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The 7 Best Dog Food for French Bulldogs (Vet-approved)

As a small-medium breed, the question on many Frenchie owners‘ minds is, what’s the best dog food for French Bulldogs?

While they may be low-maintenance when it comes to coat care and exercise requirements, their nutritional needs require careful consideration.

Providing your Frenchie with a high-quality and balanced diet is essential for maintaining a healthy body weight and reducing the risk of certain health conditions.

In this article, we will look at the nutritional needs of French Bulldogs and provide our food recommendations based on the age of your French Bulldog.

Best Dog Food for French Bulldogs: Quick Picks

In a hurry? Here are our top 7 recommendations for the best dog food for French Bulldogs.

Best Grain-Free French Bulldog Food

dog food for french bulldogs

The Honest Kitchen Whole Food Clusters Grain Free Chicken Dry Dog Food

This dehydrated formula ensures easy preparation of nutritious meals, suitable for adult French Bulldogs and puppies, addressing growth needs and sensitive stomachs.

Best Dog Food for Adult Frenchies

best dog food for french bulldogs

Purina Pro Plan Shredded Blend Small Breed Dog Food

This healthy formula offers premium nutrition for small dogs. Made of real chicken, high protein, vitamins, and prebiotics that support your Frenchie’s growth and well-being.

Best Dry Dog Food for Frenchies 

best dog food for french bulldogs

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Small Breed

This high-quality, balanced recipe is formulated for small breed dogs, featuring real chicken and enriched with essential nutrients.

Best Dog Food for Senior Frenchies

best dog food for french bulldogs

Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Senior

This formula, specifically designed for older French Bulldogs, contains all the nutrients they need to keep their joints healthy.

Best Wet Dog Food for Frenchies

best dog food for french bulldogs

Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Senior

This formula, specifically designed for older French Bulldogs, contains all the nutrients they need to keep their joints healthy.

Best Dog Food for Adult Frenchies

best dog food for french bulldogs

Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Adult

This grain-free formula delivers exceptional results for sensitive dogs, promoting a healthier coat, firmer stools, increased energy, and muscle toning.

Best Kibble/Raw Dog Food for Adult Frenchies

best dog food for french bulldogs

Instinct Raw Boost Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe

This grain-free formula delivers exceptional results for sensitive dogs, promoting a healthier coat, firmer stools, increased energy, and muscle toning.

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Nutritional Needs For French Bulldogs

French Bulldogs have different nutritional requirements than other breeds due to their smaller size and unique anatomy.

The best French Bulldog food will depend on the age of your Frenchie, as French bulldog puppies, adults, and seniors have different nutritional needs.

  • Puppies require more protein and calories to support their growth and development. They also need a higher ratio of calcium and phosphorus to help their bones and teeth develop correctly.
  • Adult French bulldogs require a balanced diet with the proper nutrients to maintain their body weight and energy levels. Their dietary requirements differ from those of puppies as they have already developed their bones and muscles.
  • Senior French bulldogs require fewer calories, but their diets need to include more nutrients to help maintain their joint health, which may become weaker with age. They may also require more fiber to help with digestion, as senior Frenchies are prone to constipation.

Here’s an overview of the three life stages of a French Bulldog:

Life StageAge
PuppyUnder 12 months
AdultOver 12 months
Senior10+ years

By following these life stages, you can avoid common mistakes people make when feeding their French Bulldogs.

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Best Dog Food for French Bulldogs

Choosing the best dog food for French Bulldogs can be challenging due to their unique size. They’re bigger than small breeds but smaller than medium breeds.

dod food for french bulldogs

To assist you in making the best choice for your French Bulldog’s diet, we’ve put together a list of top-rated small-breed and all-breed formulas.

Our recommendations include options for puppies, adult dogs, and even senior dogs with special dietary requirements.

The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Dehydrated Dog Food

Best Grain-Free French Bulldog Food

dog food for french bulldogs

This dehydrated formula ensures easy preparation of nutritious meals, suitable for adult French Bulldogs and puppies, addressing growth needs and sensitive stomachs.

This grain-free recipe is made from wholesome ingredients, like chicken, flaxseed, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and apples.

It’s packed with essential vitamins and minerals to provide your French Bulldog with all the nutrition he needs for a healthy life.

The dehydrated formula makes it easy to prepare delicious and nutritious meals. Honest Kitchen provides a variety of flavors to choose from, so you can find one your dog loves.

This food is ideal for French Bulldog puppies, as it contains all the nutrition they need to grow and develop properly. Also, its grain-free formula is great for Frenchies who have sensitive stomachs.  

