How to Choose the Best Dog Food for Bulldogs
The stocky Bulldog is an amiable fellow. Affectionate with family and especially fond of children, the Bulldog’s distinctive looks have earned the breed fans throughout the world. A breed with low activity requirements, the Bulldog still requires a high-quality diet that is well-balanced to meet its every nutritional need.
Bulldogs can be predisposed to many very serious health conditions. There are several that can be impacted and even exacerbated by diet. These include allergies, patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, and skin fold dermatitis. To help prevent too much strain on the Bulldog’s knees and hips, this breed should be fed only the best dog food for Bulldogs with each portion carefully measured, and all intake monitored daily.
Allergies are a common problem that can plague this comical breed. Bulldogs that have food sensitivities should be fed a grain-free formulation. Among the most common ingredients to cause allergic reactions in this breed are corn, wheat, and soy.
Choosing the Correct Calorie Count for Bulldogs
Adult Bulldogs require a diet that contains a minimum of 18 percent protein and 5 percent fat. This diet should be based on high-quality proteins derived from animal origins. The best dog foods for Bulldogs are nutritionally balanced and contain ingredients that are highly digestible and rich in antioxidants to help promote a strong immune system.
As a general rule of thumb, a mature Bulldog that is highly active will eat approximately 1300 calories per day. However, the best way to determine how much to feed this breed is by using the dog’s weight and age and applying that against the food’s suggested serving size. This is only a starting point, and meals will need to be adjusted to reflect the dog’s daily activity level, appetite, and body condition until the correct amount is determined.
Dietary Requirements for Bulldog Foods
Bulldogs, like all dogs, are carnivores. To best meet their nutritional needs, they require a diet that is based on a high-quality meat. Whole meats are the best foundation for the Bulldog’s diet, but all of this breed’s requirements can be met through a meat meal listed as the primary protein in a food. However, by-products and plant-based proteins such as soy, corn, or wheat should be avoided.
Carbohydrates play an important role in the Bulldog’s diet though they form a smaller part of the food overall. These are best derived from highly digestible, nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. This will aid the Bulldog’s digestion and provide helpful disease-fighting properties. Grain-inclusive formulations can be fed to the Bulldog if the dog has expressed no sensitivities to grains.
Healthy fats are critical to provide the Bulldog with vital energy and to support healthy skin and coat. These are best obtained from animal origins such as chicken fat or oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, anchovies, or herring. Plant-based oils such as safflower and canola can be an excellent source of vital omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to support good joint health.
The best dog food for Bulldogs contains the proper balance of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
Things to Look for in the Best Dog Food for Bulldogs
Here is a basic list of the most important things to look for in the best dog food for a Bulldog:
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Complete proteins listed at the beginning of the ingredients list
Any diet suited to the needs of the Bulldog should contain meat as its first ingredient. Whole meats are the preferred choice, but meat meals are also acceptable.
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Prepared without the addition of chemicals, flavorings, fillers, or mystery ingredients
The most nutritionally complete foods for Bulldogs are comprised of ingredients that are easily recognizable to most dog owners. The addition of chemicals, colors, or fillers provide no nutritional value to the Bulldog and can trigger an allergic reaction. Avoid foods containing one or more of these items.
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Enriched with probiotics and helpful supplements
All diets can benefit from the addition of helpful supplements to support the Bulldog’s health. The most valuable supplements to look for in a food for this breed include prebiotics, probiotics, glucosamine, and chondroitin.
Diets that are rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids also help the Bulldog’s skin and coat to be vibrant and healthy, an important help in a breed that can be prone to allergies.
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Meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for a complete and balanced food
As a baseline measure of quality, any food selected for a Bulldog should bear the AAFCO seal of approval as indication the food is properly balanced and appropriate to meet the dog’s basic nutritional needs.