin Breed Bulldog Adult dry dog food focuses on reducing the odor of your pet, maintaining their healthy skin, and supporting their bone and overall joint health. This food features specially shaped kibble designed to help your Bulldog eat more slowly, which can reduce the amount of air that they swallow as they eat.
This dry dog food also provides a minimum protein content of 22% and 12% fat. There is also a bit of fiber in this food to help your Bulldog maintain a proper weight and avoid excess flatulence. There are several supportive additions to this food as well, including fish oil, beets, glucosamine, marigold extract, and a wide assortment of vitamins and minerals.
This food is available in one flavor and multiple package options so you can test out a 6lb bag or buy it in 30lb quantities. There isn’t any wet food to accompany this product, but this food can be fed alone as a complete diet for your pet.
- Pros
- Specially formulated for bulldogs older than 12 months
- Smaller kibble size that’s easier for bulldogs to eat
- The formula supports skin health, bones, and joints
- Contains 22% highly digestible protein, and a variety of carbohydrates
- Cons
- No canned food available to complement this kibble
- Not grain-free
- The formula supports skin health, bones, and joints
- Contains 22% highly digestible protein, and a variety of carbohydrates
ALSO READ: Best Dog Food for Small Senior Dogs
Unique foods for healthy dogs of every age, size and need.
To help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets.
The Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Recipe dry dog food is perfect for Bulldogs as it is easy on their sensitive digestion and easily digested without creating extra gas or discomfort. Many Bulldogs will have sensitivities to common ingredients in dry dog food, but Hill’s recipe includes a prebiotic fiber that not only aids in digestion but helps to maintain the microbiome in the gut.
This dry dog food also includes Omega-6 fatty acids, and extra vitamin E for a more luxurious coat, and healthier skin. This food is made in the USA, #1 recommended by veterinarians, and made with trusted ingredients from across the globe. Each piece of kibble is roughly 3mm by 10mm, which is an ideal size for the average Bulldog.
The Hill’s Science Diet dry food is formulated for adult dogs, so it’s best to consult with your veterinarian for feeding guidelines and consultation if you plan to use this food with a puppy or senior dog.
- Pros
- Includes prebiotic fiber to support gut bacteria
- Highly digestible recipe for better nutrient absorption
- The first ingredient is meat
- Contains a blend of complex carbohydrates
- Wet food is also available
- Cons
- More expensive than other brands
- Limited flavors and package sizes
- The first ingredient is meat
- Contains a blend of complex carbohydrates
- Wet food is also available
Real Meat Recipe Premium Specialty Dry Dog Food.
This formula is great for dogs that may have food-related skin sensitivities. But it is also beneficial for the maintenance of healthy skin and coat in any dog, from puppy to senior.
The Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat dry dog food is a premium dog food that includes probiotics designed to support digestion and the healthy gut microbiome. Since Bulldogs frequently have digestive issues, this food is also made with hypoallergenic ingredients and contains a higher amount of protein.
This food is also grain-free and appropriate for all life stages, given the amino acid profile that supports the growth of muscles and bones. This dry dog food comes packed with antioxidants, superfoods, and fatty acids in addition to essential vitamins and minerals. The recipe for the Diamond Naturals food is also highly digestible and free from fillers like corn and wheat.
This dry dog food is also free from artificial flavors, preservatives, and coloring and undergoes advanced safety protocols during manufacturing to ensure safety. The Diamond Naturals company is family-owned and made in the USA.
- Pros
- Meat is the first ingredient
- Highly digestible formula perfect for Bulldogs with sensitive stomachs
- Infused with vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and antioxidants
- Includes fatty acids and a higher level of protein
- No fillers, corn, wheat, flavorings, colorants, or preservatives
- Cons
- Limited flavors and package sizes available
- Many owners do not like the smell of this food
- Infused with vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and antioxidants
- Includes fatty acids and a higher level of protein
- No fillers, corn, wheat, flavorings, colorants, or preservatives
ALSO READ: Best Dog Food for Pitbulls to Gain Weight
Formulated for the health and well-being of dogs, Blue Life Protection Formula Dry Dog Food is made with the finest natural ingredients enhanced with vitamins and minerals.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult dry dog food contains a blend of high-quality proteins, whole grains, and vegetables to provide your Bulldog with the best possible combination of nutritious ingredients. This food also contains LifeSource bits that support the immune system, regulate oxidative balance within the body, and offer vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
This natural dog food is free from corn, soy, wheat, artificial flavors, and preservatives and contains no by-product meals that can often irritate the sensitive digestive systems of Bulldogs. This food also comes in conveniently smaller packages so you can easily try it out without having to commit to a full-sized 30lb bag.
- Pros
- Meat is the first ingredient
- Several flavor options and package sizes as small as 6lb
- Includes LifeSource bits for added nutrition
- No by-product meals, preservatives, artificial flavors, soy, wheat, or corn
- Cons
- Meant for adult dogs, may not be suitable for puppies or seniors
- Bags purchased online may have quality control issues
- Includes LifeSource bits for added nutrition
- No by-product meals, preservatives, artificial flavors, soy, wheat, or corn
Tailored Nutrition for Pure-Breed Dogs.
Royal Canin knows what makes your Bulldog puppy magnificent is in the details. With their funny, squishy faces, wrinkled skin, and short, stocky bodies, Bulldog puppies bring a lot of love—and smells—to your home.
The Royal Canin Breed Health Bulldog Puppy dry food is specially shaped food designed to be easy to consume and reduce the amount of air a Bulldog puppy swallows while eating. This dry food also contains added vitamins and minerals to support bone and joint health, and prebiotics, so the food is more easily digested.
