Best dog food for French Bulldogs

Does your Frenchie require a certain diet? Find out in our guide.

best dog food for french bulldogs

by Piper Huxley |
Updated on

Give your Frenchie a full stomach and a cheeky smile with the best food for French Bulldogs. Containing everything they need to retain the right nutrients to live a full, happy and long life, dog food is a marvel. And, it’s no longer limited to stale-looking dog biscuits or leftover meat in a can. The new problem we’re facing is that so many options exist. We’ve got that handled.

Frenchies are a small-to-medium breed with plenty of personalities. They’re relatively independent but still require all of your cuddles and attention. Playful and fun, Frenchies have large ears, a short nose and an adorable wrinkly face. Aren’t they the cutest? Unfortunately, this cute wrinkly face brings some breathing problems for French Bulldogs. So, weight management is essential for this breed. We’ve spoken to Pooch & Mutt’s resident veterinarian, Dr Linda Simon for comment on this breed.

Best dog food for French Bulldogs at a glance:

Best dry dog food for French Bulldogs: Royal Canin French Bulldog Dry Adult Dog Food – Buy now on Amazon UK
Best food for sensitive skin: Pooch & Mutt Soft and Shiny – Buy now on Amazon UK
Best wet dog food for French Bulldogs: Pooch & Mutt Multipack – Buy now on Pooch & Mutt

Whether you opt to feed them dry or wet dog food, your Frenchie will be more than pleased, but there are a few things to consider. Pooch & Mutt’s resident veterinarian, Dr Linda Simon, suggests feeding them dry food for small dogs. After all, French Bulldogs “are prone to periodontal disease,” and kibble can help “prevent plaque build-up when compared to wet food,” says Dr Simon. So, is wet or dry food better for French bulldogs? We’d recommend using a mix of wet and dry for mealtimes – or perhaps, consider only dry dog food.

Also, keep in mind that many Frenchies are prone to allergies – from the environment to their diet. Watch out for the common signs such as “itchy skin, skin infections, vomiting, gas and diarrhoea”. We’ve rounded up the best food for a French Bulldog, including food for Frenchie puppies. Our picks are ideal for dogs with itchy skin or allergies and will ensure your Frenchie feels well.

Best dog food for French Bulldogs

Best dry dog food for French Bulldogs

Royal Canin Breed Health French Bulldog Dry Adult Dog Food 3kgRoyal Canin

The Royal Canin French Bulldog Dry Adult Dog Food is suitable for adult French Bulldogs over 12 months old. Tailor-made for your Frenchie's small mouth and face shape, this kibble contains specific nutrients to maintain the health of their skin, coat, joints, digestion and more. It has all the nutrition that your wrinkle-faced angel requires.

Customers praise this kibble. It's helped reduce their dog's smelly, windy pops. In addition, they like the convenience and value of the Subscribe & Save service on Amazon. However, some criticism has been that a few customers received food that was close to its expiry date.

If your French Bulldog suffers from an upset tummy or skin irritation, it's worth trying them on this specially formulated food for Frenchies.

Pros

  • Tailor-made small kibble for this brachycephalic breed
  • Maintains health of skin and coat
  • Supports digestion and joints

Cons

  • A minority of customers received batches from Amazon that were near expiry date
IngredientsRice, wheat, animal fats, dehydrated pork protein, vegetable protein isolate, dehydrated poultry protein, hydrolysed animal proteins, beet pulp, minerals, fish oil, soya oil, fructo-oligo-saccharides, hydrolysed crustaceans (source of glucosamine), marigold extract (source of lutein), hydrolysed cartilage (source of chondroitin).
SuitabilitySuitable for French Bulldogs over 12 months old
PreparationDry

Best food for sensitive skin

Pooch & Mutt Soft and Shiny Dry Food Pooch & Mutt

Next, the vet recommended Pooch & Mutt Soft and Shiny. If your dog is prone to itchy skin and needs some help with a glossy coat, this food may be the thing. It’s packed with active ingredients, including herring, a digestible, omega-rich protein. Plus, with added supplements such as collagen and the Omega’s making an appearance, your dog’s skin and coat will be nourished—no more endless scratching.