Pros:

  • Human-grade ingredients
  • Grain-free
  • Dehydrated food

Cons:

  • Pricier than other foods
  • Additional preparation and hydration time.
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Purina Pro Plan Shredded Blend Small Breed Dog Food

Best Dog Food for Adult Frenchies

best dog food for french bulldogs

This healthy formula offers premium nutrition for small dogs. Made of real chicken, high protein, vitamins, and prebiotics that support your Frenchie’s growth and well-being.

This Purina Pro formula is a great choice for adult French Bulldogs, as it contains high amounts of protein and fat essential for their development.

It also features a blend of chicken, rice, poultry-by-product meal, beef fat, corn meal, and soybean meal – all ingredients that provide the nutrients they need to stay healthy and active.

Purina Pro Plan is also specially formulated for smaller breeds so that it will go down well with your French Bulldog.

The kibble is small enough for their little mouths, and it’s packed with flavor, too. This is a high-quality food for French Bulldogs that your pup will love.

Pros:

  • High-quality protein
  • Boost immune system
  • Made to be more easily digestible

Cons:

  • Contains grains
  • Not ideal for French Bulldogs who are overweight or prone to weight gain.
dog paw illustration

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Small Breed

Best Dry Dog Food for Frenchies 

best dog food for french bulldogs

This high-quality, balanced recipe is formulated for small breed dogs, featuring real chicken and enriched with essential nutrients.

This protein-rich recipe is specifically formulated for puppies, including French Bulldogs. It contains deboned chicken as the main ingredient.

This provides premium protein and essential amino acids to help your pup grow strong and healthy bones.

Other ingredients include Pea Protein, Chicken Meal, Chicken Fat, Flaxseed, and more. All these ingredients work together to provide a balanced formula that is nutritious and delicious.

Blue Buffalo uses natural preservatives and is free from high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, and flavors. So you can be sure your Frenchie gets the best quality food.

Pros:

  • Protein-rich
  • Grain-free and gluten-free
  • Natural ingredients

Cons:

  • Higher fat content
  • Pricier than other foods
dog paw illustration

Wellness Complete Health Small Breed Senior

Best Dog Food for Senior Frenchies

best dog food for french bulldogs

This formula, specifically designed for older French Bulldogs, contains all the nutrients they need to keep their joints healthy.

This formula is specifically designed for older French Bulldogs and contains all the nutrients they need while being low in fat.

It includes deboned turkey, chicken meal, ground brown rice, peas, rice, and other high-quality ingredients that provide your dog with balanced nutrition without excessive calories.

Formulated by veterinarians and nutritionists, this formula helps maintain proper weight and prevent obesity while providing essential nutrition.

This formula also contains probiotics to help support healthy digestion. It’s perfect for senior French Bulldogs and a great option for any adult dog looking to maintain a healthy weight. 

Pros:

  • Support joint health
  • Probiotics
  • Omega-3 fatty acids
  • High-quality protein

Cons:

  • A bit expensive
  • Limited protein sources
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Whole Earth Farms Red Meat Canned Dog Food

Best Wet Dog Food for Frenchies

best dog food for french bulldogs

Formulated for adult dogs, this grain-free formula offers balanced nutrition featuring beef, real pork, and lamb while excluding chicken, corn, soy, wheat, artificial additives, and fillers.

This grain-free wet dog food is made with real beef and beef broth as the first two ingredients, along with beef liver, lamb, pork liver, and sweet potatoes.

It contains healthy omega fatty acids from canola oil to help support skin and coat health. Plus, it is fortified with vitamins and minerals for complete nutrition.

The small bite-sized chunks make it easy for them to chew and digest. This formula is suitable for all life stages and can be used throughout a French Bulldog’s lifetime.

Your Frenchie will enjoy the meaty flavor; you can feel confident knowing it provides them with all the nutrition they need. 

Pros:

  • High-quality protein
  • Grain-free and gluten-free
  • Natural ingredients

Cons:

  • Pricier than other wet foods
  • High moisture content
dog paw illustration

Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Adult

Best Dog Food for Adult Frenchies

best dog food for french bulldogs

This grain-free formula delivers exceptional results for sensitive dogs, promoting a healthier coat, firmer stools, increased energy, and muscle toning.

Fresh salmon, turkey, and menhaden fish meal provide the majority of the meat protein in this Nulo Freestyle formula.

It also contains chickpeas, chicken fat, sweet potato, yellow peas, and other wholesome ingredients to give your French Bulldog all the essential nutrients he deserves.