Antioxidants help to support the immune system and high-quality proteins and prebiotics support their growing bodies and developing gut biome. This food is ideal for puppies aged eight weeks to 15 months but may work longer as recommended by a veterinarian. The prebiotics and high-quality protein sources will also help to ensure good stool quality and minimal digestive discomfort.
This food may be more than other brands, but it contains high quality and trusted ingredients backed by 50 years of scientific research. The kibble shape is made for the specific shape of the Bulldog jaw and contains higher levels of phosphorus and calcium that are essential for the development of bones and joints.
- Pros
- Formulated for the specific needs of a Bulldog puppy
- Includes antioxidants and vitamin E to help protect the developing immune system
- Features high-quality prebiotics for better digestion
- Kibble is shaped explicitly for Bulldog puppies
- Cons
- Limited flavors
- More expensive than other brands
- Features high-quality prebiotics for better digestion
- Kibble is shaped explicitly for Bulldog puppies
ALSO READ: What is the Best Soft Dog Food? We Find Out
Everything we recommend
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How to Choose the Best Dog Food
The best dog food for English Bulldogs will feature a formula that is easily digestible as this breed is prone to digestion issues that cause flatulence and other digestive discomforts. Many Bulldogs also have food allergies or general sensitivities to items commonly found in dog food. This sensitivity means that not all dog food is appropriate for Bulldogs, and ingredients matter.
When choosing the best dog food for Bulldogs, you’ll want to look at the label on the food and verify the ingredients don’t include any substances that you know your dog is allergic or sensitive too. You’ll also want to look for the protein content, which should be at 22% or higher for maintenance in adult dogs and higher for puppies.
High-quality dog foods will usually exceed this percentage of protein, and you’ll also want to look for a food with 5% fat for adult dogs, and 8% for puppies. Bulldogs are often prone to hip dysplasia, so the best dog food will also contain ingredients that help to support the joints, bones, and muscles.
Things to Look For When Choosing Food for your English Bulldog
When choosing a food for your English Bulldog, your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist can be a helpful resource. These professionals can recommend several types of dog food that might work for your dog, and all of them should include high-quality protein sources and supportive vitamins and minerals.
You’ll want to pay special attention to the protein and fat content of the food as too high of fat content can make it more likely your Bulldog will become overweight. High protein food should also include some type of carbohydrate and vegetables and fruits for a well-rounded diet. Fiber is another essential ingredient for Bulldogs, as this helps reduce flatulence.
Some food for medium-sized breeds will come with smaller bits of kibble, and Bulldog specific foods often feature even smaller sized pieces to encourage slower eating. When Bulldogs eat, they naturally ingest air, which can increase their flatulence, and the amount that your Bulldog eats will largely depend on their activity level.
It’s also important to keep in mind that fat adds flavor to your dogs’ food, so don’t skimp on the fat to save calories as this can make it less appealing for your dog.
What’s the Best Way to Feed your English Bulldog?
Bulldogs grow slowly and can take two years to reach full physical maturity. During this critical growth stage, puppy food is often best for providing the right mix of nutrients, fat, and protein that is essential for development. Many Bulldogs end up being overweight when fed improperly and feeding them table scraps is a sure way to increase their flatulence.
Feeding the excess human food in addition to their regular kibble will also cause them to gain weight, and this can aggravate health conditions like hip dysplasia in older dogs. These dogs also have sensitive stomachs that are sensitive to new foods, and common foods like peas, dairy products, soybeans, and spicy or fatty foods are generally a bad idea.
Feeding your Bulldog involves figuring out how many calories they need in a day, and your veterinarian can help with this. Once you know how many calories your dog needs, you can figure out how many cups of food to give them each day. Some Bulldogs prefer to eat once a day, but twice a day is often recommended to prevent stomach upset from eating a large amount of food at once.
Dog Food Related Controversy
Bulldogs are known for having digestive issues, and grain-free foods may or may not help to improve this condition. The FDA is still investigating the long term effects of grain-free food on canines in general, but haven’t found any definitive findings and is still in the process of collecting and sifting through data from numerous dog owners and other sources.
The investigation revealed that 90% of the cases of heart disease in canines were associated with a grain-free diet. Peas or lentils were present in 93% of the foods reported, and 42% of foods also contained potatoes or sweet potatoes.
While this information was understandably alarming for many dog owners, it’s best to discuss it with your veterinarian before making dramatic changes to the food that you feed your pet. It is possible grain-free diets alone do not cause this health issue, and there are other factors to consider.
Still Trying To Decide On The Best Dog Food For Your English Bulldog?
English Bulldogs have special needs when it comes to the digestibility and nutrition of their food. These stocky creatures are prone to becoming overweight, and improperly sized food can give them uncomfortable flatulence and make it difficult for them to chew their food correctly.
The Royal Canin Breed Bulldog Adult dry dog food features a unique formula to address these breed-specific issues, which is why it’s our top pick. The kibble is packed full of nutrition and adequately sized so that Bulldogs can easily consume it and absorb the nutrients.
This food is not grain-free, but it does contain high-quality ingredients that promote immune health and protect the joints, muscles, and bones. It’s also appropriate for all adult Bulldogs over the age of 12 months and provides highly digestible protein at an affordable price.
About Alex Vicente
Dog Lover, Founder & Chief Editor at Paws Insider
I’ve been rescuing dogs since a very early age. I got my first dog when I was 9 years old and I remember how he, out of a litter of 6 puppies, started running towards me. He’d just chosen me. Ever since then, my love for dogs only grows stronger and I want what’s best for them. My mission is to let our readers know about the best products in the market for our best friends, as well as providing guides and tips on how we can take better care of them.