Best Foods & Diets for Your French Bulldogs

What’s the best dog food for French Bulldogs to help them live life to the full?

Intelligent, affectionate, sweet-tempered and full of fun, it’s no surprise that Frenchies are one of the most popular breeds of dog in the UK today. According to The Kennel Club, the breed has seen a meteoric rise in popularity in recent years, with breed registrations increasing 10-fold from 2009 to 2015.

Described as ‘full of courage, yet with clown-like qualities’, these compact, characterful canines have secured their place in many of the country’s homes and hearts.

Adaptable to most environments and happy to live in small homes or flats, with a short coat which needs just a weekly groom and needing less exercise than many breeds – two half-hour strolls a day will suffice, but avoid walking them during the hottest parts of the day in summer – a French Bulldog will fit into family life with ease.

However, one very important thing to bear in mind is that Frenchies can be susceptible to having sensitive stomachs. This means that when they eat something that doesn’t agree with them, it can trigger a gurgling gut, nasty smells (ever wondered why French Bulldogs fart so much?) and watery diarrhoea. That’s why it pays to look for the best French Bulldog food that's easier on their digestion.

What’s the best food for a French Bulldog puppy? Sensitive stomach puppy food is suitable for puppies from 6 weeks to 12 months old.

Are you feeding your Frenchie the wrong type of food?

Pet Helpful – a website created by animal lovers, enthusiasts, and pet professionals – advises: “Unfortunately, many people don't know about the French Bulldog's specialised dietary needs. They think that wheezing, snorting, coughing, and sneezing are just cute little breed characteristics, when they may be warning signs that you're feeding your Bulldog the wrong type of food.”

The French Bulldog Club of America recommends that Frenchies need to steer clear of any foods with artificial preservatives, fillers, excessive protein and wheat and corn as these ingredients can result in painful indigestion and smelly wind.

Can French Bulldogs eat bananas? Can French Bulldogs eat strawberries? can French Bulldogs eat apples? Can French Bulldogs eat cheese? There are all sorts of human food that it’s best to avoid giving to dogs. Some will give them indigestion, and others will make them very ill indeed >>

Burgess in-house vet, Dr Suzanne Moyes MVB MRCVS, who oversees recipe development and product production, says: “Dogs with delicate digestion can benefit from sensitive stomach dog food that’s made without many of the typical ingredients known to cause upset tummies. These ingredients can include beef, eggs, dairy, wheat, maize, and soya.”

Why choose a sensitive dog food?

Dr Moyes stresses that feeding food specially designed for dogs with sensitive stomachs can make a real difference to their health and wellbeing.

She advises: “Your dog’s digestive system is crucial in ensuring that the nutrients that they consume are absorbed and utilised efficiently. In the case that your dog does have a delicate tummy, they will benefit from a sensitive dog food to ensure that they still receive the nutrients that they need, and to help prevent any discomfort. Sensitive digestion dog food is simply food made up of the right ingredients, in the right balance, to ensure that this happens. However, always keep a close eye on your dog’s behaviour, eating habits and poo, and, if you notice anything irregular, speak to your vet immediately.”

What should I look for in a sensitive dog food?

When searching for the best food for French Bulldogs with sensitive stomachs, you should look for a recipe that’s highly digestible and has the full list of ingredients, so you know exactly what you’re feeding your dog.

Burgess Sensitive dog food range caters for your dog at every stage of their life – all the way through from puppy to senior. Sensitive stomach puppy food is suitable for both puppies from 6 weeks to 12 months old and nursing mothers. Sensitive adult dog food is designed for dogs over the age of 12 months – choose from lamb, turkey and salmon. For dogs over the age of 7, sensitive senior dog food is a perfect option.

Created using premium ingredients to ensure excellent quality and superior taste – and with no added artificial flavours, colours or preservatives – the nutritious, tasty recipes contain:

• Taurine – To support a healthy heart
• Antioxidants – To support your dog’s immune system
• Prebiotics – To help maintain a healthy gut
• Fatty acids and zinc – To help maintain a healthy skin and coat
• Calcium to support strong bones and teeth

• Yucca extract and beet pulp to help avoid smelly, runny poos, which can be an issue for Frenchies with sensitive tums

Good to know:

• All the foods in the Burgess Sensitive Dog Food range for puppies, adults and senior dogs are complete. This means that you can be sure you are providing your pet with all the nutrients they require in exactly the right proportions, so you don’t have to worry about balancing their diet.
• The recipes feature the nutrients that your dog needs to lead a happy and healthy life without an upset tummy or runny poos.
• Dry, kibble dog food is widely acknowledged to be a great way to deliver a nutritious, balanced, complete diet in an easy-to-feed form that stays fresh inside the pack until you’re ready to serve it to your dog. Plus, by following the on-pack instructions, it’s easy to measure out exactly the right sized portion, which is really important for Frenchies to keep them at an ideal weight of between 9-13 kg.

What do our customers say?

