What to feed a French bulldog at home: a complete analysis of the diet

Update date: 02/14/2021 14:36:53 30196 Share:

Author of the article: Astafieva Ekaterina Alekseevna

*Review of the best according to the editors of simplerule.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

Many dog ​​breeders choose the French bulldog, as it is a relatively small, active, cheerful and non-aggressive breed. But such pets are quite demanding in care and nutrition, they are prone to allergies, and the anatomical structure of their faces forces them to select food very carefully. Our experts decided to help owners of French bulldogs, as well as those who are just planning to get a pet, in choosing a balanced and healthy diet for dogs of this breed.

Feeding dry food

If you decide to feed your French bulldog with ready-made food, choose the super premium and holistic classes, they are harmless, enriched with all vitamins and minerals, more nutritious, and convenient for the owners. Pay attention to what breeds they are intended for: small (up to 10 kg) or small and medium (10-20 kg). Feeding regimen: 130-260 g (or 5% of weight) per day, morning and evening, depending on the weight and activity of the bulldog.

The best dry food

Belcando Finest Croc

Duke's Farm Adult Medium

Eukanuba Adult Medium Breed

Trainer Fitness3 Adult Mini

Hill's Science Plan Adult Mini

We also performed a detailed analysis of the following feeds: Proplan, Monje, Dog Chow, Brit.

Review of manufacturers

Dog food is presented in stores in a huge assortment, so you can choose the most suitable option for your pet’s taste and health.

So, the leaders are holistic foods: Orijene and SAVARRA, Canidae and Applaws, Acana and Grandorf, Gina and Go Natural, as well as Now Fresh.

Second place goes to super-premium food from the following brands: Eukanuba and Arden, Dukes Farm and Grange, Josera and Monge, Brit Care and Schesir, 1st Choice and Pronature Original, Trainer.

In third place are foods from the premium category: Hills and Royal Canin, Advance and Probalance and Brit Premium.

Economy class food in fourth place: Pedigree, Chappi, Darling, Cesar, Oscar, Psarny Dvor, Trapeza, Stout, Our Mark.

Summarize:

• the best producers of dry food are Brit and Care, as well as Wolfsblut from German and Czech companies and Probalance from Russia;
• canned meat and food in packs - Brit and Purina One, as well as Belcando;
• holistic food for small puppies - Acana Puppy & Junior and Almo Nature and NOW Natural (they have a hypoallergenic composition).

How to change your dog's food

Whether you change food within one brand that your dog is used to, or decide to try another, transfer your bulldog from one to another gradually, over the course of a week or two, decreasing the proportion of the old food and increasing the proportion of the new food. Monitor your pet's health. For example, food allergies do not develop quickly, but two weeks is enough to determine whether a new food is suitable for your dog.

If your Frenchie has interdigital cysts, here is a short video from an owner with the same problem.

When to change food

• the dog's activity has increased - for active ones,
• decreased activity, excess weight - for those prone to obesity,
• pregnancy and lactation - for pregnant bitches,
• when refusing food - for picky people (if the dog is healthy),
• risk of kidney disease - for the prevention of urolithiasis,
• sterilization or castration - for those who are sterilized or prone to obesity,
• for joint diseases - a diet to support joints,
• sensitive digestion - for patients with the gastrointestinal tract or specialized dietary,
• rashes, scratching, hair loss - hypoallergenic or for sensitive skin.

Features of feeding puppies

The feeding regimen for French bulldog puppies of different ages is different. But whether you have a one-month-old dog or a one-year-old one, follow the general rules:

• puppies are fed by a bitch until they are one and a half months old,
• feed at a certain time, after the same time,
• don't give snacks
• Determine serving size based on appetite
• remove the bowl after 10-15 minutes,
• you cannot overfeed, the dog will become obese, weak bones and joints will become deformed,
• give new products little by little,
• do not introduce two new products at once,
• give food at a temperature of +20-25 degrees,
• exclude milk for puppies older than 2-3 months,
• puppies up to 3 months grow quickly, give them high-calorie food,
• Don't go for a walk right after eating.

The owner recommends feeding the puppies semolina porridge if the bitch can no longer cope with feeding the offspring.

Here is an example of pacifier feeding.

What is strictly contraindicated?

There are a number of foods that should never be used to feed a French Bulldog:

• citrus;
• bakery products;
• sugar;
• chocolate;
• smoked meats and pickles;
• fried, salted, pickled foods and foods with a lot of spices;
• pasta and flour products, especially those containing yeast and margarine;
• sausages;
• Exotic fruits.

Eating tubular bones threatens perforation of the esophagus, stomach and intestines, river and weed fish provokes the development of urolithiasis, and grapes and raisins are poisonous to dogs.

IMPORTANT!

Under no circumstances should the “French” be allowed to eat leftover food from the table.

If you want to pamper your pet with something tasty, it is better to purchase special dog treats , which most often consist of 100% meat and safe starch as a preservative.

Natural nutrition

French bulldogs are carnivores, so their food should contain between 1/3 and 2/3 animal proteins. Cereals, vegetables and fruits are food for dogs, although healthy, but uncharacteristic, so their share should be less. It is not always possible to say with confidence how many animal products are contained in the “dry”, so bulldog owners prefer natural food and are themselves responsible for the quality and completeness of their pets’ diet.

Make sure the food is fresh: “Frenchies” often have a poor sense of smell - they can eat spoiled food.

Conclusions on the topic

We have collected the best food for French bulldogs, which are successfully used by many owners of dogs of this breed. Each described product has a balanced composition and is distinguished by certain useful features.

Of course, it is better to select food for your pet with the help of a veterinarian or dog handler. But we hope that our review helped you understand the line of food for French bulldogs currently on sale.

