English Bulldog Feeding Guide (Everything You Should Know)

Hello there, sweet pet parent! Welcome to my ultimate guide on feeding English bulldogs.

In this guide I will cover how much to feed your English bulldog; how often to feed your English bulldog; when to feed your English bulldog; what food to feed your English bulldog; what food to avoid feeding your English bulldog; and other questions you may have about your English bulldog’s nutrition.

You can read the article to the end, or go through the table of content below and jump to the section that answers the questions you have on your mind.

Feeding your dog is not all cut and dry; there are ways to go about it or you risk harming your dog unintentionally. Thankfully, all of your questions will be answered from my internship and familiarization with English bulldogs working for a veterinarian.

English bulldogs, due to their genetics, are prone to a lot of health issues, with one of the major ones being overweight and skin problems.

One of the leading causes of mortality in English bulldogs is heart disease, which is due to their being overweight. With a strict diet plan and regular exercise, the probability of heart problems will be extremely low.

Let’s jump into the article.

What are the nutritional requirements of English bulldogs?

The nutritional requirements are the first thing to consider when choosing the best dog food for English bulldogs, because feeding your cute puppy low-quality dog food can lead to a host of problems like gastrointestinal issues, skin problems, and orthopedic problems.

Your dog’s meal should majorly consist of protein, fats, and fiber to enable optimum growth.

Your English bulldogs’ source of fiber should come from white rice, corn, peanut hulls, and cellulose, while their source of protein must come from animal flesh like fish, poultry, beef, and organ meat. And its source of fat must come from vegetables and fish oil. 

Nutritional Requirement for an English Bulldog Puppy and Adolescent

The diet of an English bulldog puppy and adolescent should consist of 22% protein, 8% fat, 6% fiber, 1.2% phosphorus, 1% calcium, vitamins, and omega-3. Your pet puppy would need a large amount of these nutrients when compared to other stages of development to facilitate the growth of healthy muscles and strong bones.

Nutritional Requirement for Adult and Mature English bulldogs

The meal plan for mature and adult English bulldogs should consist of 18% protein, 5% fat, fiber, and omega-6 acids. Your adult dog will require a lower percentage of nutrients at this stage to prevent them from gaining excessive weight that would affect their athletic abilities.

Nutritional Requirement for Senior and Geriatric English bulldogs

The food your pet will eat at this stage of its life should ideally consist of 23% protein, 9% fat, and 7% fiber. English bulldogs at this stage of life need a more significant percentage of these nutrients in their meals to prevent certain health issues that may arise due to old age and genetics.

What Factors Affect the Feeding of Your English Bulldogs?

Some factors will affect the diet of your English bulldogs, such as the size of the breed, age, activity level, and underlying health conditions.

Let’s take a quick look at those factors before we jump into the quantity of food to feed your dog.

Size consideration

The average length of an English bulldog is 10.6 to 14.5 inches from the sole of its feet to its shoulder. The weight of the male is around 19.8 to 30.9 pounds, while that of the female is around 17.3 to 18.6 pounds.

Despite the small size of English bulldogs, they are prone to having a large appetite and, of course, overeating. Males usually require a higher calorie intake than females to remain healthy and strong.

Age consideration

As different weight sizes will require different intakes of calories, so too will different age groups require suitable levels of nutrition to match their stage of development.

English bulldogs grow at a steady pace, so the nutritional requirements of a Frenchie puppy will be different from that of a senior Frenchie to maintain its health and agility. 

Activity Level

Most English bulldogs are very energetic and hyperactive. You wouldn’t want to feed your pet food high in fat and sodium like cheap fast food, which would make him sluggish and lethargic.

These fast foods don’t contain the nutrients that would make your dog perform to the best of their abilities and make them slow to learn new tricks or obey your commands.

Health Consideration

English bulldogs are prone to certain health conditions, which should be taken into consideration in their diets if you wish to manage or prevent those issues.

Some health issues that affect your dog’s breed include eye problems, heart problems, skin problems, breathing problems, and bone and joint problems. These health issues could be prevented or mitigated by taking or avoiding certain foods right from the start rather than waiting to treat them when they pop up.

It might be tempting to cut corners and go for the cheapest food. But engaging in such an act, in the long run, could lead to pain in seeing your Frenchie sick, frequent visits to the vet, and thousands of dollars in expenses.

How Much To Feed An English bulldog?

Your English bulldogs, just like any other dog breed, will require a different amount of food according to their stage of development. The amount of food a puppy will need will be different than the amount of food an adult will need according to their nutritional requirements. 

On average, feed your puppy English bulldog 1 to 1.5 cups of food that has 25 to 30 kcal per day; feed your adult Frenchie 2 to 3 cups per day that have 500 to 750 kcal per day, according to its activity level; and feed your senior Frenchie 2.5 cups per day that have 400 to 600 kcal per day.

I will provide you with the charts below to help you plan your English bulldog’s meals from its puppy years to its senior years. However, this meal plan is not one-size-fits-all. It’s just a general guideline that should be followed based on your dog’s needs and recommendations from your vet or dog nutritionist.

How Much To Feed A Puppy English Bulldog?

The meal meant for your puppy and adolescents should be very rich in protein and contain a moderate amount of fat that can be gotten from animal meat for them to grow into healthy adults.

An English bulldog puppy should be given 1 to 1.5 cups of food per day that contains 25 to 30 kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.

The feeding requirements of your puppy are given in detail in the charts below:

Puppy English Bulldog Feeding Chart

Following the guidelines above will aid in bone development and muscle growth, and strengthen their immune systems to fight off common bacteria and viruses that can lead to some health complications.

How Much To Feed An Adult English Bulldog?