With a whole host of five-star reviews, here’s a snapshot of what happy customers have told us about our Burgess Sensitive Dog Food range:

“Great food, my dog is thriving, sorted his tummy problem.”

“My dogs love this food, and it is great for their skin.”

“Dogs with sensitive stomachs love it. Really suits them and helps their digestive system.”

“My puppy loves this food, and I will buy it into adulthood.”

“My dog enjoys it, and it has settled his sensitive stomach. We tried various diets, and this was the only one that settled him.”

“It suits my 11-year-old Labrador, and she enjoys her dinners. She produces smaller poos!”

SOME FUN FRENCHIE FACTS

• The French Bulldog can claim part of its ancestry in Great Britain, going back to the 1850s when a dwarf Bulldog breed known as the Toy Bulldog was popular in some parts of the country.
• Nottingham lace makers, threatened by redundancy in the Industrial Revolution, emigrated to Northern France, taking their dogs with them. It’s thought that some crosses were made to other short-faced breeds and, after three decades, a new breed known as the French Bulldog had evolved. Frenchies became popular in artistic society in Paris and were depicted by painters Degas and Toulouse Lautrec in portraits of Parisian life.
• In 1902 the French Bulldog Club of England was formed and, in 1906, The Kennel Club gave official recognition to the breed.

Order online dog food from the Burgess Sensitive & Hypoallergenic Dog food range and save 10% with Subscribe & Save >>

Need more advice?

If you’re at all unsure about the best way of feeding your dog or have any concerns about specific nutritional requirements, ask your local veterinary practice for advice. You can also call our expert team, available 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, on +44 (0)1405 862241 who’ll be happy to help. Alternatively, use our online contact form to get in touch.

Is your dog a Burgess dog? Join the Burgess Pet Club for exclusive offers and rewards.  

If you found this interesting, you may also like:

DOG DAYS From puppy to adolescent, through to adult and senior, as your dog goes through different stages, their exercise and nutrition needs change. Find out how to help them stay happy and healthy every day of their lives...

COULD YOUR DOG BE ALLERGIC TO YOUR HOUSE? Allergies can be a common and unwelcome problem for humans – an immune system overreaction to substances that are usually harmless which can cause sneezing, wheezing, watery eyes and itching. Allergies can also affect our pet dogs. Our four-legged friends can be allergic to all sorts of things, from chemicals in cleaning products to pollen, dust, fleas and even smoke from cooking.

DOGS EAT GRASS – BUT WHY? If your canine chum likes grazing on grass from time to time, it’s nothing to worry about. It’s actually a common behaviour in many dogs. And, while there are all sorts of theories as to why they do it – from fulfilling their natural omnivore instinct to improving digestion or simply because they enjoy the interesting taste and texture – no one’s exactly sure why.

DID YOU KNOW THAT OUR PETS CAN SUFFER FROM HAY FEVER TOO? While the cause of pollen allergy is the same in pets as it is in humans, the signs that your pet is suffering from hay fever can be a little different.

HAVING A BARBECUE? MAKE SURE IT’S A SIZZLING SUCCESS WITHOUT ANY PET MISHAPS Veterinary charity PDSA warns: “All those tempting treats and glowing grills can be a danger for our much-loved pets. Heatstroke and burns. Bin raids and broken glass. There are a lot of potential dangers for pet owners to bear in mind.”

FOOD ALLERGIES UNDER INVESTIGATION Itchy skin, upset tummy, weight loss? These can all be symptoms caused by diet – although there could be many other reasons why your pet is out of sorts, and you should always ask your vet for advice. But if you suspect food could be the issue, where do you start?

FAD DIETS – SHOULD DOG OWNERS BE WORRIED? Raw, grain free or home-cooked? The range of options for feeding your dog seems to be ever expanding, with owners willingly trying out new foods for their canine companions. But what do animal nutrition experts have to say about it?

VEGAN DIETS AND PETS – GETTING THE FACTS STRAIGHT Giving up meat and dairy products and switching to a solely plant-based diet is a trend that’s having an impact on pets too. Burgess in-house vet Dr Suzanne Moyes, comments: “Our pets deserve the correct nutrition to thrive and it’s vital that we respect our pets’ natural diet and feed them food that is nutritious, well-balanced and as close as possible to what they would eat in the wild, whether they’re natural carnivores, omnivores or vegetarians.”

ARE YOU READY FOR A DOG? Taking on a dog is a huge decision. It requires money, time and commitment. Here are some of the things you’ll need to consider...

PROTECT YOUR PET’S HEALTH DURING THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS There’s no doubt that this can be especially challenging during the current cost-of-living crisis. However, there’s lots you can do – and help is available for people and pets most in need.

PET INSURANCE EXPLAINED Cat insurance, dog insurance, rabbit insurance – what pets can get cover? Can you get pet insurance for pre-existing conditions? Can you get pet insurance for older pets? Can you get multi-pet cover? We answer some of the most commonly asked questions to help you make an informed decision about pet insurance.