Customers say they can see their dog's coat improvement by feeding them on this variety of Pooch & Mutt. However, be prepared that some dogs may turn their noses to this flavour. Alternatively, the 2kg bag will only last for a little while if your dog loves it. It's best to supplement it with other foods to make it last longer.

Pros

  • Hypoallergenic and supplemented
  • Vet recommended for French Bulldogs
  • Omega and antioxidant-rich

Cons

  • May not suit all sensitive stomachs
IngredientsFresh herring (26%), peas, herring protein (14%), potatoes, dried apple pulp, herring oil (7%), fish gravy (2%), linseed, collagen (1%), dried kelp (0.2%), psyllium husk
SuitabilityAdult dogs of all sizes
PreparationDry

Best wet dog food for French Bulldogs

Pooch & Mutt, Multipack Wet Food - 12 x 375gPooch & Mutt

The Pooch & Mutt, Multipack is a hypoallergenic, grain-free solution for your Frenchie. Coming in 100 per cent recyclable packaging, the Pooch & Mutt multipack has added prebiotics and is bursting with natural, fibrous, fresh vegetables. It's positively brimming with nutrient-dense vitamins and minerals to keep your pup healthy and happy! Grain-free, junk-free and tasty, this complete dog food is a great choice for your little baby.

The customer reviews speak for themselves, with a Feefo rating of 4.9/5. Comments say their dog is much happier and healthier, thanks to Pooch & Mutt. It settles sensitive stomachs and allergies. To give your Frenchie boundless vitality, this multipack is a great way to get goodness into their diet. As always, it's best to supplement wet food with kibble as dry food has dental health benefits for your dog.

Pros

  • 100 per cent recyclable packaging
  • Hypoallergenic, grain-free and natural
  • Packed with nutrient-dense vitamins

Cons

  • Some customers are unsure on how much to give
IngredientsVarious
SuitabilityAll adult dogs
PreparationWet

Best for no additives or colourings

Lily's Kitchen Organic Chicken SupperLily's Kitchen

What excites your dogs after their walk? This wet dog food, made from organic ingredients like freshly prepared meat, veggies, herbs, and essential vitamins and minerals, tempts them home. Lily's Kitchen Organic Chicken Supper is additive-free and offers proper meat and organic, balanced nutrition for adult dogs. It is available in larger quantities and other flavours.

Reviews say this is a top-notch wet dog food that even fussy dogs enjoy. Add it to kibble to give your dog the benefit of both wet and dry food. Thanks to Lily's Kitchen, getting wholesome ingredients into your pet without – making home-cooked meals – is convenient.

Some customers comment that the consistency of this Organic Chicken Supper can be a bit sloppy, but dogs seem to be okay with it!

Pros

  • Made with organic, natural ingredients
  • Additive and colourings free
  • Complete for dogs four months and up

Cons

  • Customers comment on it having a sloppy consistency
IngredientsOrganic Chicken (28%), Organic Pork (12%), Organic Beef (10%), Organic Fish (4%), Organic Carrots, Organic Peas, Organic Spelt, Minerals, Organic Alfalfa, Organic Cleavers, Organic Kelp, Organic Spirulina
SuitabilityFor adult dogs from 4 months+
PreparationWet

Tested

Best dry dog food for small breeds

TABP/James Wellbeloved

For smaller breeds, we recommend James Wellbeloved's dry food, which contains tasty turkey—made into smaller kibble, perfect for smaller mouths. It also contains Green Tea and Cranberry extract for antioxidants, organic acids and prebiotics for gut health and immune support. This is a winner for your perfectly tiny pooch. James Wellbeloved, Grain-Free Small Breed Dry Adult Dog Food, could be a tasty alternative to our top pick.

