Frenchies are a highly sought after breed that is only gaining popularity. You know how adorable, sweet, and fun these pups can be, so that’s probably no surprise.
But this breed isn’t the easiest to care for. They are prone to a number of health problems and require a quality diet to stay healthy and maintain a proper weight.
In this article, we will look at the important qualities of a Frenchie’s diet and review three of the best dog foods for French bulldogs.
Best Dog Foods for French Bulldog
- Best Weight Management: Merrick Healthy Weight
- Best Active Adult: Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream
- Best For Puppy: Victor Active Dog and Puppy
Merrick Healthy Weight
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream
Victor Active Dog and Puppy
Reviews of The Best Dog Foods for French Bulldogs
#1. Merrick Healthy Weight
Best Weight Management
High protein
Low Fat
Quality ingredients
Some protein from legumes
Higher in plant ingredients
When it comes to a weight management food that is nutrient dense enough to keep your bulldog healthy for the long haul, Merrick’s Healthy Weight is one of the best out there. We’ve also included it in our Best Low Fat Dog Food article. This means this food has a higher protein level than most normal dog foods but maintains a lower calorie density to keep your dog trim.
At 32% protein, this food would be considered high protein even if it wasn’t a weight control diet. Most weight control diets bring the calorie density down by replacing fat with carbs, but this diet just ups the protein instead.
Even though your Frenchie is smaller than most bulldogs, they still require a lot of protein to maintain the standard bully breed muscle density. While English bulldogs have similar needs, we recommend you check out this article if you are looking for a food for the Frenchie’s English cousin.
All this protein comes from quality animal ingredients like beef, chicken meal, and turkey meal. This formula also contains plenty of omegas for skin and eye health.
This food is moderately priced but well worth it if your Frenchie struggles to maintain a healthy weight. And since most Frenchies struggle with this issue, we’ve deemed this the best dry dog food for French bulldogs.
#2. Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream
Best Active Adult
Quality ingredients
Contains few allergens
Omegas and vitamin E
Lower protein
Some protein from lentils
Higher in plant ingredients
If your bulldog is more active or just genetically blessed, you may not have to worry so much about the total calorie content of your Frenchie’s food. Taste of the Wild’s Pacific Stream is a great choice for these Frenchies.
This food contains a higher than average protein content of 25% and a more normal fat content of 15%. The first two ingredients in this food are salmon and ocean fish meal.
These two ingredients pack a lot of healthy fats, omegas, and vitamin E. All these nutrients will help nurture your dog’s skin, coat, and eyes.
This food is also grain free, making it one of the best dog foods for French bulldogs with allergies. It is an especially good choice for dogs with protein sensitivities since it does not contain any chicken, beef, or lamb.
The added probiotics and biologically appropriate ingredients also make this a great choice for Frenchies with sensitive stomachs.
If you’re looking for an all-natural food at an affordable price, this one is for you.
#3. Victor Active Dog and Puppy
Best For Puppy
High protein, higher fat
Nutrients for growth
77% animal ingredients
Higher in starch
Some protein from legumes
Puppies and younger French bulldogs require more calorie-dense food than their older and less active counterparts. Victor’s active dog and puppy food is a great option for them.
This food is packed with protein, 33% in fact, to help your Frenchie grow into a strong adult with proper muscle mass. It has only slightly more fat than our second choice food at 16%, which is important for growth.
This food contains many healthy meats such as beef meal, fish meal, and pork meal. The fish meal especially provides many important nutrients for growing dogs like DHA and omega fatty acids.
What makes this the best dog food for French bulldog puppies is that it contains 77% animal ingredients on top of being a well-balanced diet for pups with high metabolisms who grow very quickly.
This food is also grain free which is important as many Frenchies develop food sensitivities very early on in life.
Victor’s puppy formula is competitively priced with our other two choices on the list and is a great choice to see your puppy through the first nine months of their lives and into adolescents if they remain active.
Common French Bulldog Health Issues
As much as you don’t want to think about the possible health issues that might affect your French bulldog, it is a good idea to be aware of them not only so you can recognize the symptoms, but so you can avoid them if possible.
According to American Veterinarian, French bulldogs are especially prone to skin fold and ear infections. They also have a number of eye issues like cherry eye and conjunctivitis.
As a smaller breed and a bulldog, your dog is also very likely to struggle with obesity in their life. Luckily, many of these health issues can be delayed or avoided with the right diet.
What to Look for in a Quality French Bulldog Diet
If you want to find a better food for your Frenchie, there are a few qualities to look for.
Vitamin E and omega fatty acids are important for both skin and eye health. High-protein diets are also important for the health of the coat and skin.
A high-protein food that is low in carbs and has moderate fat is also important in helping your Frenchie maintain a healthy weight.
It’s also important to consider possible food allergies when shopping for a new food, as many Frenchies suffer from food allergies. Make sure no corn or soy is listed in the ingredients as well as any foods your specific dog is sensitive to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Like all bulldogs, Frenchies have higher muscle mass than most breeds and need a lot of protein in their diets. However, unlike large bully breeds like the American bulldog and pit bull, Frenchies tend to be less active and require fewer calories.
Check out this article if you are looking for the best dog food for American bulldogs.
What is the Best Dog Food for French Bulldogs?
After reviewing many quality dog foods, we’ve selected Merrick’s Healthy Weight Recipe as the best dog food for French bulldogs. This food contains quality, animal-sourced ingredients and a ton of protein to keep your tiny bulldog feeling and looking their best.
And, because this food is low in fat, it will help you keep your dog looking fit and fabulous, which is important in avoiding common Frenchie health conditions. And, like all our choices, this food is grain free and contains no chemicals or filler ingredients that might aggravate your Frenchie’s sensitive system.
If you have a more active or puppy Frenchie in your home, we’ve included a couple of great options for those dogs on our list as well.
