What to Feed Your Bulldog
Whether you're a long-term bulldog owner or new to this lovely breed of dogs, you may be thinking about what to feed your bulldog. As with any breed of dog, there are specific dietary requirements and intolerances by their nature.
At Local Vets Halesowen, we have years of experience in specialist bulldog care and treatment; with vets fully trained by the leading bulldog experts in the UK.
Bulldog Nutrition - What Do They Need?
Originally bred for fighting and bull-baiting, bulldogs have changed dramatically over the centuries. Their nature has become more placid and loving over time, and as they tend to be less active than they used to be they are susceptible to gaining weight. With that in mind, it is very important to be careful what you feed them at every meal time.
Thankfully, there is advice and help at hand! We will guide you through the dietary requirements of your beloved bulldog and which food is best to give them over the course of their life.
Protein Power!
The general consensus is that bulldogs require a lot of protein - more than some other breeds of dog. Bulldog puppies require a diet consisting of a minimum of 22% protein and 8% fat, whereas adults need 18% protein and 5% fat. As well as these, a combination of water, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals is also required.
Food that is naturally high in protein is ideal for bulldogs, and fillers such as corn, soy and wheat should be kept to a minimum. The fat and carbs required in their diet should be derived from grains, vegetables and certain types of fruit.
In any case, each bulldog is unique and will have their own intolerances leading to poorly stomachs and bloating. With this in mind, it can be tricky but so important to ensure your bulldog has the best possible diet.
What Types of Food Can Bulldogs Eat?
Bulldogs are largely carnivorous by nature and thrive on meat such as beef, chicken, lamb and fish. For a well-balanced diet, a combination of raw or cooked meat, whole grains and cooked vegetables is the way to go. Dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt can be fed to bulldogs in moderation, however, some dogs may be lactose intolerant.
Here is a comprehensive list of what bulldogs can eat:
| Beef | Wheat | Peanuts | Milk | Artichoke | Apple |
| Lamb | Corn | Cashews | Cream | Asparagus | Apricot |
| Pork | Oats | Hazelnuts | Yogurt | Aubergine | Banana |
| Venison | Oatmeal | Almonds | Ice-cream | Beets | Blueberries |
| Chicken | Rice | Chestnuts | Cheese | Bell Peppers | Blackberries |
| Turkey | Maize | Broccoli | Coconut | ||
| Duck | Barley | Brussel Sprouts | Cranberries | ||
| Kidney | Quinoa | Cabbage | Cucumber | ||
| Liver | Buckwheat | Carrot | Dates | ||
| Heart | Rye | Cauliflower | Kiwi Fruit | ||
| Fish | Teff | Celery & Corn | Mango | ||
| Salmon | Amaranth | Courgette | Melon | ||
| Tuna | Bulgar | Green Beans | Nectarine | ||
| Mackeral | Spelt | Lettuce | Peach & Plum | ||
| Eggs | Millet | Peas | Persimmon | ||
| Parsnips | Olive | ||||
| Potato (cooked) | Orange | ||||
| Pumpkin | Pear | ||||
| Rutabaga | Pineapple | ||||
| Sweet Potato | Raspberries | ||||
| Spinach | Strawberries | ||||
| Squash | Watermelon |
Please note that although you can feed your bulldog all of these items, it doesn't mean they are all recommended items. Your focus when feeding your bulldog should be on their protein, carbohydrates, vitamin and mineral intake. Spicy food, and dishes including lots of onion and garlic should be avoided as their stomachs cannot properly digest them.
But what types of food should you absolutely not feed to your bulldog?
Food You Should Not Feed Your Bulldog
As with most breeds of dogs, a lot of food can be toxic to bulldogs. A lot of items such as grapes can lead to kidney failure or death by eating small amounts. It's extremely important to be aware of these poisonous types of food and anything you know they may be sensitive to:
| Chocolate | Grapes | Raisins |
| Moldy Food | Cocoa | Macadamia Nuts |
| Mushrooms | Nutmeg | Onions |
| Leeks | Chives | Garlic |
| Rhubarb Leaves | Salt | Starfruit |
| Xylitol (sweetener) | Yeast Dough | Walnuts (Black) |
| Tomato (green) | Raw Potato | Shallots |
| Horse Chestnut | Cherries | Hops |
It can be difficult to not succumb to your dog's desire to taste these types of food and give them a 'treat'. However, it is always recommended to avoid toxic food and only provide them with occasional dog treats such as bones or snacks designed specifically for dogs.
How Much Should I Feed My Bulldog?
Depending on how old your bulldog is and how active they are, they should consume an average of 1,000 to 1,200 calories per day.
A growing bulldog puppy needs twice as much food per pound of body weight as an adult bulldog, equalling 1,200 calories for a puppy weighing 11kg, the same as an inactive adult bulldog weighing around 22kg. If you choose to feed your dog ready-made wet and dry food, look the use this weight guide with a combination of both meat and biscuits.
By using a calorie measuring cup, you are able to measure the correct amount according to your puppy or adult dog. It is recommended to do this with each meal, rather than relying on the somewhat misleading guidelines provided by dog food manufacturers.
In most cases where possible, it is best to feed your bulldog twice a day. Knowing the recommended average calorie amount, you can easily divide this number between both meals.
Raw Food vs Commercial Dog Food
Whilst the nutritional requirements of bulldogs are scientifically agreed upon, there are differing opinions on serving raw food, cooked meat and vegetables or commercially produced dry or tinned dog food. There are arguments for all types of food, however, there is evidence to show that bulldog's digestive system processes raw meat more efficiently than processed wet and dry food. When safely and properly prepared, raw food combined with cooked vegetables can be very beneficial to your bulldog's overall wellbeing.
Services We Offer
Bulldog Treatment Specialists
We love all animals at Local Vets Halesowen, but did you know we are one of the country's leading veterinary centres for bulldog treatment?
Our surgeon Rumen trained under Tom Bingham (the renowned bulldog specialist). Rumen's years of learning the particular quirks of the bulldog breed, this knowledge has been passed on to our entire team including our receptionist to our vets and nurses.
Specialist Services we offer include:
- Dietary and behavioural advice
- Allergy investigation and treatment
- Entropion (inverted eyelids) treatment
- BOAS (Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome) treatment
- Orthopaedics such as luxating patellar and Cranial cruciate ligament repair
- Screw Tail Correction
Click here for more information on our bulldog treatments
Contact your Local Vets Halesowen
http://+441217168000Halesowen
Call us: 0121 296 7776 (24 hours)
Email us: info@localvets.co.uk
Pay us a visit
Local Vets (Halesowen), Bromsgrove Road, Halesowen, West Midlands, B63 3JJ
Phone: 0121 296 7776
Monday: 9am – 6pm | Tuesday: 9am – 6pm | Wednesday: 9am – 6pm | Thursday: 9am – 6pm | Friday: 9am – 6pm | Saturday: 9am – 5pm
Oldbury
Call us: 0121 716 8000
Email us: info@localvets.co.uk
Pay us a visit
LocalVets LTD (Oldbury) , Wolverhampton Road, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 2BH
24 Hour Line: 0121 716 8000
Monday: 9am – 6.30pm | Tuesday: 9am – 6.30pm | Wednesday: 9am – 6.30pm | Thursday: 9am – 6.30pm | Friday: 9am – 6.30pm | Saturday: 9am – 5pm | Sunday: Emergencies Only