Reviewed by Joanna Cooper and her dog Coco: "I’ve been feeding my Bichon Frise James Wellbeloved kibble since he was a puppy and it’s been brilliant. He’s never poorly, joints are great and his fur is superb. He’s always loved the Turkey variety, small breed, so that’s what I’ve stuck with. Now he’s twelve years old (human years) I’ve switched to the Senior variety, which is less calories, so he can still have his full bowl without getting overweight.

"I give him a very tiny amount of dry kibble in the morning for breakfast, which he sometimes doesn’t eat as he’s not hungry. He has a full bowl in the evenings, and I splash a couple of table spoons of hot water onto the kibble to release the gravy and aroma, then he tucks in and eats it all."

Pros

  • Smaller kibble for smaller mouths
  • Green tea and cranberry for antioxidants
  • Natural, hypoallergenic UK-sourced ingredients

Cons

  • A little hard for some teeth
IngredientsTurkey (meal, fat, gravy), pea starch, potato flakes, tomato pomace, whole linseed, sugar beet pulp, peas, alfalfa meal, seaweed, carrots, dried vegetarian stock, fish oil, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, chicory extract, calcium carbonate, green tea extract, cranberry extract, yucca extract, rosemary extract, pomegranate extract.
SuitabilitySmall Breed Adult Dogs - aged six months to ten years
PreparationDry

Best wet dog food for French Bulldog puppies

 James Wellbeloved Puppy Grain Free Turkey in Gravy 12 Pouches, Hypoallergenic We James Wellbeloved

James Wellbeloved, Grain Free Puppy Turkey in Gravy Pouches are highly digestible but also tasty for your Frenchie pup, too. The pouches are made with natural ingredients with added vitamins and minerals essential during the first few months of your pup's life. This hypoallergenic wet food is free from artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, so you can be sure what you're serving your puppy at mealtimes.

Reviews are positive for this wet puppy food. Even fussy pups enjoy it, and when used as a topper on kibble, it encourages them to eat their dry food too. Giving this wet food in conjunction with kibble is best as it makes it much more economical. Plus, the portion size in a pouch is small, and a French Bulldog would need multiple pouches per day.

Pros

  • Full of moisture to keep your Frenchie hydrated
  • Contains Omega 3 oils for healthy skin and coat
  • Hypoallergenic so it's suited to dogs with sensitive digestion

Cons

  • Could have more food per pouch
IngredientsTurkey, pea starch, dried carrots, dried potatoes, dried peas, pea protein, minerals, dried beet pulp, dextrose, sunflower oil, linseed oil, alfalfa, seaweed, fish oil, tomato powder.
SuitabilitySuitable for puppies up to 12 months
PreparationWet

Best dry dog food for French Bulldog puppies

royal canin breed health french bulldog dry puppy food 3kgroyal canin
Price: £24.85 (was £27.50)

The Royal Canin, Breed Health French Bulldog Puppy Food has been tailored to Frenchie pups' developmental and growth needs. Suitable for French Bulldogs up to 12 months old, it has a patented complex of antioxidants, including vitamin E; this food will help to support your puppy's natural defences while their immune system gradually develops.

French Bulldogs are a brachycephalic breed, meaning they have a flat face. This kibble is specially shaped to make it easier for them to pick up.

Customers say their dogs love the taste; however, it did cause increased wind in some dogs. It's best to look at the ingredients if you know your dog is intolerant to wheat, for example.