Do you want to clarify any nuances regarding the food you are interested in or leave your review? You can contact us using our two-way contact form. Please comment on the article, we will definitely respond to every request.

What to feed an adult dog

Don’t feed your French bulldog only meat, even if you can afford it: “plant” kidneys for him.

Its amount should be ~ 20 g per 1 kg of live weight. If your pet lives in an apartment, the percentage of protein in its diet can be reduced to 20. Feed your bulldog twice a day. More frequent feeding - greater energy loss, kidney hyperfusion, single feeding - bloating.

Rules for preparing food

• Choose lean meat and freeze it.
• Give cereals in the form of porridges or steam them. Add vegetables and meat to the finished porridge.
• Choose low-fat dairy products. Avoid fresh whole milk. Do not combine with meat in the same serving.
• Steam vegetables or chop them fresh. You can combine several types.
• Give the fish from the sea, but freeze it first. It is better to boil cod or add iron-containing preparations to the feed. Be sure to boil river water. Remove bones, scales, heads and entrails.
• Fresh fruits only in small quantities, as they cause stomach upsets, diarrhea or constipation. Eliminate citrus fruits, grapes, pomegranates.
• Eggs: raw - only yolks, boiled - whole.

Look how they spoon feed a Frenchie!

Menu for the week

Combined nutrition

Combining “dry” and “natural” is not recommended, especially if you use high-grade industrial feed. The balance of vitamins and minerals with the addition of natural food is disrupted, which after some time will affect the health or appearance of the pet.

It’s better to pamper your bulldog with a wet variety of the same brand or dilute the “drying” with warm water. For example, some brands of ready-made food produce an appetizing sauce when diluted. If you still add regular foods to your dog’s diet, space out the “natural” and “drying” foods over time.

Vitamin and mineral supplements

Puppies on super premium and holistic food do not need additional vitamins and minerals.

If you feed your pet “naturally”, give him medications and feed additives with calcium, phosphorus and chondroprotectors (8in1 Excel Calcium, SA-37, Kanvit, Wetzim, Canina) during the period of active growth, vitamins for adults - in courses, in spring, autumn, during molting, during stress.

Photo: flickr.com

Feeding a pregnant dog

The nutrition of a French bulldog puppy in the first half of pregnancy is not much different from usual. Increase the number of feedings to three times a day (by the end of the month), introduce minerals into the diet (calcium 65-70 mg/kg body weight and phosphorus 50-55 mg/kg), in winter you also need vitamins A and D (tetravit, trivit, Gelacan Baby).

Or switch to “drying” for pregnant women and puppies. From 7 weeks until birth, feed your bulldog 4 times a day, after birth (during lactation) - 4-5 times.

From the 5th week, increase the single portion by 15% per week, then by the end of pregnancy it will be 160-180% of the usual.

General recommendations

Good health and longevity are not characteristic features of French bulldogs, so it is important to approach the issue of their nutrition as responsibly as possible .
When deciding on a feeding ration, it is necessary to take into account the Frenchman’s lifestyle and physical activity. When eating, the dog must compensate for the calories expended on the walk.

CAREFULLY!

Improper nutrition will lead to the development of rickets, obesity and digestive problems.

A proper diet must maintain a balance of protein, fat and carbohydrate intake.

You cannot keep your pet on a monocomponent type of feeding - the diet should be as varied and healthy as possible.

It is also necessary to adhere to the following rules of nutrition for the “French”:

• strictly adhere to the pet’s nutritional rules, based on its age and nutritional needs and energy value of foods;
• include foods in your dog’s diet based on their composition, characteristics and nutritional value;
• if there are diseases of the stomach or digestive system, the “Frenchman” must be switched to dietary nutrition;
• Before feeding your dog, you need to prepare the food in accordance with the basic methods.

It is strictly forbidden to overfeed your French Bulldog.

Healthy nutrition also includes such concepts as frequency, regularity and timeliness of feeding. You should feed your pet at the same time, using the optimal one-time portion of food.

Also read how to properly feed a French bulldog puppy.

Nutrition for health problems

• skin problems - hypoallergenic, monoprotein foods, zinc and sulfur supplements;
• inflammation of the gums, palate - soft, warm food;
• obesity - less calorie foods, smaller portion sizes, chondroprotectors;
• pancreatic diseases - low-calorie, light diet;
• liver disease - frequent feeding in small portions at regular intervals;
• allergies - identify a food allergen and exclude it from the menu;
• epilepsy - eliminate hypoglycemia, constipation, enrich the diet with vitamins B and D, magnesium and manganese.

Owner reviews

Larisa: “I am the owner of a wonderful Bulka, but I have observed many others. If you feed him correctly, he will live happily into old age. Due to the tendency to allergies, it is easier to list what they can do than what they cannot. Dry food is only expensive. It is not true that the “Frenchies” are difficult to feed. Just don’t give him too many treats.”

Ekaterina: “We got a French bulldog Fedya after much thought, trained him to eat dry food, and since then it’s been a lottery: whether he will scratch his ears until they bleed or not. True, I often can’t resist treating him to something while I’m cooking.”

Is there enough food?

Just because a dog begs doesn't mean it doesn't have enough food. You may have taught your pet to be a glutton. French bulldogs are low-active animals. Therefore, excess calories are not burned, but turn into fat. You know that obese people are prone to diseases. The same problems occur in obese dogs. The problem and its solution are described in the wonderful book of the English veterinarian J. Herriot, “On All Creatures Great and Small.”

Therefore, evaluate your dog’s food intake by his live weight and the condition of his ribs. Sit your dog down and feel his sides. If the ribs are sticking out, your dog is not getting enough food, add more. If the bones cannot be felt, punish the malingerer by reducing the portion.

I will answer questions in the comments.