Plus, it’s rich in omega fatty acids, which can help keep your pup’s skin and coat healthy. The recipe is free of grains, soy, corn, and fillers to help avoid any potential allergies.

Also, it has added probiotics for better digestion and anti-oxidants to help boost the immune system.

Pros:

  • Grain-free
  • High-quality protein
  • Boost immune system
  • Promote healthy skin and coat

Cons:

  • Expensive

Instinct Raw Boost Small Breed Grain-Free Recipe

Best Raw Dog Food for Adult Frenchies

best dog food for french bulldogs

This grain-free formula delivers exceptional results for sensitive dogs, promoting a healthier coat, firmer stools, increased energy, and muscle toning.

This high-protein, grain-free kibble, combined with freeze-dried raw chicken bites, offers the benefits of a raw diet with the convenience of kibble.

Infused with DHA for brain and eye health and enriched with glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support, it provides a holistic approach to your Frenchie’s well-being.

The inclusion of cage-free chicken as the primary ingredient, along with the absence of byproducts and artificial additives, ensures a high-quality, nutritious meal.

Pros:

  • Cage-free chicken as the main ingredient
  • Convenience of kibble with raw diet benefits
  • No byproducts or artificial additives
  • Joint health support
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What to Look for in the Best Dog Food for French Bulldogs

When looking for the best dog food for French Bulldogs, here are some important factors to consider:

Lean protein: Look for dog food that contains high-quality animal-based protein sources, such as chicken, turkey, fish, or lamb, as the first ingredient.

Low-to-moderate fat content: French Bulldogs are prone to obesity, so look for dog food containing moderate fat to support their energy needs without overfeeding them.

Limited fillers and additives: Avoid dog foods that contain fillers, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, as they can trigger allergies and digestive issues in Frenchies.

Balanced nutritional profile: Ensure the dog food has a balanced nutritional profile, with appropriate protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals to support your Frenchie’s overall health.

Easily digestible ingredients: French Bulldogs are prone to digestive issues, so choose a dog food that contains easily digestible ingredients such as rice, oatmeal, or sweet potatoes.

The best to meet your French Bulldog’s basic needs for calories and nutrition is by feeding him high-quality dog food formulated for small breeds.

Keep an eye on your dog’s weight and condition, and make adjustments to their diet if they become overweight.

dog paws illustration

Wrap-Up: Best Dog Food French Bulldogs

The best food for French Bulldogs should contain natural proteins rather than animal by-products and healthy grains instead of fillers.

While French Bulldogs are not known for being picky eaters, their sensitive stomachs require careful consideration when selecting from the available options on the market.

Avoid ingredients that your Frenchie cannot tolerate, and select a balanced and healthy diet that supports their overall well-being.

By providing your French Bulldog with the right nutrition, you’ll enjoy a happy, playful, and lively companion.

We hope our article has provided valuable insights into the best food options for French Bulldogs and helped you make an informed decision for your furry friend.

Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.

FAQs on French Bulldog Foods

Can French Bulldogs eat rice? 

Yes, they can. Rice is an important ingredient in many commercial dog foods and can provide essential nutrients such as carbohydrates, amino acids, fatty acids, and vitamins. Other beneficial ingredients commonly found in commercial dog food made with rice include chicken, poultry by-product meal, beef fat, corn, and soybean meal. These high-quality ingredients help ensure your French Bulldog receives the balanced nutrition they need to stay healthy and happy.

Can French bulldogs eat eggs? 

Yes, eggs can be a part of a balanced diet for French bulldogs. However, ensure that the eggs are only given to French bulldogs in moderation. Too much can lead to digestive issues and potential allergic reactions due to the high-fat content of egg whites. Be sure to boil or scramble eggs before serving them to your pup, as raw eggs can contain salmonella. Overall, it is safe for French bulldogs to eat cooked eggs in moderation as part of a balanced diet. 

Are French Bulldogs allergic to chicken? 

Although French Bulldogs aren’t particularly prone to food allergies, it’s possible that chicken could be a trigger. To ensure your pet gets the nutrition they need while avoiding potential allergens, try looking for dog foods with limited ingredients like beef or fish. This way, you can be sure your pup gets the right amount of protein without worrying about any unexpected reactions. Plus, limited-ingredient diets support healthy gut flora and digestive health.

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Lisemaine is a dog lover. She currently owns two Frenchies and enjoys working with and training them. She'll share her best tips with you to keep your Frenchie happy, healthy, and active.


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