Pros

  • Specially formulated nutrition to support Frenchie puppies
  • Tailor-made kibble to suit this this brachycephalic breed
  • Immune system support from this complete food

Cons

  • Some Frenchie puppy owners thought it could be more digestible
IngredientsRice, dehydrated poultry protein, wheat, vegetable protein isolate, animal fats, hydrolysed animal proteins, beet pulp, dehydrated pork protein, minerals, soya oil, fish oil, fructo-oligo-saccharides, hydrolysed yeast (source of manno-oligo-saccharides), hydrolysed crustaceans (source of glucosamine), yeasts extracts (source of beta-glucans), marigold extract (source of lutein), hydrolysed cartilage (source of chondroitin).
SuitabilitySuitable for French Bulldog puppies up to 12 months old.
PreparationDry

Best dry dog food for senior French Bulldogs

Lily's Kitchen Turkey and Trout Dry Food for Senior DogsLily's Kitchen
Price: £52.38

Made with delicious turkey, trout and white fish, why not choose this grain-free food for your senior Frenchie? The Lily's Kitchen, Turkey and Trout Dry Food for Senior Dogs is packed with the highest levels of joint care supplement to give your doggy support and nutrition. Nourishing, fresh and wholesome, we always recommend Lily’s Kitchen. Don't forget those botanicals for digestion.

This is an Amazon's Choice recommended product, with over 1,380 reviews rating Lily's Kitchen 4.6 out of 5. Customers say this senior food helped settle their dog's stomach and improve its coat and mobility. It is a more expensive dry food, but the quality ingredients give older dogs a lot of nourishment, adding value to their lives. Any devoted pet owner would say it's worth it.

Pros

  • Fresh, nutritious ingredients
  • Joint support with glucosamine
  • Botanicals for digestive support

Cons

  • Might want to try supplementing it with other food to make it more economical
IngredientsTurkey, Trout, Seasonal White Fish, Sweet Potatoes, Potato, Whole Lentils, Whole Peas, Egg, Pea Protein, Fish Gravy, Salmon Oil, Nutritional Yeast, Seaweed, Flaxseed, Minerals, Joint Care Mix, Psyllium, Green Lipped Mussel Extract, Turmeric, Boswellia, Ginger, Ginkgo BilobaAlfalfa, Chickweed, Cleavers, Golden Rod, Nettles, Seaweed, Dandelion Root, Celery Seeds, Milk Thistle, Burdock Root, Marigold Flowers, Rosehips.
SuitabilityAll senior or mature dogs
PreparationDry

Best wet dog food for senior French Bulldogs

Lily's Kitchen Senior Recipe with Turkey - Natural Complete Adult Wet Dog Food, 400 g (Pack of 6)Lily's Kitchen

Packed with joint care, this hand-crafted, grain-free recipe from Lily’s Kitchen is perfect for your mature Frenchie. This Lily's Kitchen Senior Recipe with Turkey Wet Dog Food is nourishing and made with fresh turkey, fruit, vegetables, and botanicals. It will help nourish your senior pooch, supporting its joints, coat, skin, digestion, and brain function.

Lily's Kitchen is an Amazon's Choice product, and it's great that the brand offers more than one flavour in its Senior range, which provides variety and wholesome goodness.

Customer reviews say that this food is effective in supporting joints and delicate digestion. The nutrition is tailored to less active, older dogs. There are some negative reviews about a drop in the quality and consistency of the food, but these are in the minority.

Pros

  • Fresh, nutritious ingredients
  • Joint support with glucosamine
  • Botanicals for digestive support

Cons

  • A few comments about inconsistency in batches
IngredientsFresh Turkey, Cranberries, Parsnips, Carrots, Sugar Snap Peas, Vitamins & Chelated Minerals, Salmon Oil, Green Lipped Mussel, Seaweed, Prebiotics FOS & MOS, Golden Rod, Nettle, Aniseed, Celery Seed, Rosehips, Marigold Petals, Cleavers, Seaweed, Alfalfa, Milk Thistle, Dandelion Root, Burdock Root.
SuitabilityAll senior or mature dogs
PreparationWet

Best weight management dog food for Frenchies

Pooch & Mutt Slim and Slender Dry FoodPooch & Mutt
Price: £46.09

Grain-free, junk-free, complete dry food for weight management, the Pooch & Mutt, Slim, and Slender Dry Food is made for overweight dogs. Keeping an eye on your Frenchie's weight is paramount to their breathing and overall health. The food is packed with a low-fat protein source rich in l-carnitine, a natural fat burner that helps to speed up metabolism. It is high in fibre to aid satiety and is packed with additional essential supplements.

Customer reviews say that fussy dogs enjoy eating this variety of Pooch & Mutt. It has been effective in helping overweight dogs lose weight. The kibble is small and ideal for Frenchies and senior small-breed dogs. It is low fat but still packed with goodness to keep skin, coat, and joints in good condition.

Pros

  • Vet-recommended and premium
  • Speeds up their metabolism
  • Aids all essential health issues

Cons

  • Only for overweight dogs
IngredientsChicken (fresh, gravy, protein, fat), sweet potato, potato, peas, pea protein, dried beet pulp, linseed, alfalfa, psyllium husk and seeds, dried cranberries, glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, mannan oligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, mojave yucca, lactobacillus acidophilus ha-122 inactivated (15x109 cells/kg).
SuitabilityOverweight adult dogs
PreparationDry

VERDICT: What is the best dog food for French Bulldogs?

What is the best food to give a French Bulldog?

Feeding your French Bulldog has never been easier. We've picked Royal Canin's French Bulldog Dry Adult Dog Food as our top pick. As mentioned by Dr Linda Simon, small bite-sized kibble works best for a Frenchie's plaque-prone teeth. This dry food is tailored for smaller breeds and comes complete with breed-specific nutrition. This was a tough choice.

Alternatively, James Wellbeloved's budget-friendly Small Breed Dry Dog Food makes a fantastic runner-up.

How we chose the best dog food for French Bulldogs

All of these dog foods have been hand-selected by our team of Take A Break Pets shopping experts. We carefully considered quality, nutrition and value for money in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching dog food for Frenchies to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.

With pets big and small on our team, where possible we'll share the best products that have been tried and tested by our own furry friends who have given their paw of approval. And, with help from veterinary experts, we share their knowledge to ensure everything we choose is paw-fect for your pet.

FAQs

Is it best for a French Bulldog to be on a hypoallergenic diet?

If your Frenchie is prone to allergies, perhaps a hypoallergenic doggie diet is best, says Dr Linda Simon. She recommends trialing this for “eight weeks to see if it helps resolves signs” and ideally not feed your French Bulldog anything else. This way, your French Bulldog won’t require regular trips to the vet.
Luckily, brands such as James Wellbeloved, Lily's Kitchen and Pooch & Mutt have launched hypoallergenic and grain free dog food for your allergic pooch. We must say, it's heartening to see dog food brands recognise that all dogs are different. For example, Pooch & Mutt’s hypoallergenic, grain-free range is rich in fatty acids to support the skin barrier and is made with a novel mono-protein (salmon), absent of any of the usual culprits, such as soy and wheat.

What are Frenchies allergic to?

Allergies are a common problem for French Bulldogs, according to NomNomNow. Not only are they susceptible to developing canine atopic dermatitis (CAD), alongside genetic and food-based allergies make their lives a little trickier.
French Bulldogs with a food allergy will show the common canine symptoms, such as itchy skin, obsessive liking, biting of the pas, tummy issues, weight loss, redness of the skin and crusty sores year-round. Plus, recurring ear infections could be a sign of food sensitivity - not to mention the pesky pollen - which requires a doggie hayfever remedy.
What foods should French Bulldogs not eat? Well, work with a veterinarian to figure out which foods are affecting your Frenchie - cutting allergens out - and slowly reintroducing, them so you can eliminate any. Common food allergens can include dairy products, chicken - and their eggs, lamb, beef, fish, wheat- and gluten, soy, corn, additives and even colourings. So, watch out for the ingredients on the back of your dog food can.

Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Take a Break, specialising in pet health. When she’s not barking about dog supplements, she’s online devouring cat content.

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