The nutritional requirements in the meal of an adult English bulldog are different from those of a puppy. The food of a mature English bulldog should have a lower percentage of proteins and fats to prevent obesity.

A mature and adult English bulldog puppy should be given 2 to 3 cups of food per day that contains 500 to 750 kcal of nutrients based on its age, weight, size, gender, and physical activity.

The chart below will give you an understanding of the daily consumption needs of adult English bulldogs to help you with their meal plan.

Adult English Bulldog Feeding Chart

How Much To Feed A Senior English Bulldog?

Senior English bulldogs are generally less active than their younger counterparts due to fragile bones and joints. This means their meals will contain fewer calories, protein, and fat.

Geriatric English bulldogs often have a host of health issues like spinal problems and tend to be picky eaters when it comes to commercial dog food and their favorite kibble.

Senior and geriatric English bulldogs should be given 2.5 cups of food per day that contains 400 to 600 kcal of nutrients based on their age, weight, size, gender, and health issues.

The table below gives you some details about the meal plan of older English bulldogs.

However, you must still ensure that they get the essential nutrients they need.

Senior English Bulldog Feeding Chart

You can continue giving your senior dog the same food you gave them as an adult, only in a smaller quantity as they don’t need as many calories as adult dogs. However, you should still consult your vet or pet nutritionist to be on the safe side.

How Often Should You Feed Your English Bulldogs?

The frequency of your English bulldogs’ meals will vary, as will the amount of food they receive, which is primarily determined by their age. Below is the list of how often to feed your English bulldogs:

How Often Should You Feed Your English Bulldog Puppy?

•         During the weaning process or at 8 weeks old and below: feed them three times a day at equally spaced intervals.

•         8 weeks to 9 months old: feed them three times a day at equally spaced intervals.

•         9 months to 12 months old: gradually transition to feeding them two times a day with 12 hours of spacing between meals. Ideally, one meal in the morning and the other in the evening.

How Often Should You Feed Your Adult English Bulldogs?

Adult English bulldogs should be fed twice a day, with a 12-hour gap between meals for easy digestion.

How Often Should You Feed Your Senior English Bulldog?

You should feed your senior English bulldog two times a day except given a specific schedule by a vet.

When Should You Feed Your English Bulldog?

•         English bulldogs puppies should be fed in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night due to a faster metabolism in comparison to their adult colleagues

•         Adolescent English bulldogs should be fed in the morning, afternoon, and evening to help them transition properly into an adult.

•         Adult German and Senior English bulldogs should also be fed in the morning and in the evening unless stated differently by your vet or pet nutritionist.

As a general rule, you should feed your English bulldogs a few hours before going to bed in the evening, so they have enough time to digest the food before going to sleep.

In total, we shouldn’t spoil our companions with treats as they may grow too attached to them. Treats should be used mostly as a reward when training your dog.

What Kind of Food Should You Feed Your English Bulldog? 

The food you feed your English bulldogs should specifically cater to large breeds and contain the required nutrients necessary for a strong and healthy dog.

The kind of food to feed your English bulldogs includes dry dog food, wet dog food, a home-cooked diet, and biologically appropriate raw food to ensure your dog eats a balanced diet.

Let me touch on these few points to make you understand what to feed your dog:

                Dry Food: Dry dog or kibble is a portion of commercial pet food made by grinding and mixing up ingredients like meats, grains, and nutrients, which are then shaped into little kernels and cooked at high temperatures to remove the water content. Dry dog food contains more carbs, less fat, less water, and sometimes less protein and is often recommended by vets due to its lower cost, dental health benefits, convenience, weight loss support, and playtime perks.

                Wet Food: Wet dog food, or canned food, is made by mixing up and cooking the ingredients before adding or extracting varying amounts of water. Unlike dry dog food, wet dog food contains more water, fewer carbs, more fat, and often more protein. They are recommended by vets due to their high water content, taste, ease of eating, and high nutritional profile.

                Home-Cooked Diet: Home-cooked diets are a great option for pet parents who are not into commercial dog food and want to go the extra length to prepare the meal for their furry companion. Feeding your dog a home-cooked meal will give you control of its nutrition and can put you at ease knowing that you will always give your dog the best treatment.

                BARF Diet: Biologically Appropriate Raw Food is a type of food that contains raw meat, raw eggs, crushed animal bones, fruits, vegetables, probiotics, and other natural ingredients. BARF diets are used as a substitute for processed foods with preservatives. However, consult your vet before feeding your pet a raw diet to avoid health complications from harmful substances.

What Food Should You Avoid Feeding Your English Bulldog?

We should take caution against giving whatever food we’re eating to our English bulldogs. They tend to eat anything and will beg for treats, which makes it tempting to hand them whatever we find ourselves eating.

There are certain human foods, fruits, and vegetables to avoid feeding your English bulldogs because these foods contain toxins that are harmful to your pet that could lead you to frequent trips to the vet.

Human food to avoid feeding your English bulldogs includes chocolates, coffee, gums, peanut butter, candies, cooked bones, etc.

The Fruits and vegetables to avoid feeding your English bulldogs include grapes, avocado, garlic, onions, etc.

You should always check the ingredients on the food label to see if these ingredients are present in the food. Or you can simply consult a vet or pet nutritionist to check the ingredients with them.

When can I transition my English bulldogs from puppy food to adult food?

You should transition your English bulldog’s puppy from puppy food to adult food when he’s around 12 months old.

Transitioning your adolescent English bulldogs from puppy food to adult food is an important stage in your dog’s development. Puppy food contains more calories and nutrients than adult food to meet the nutritional requirements at that stage of life.

However, feeding your adult puppy food will fill them with more protein and fat than their body requires and will lead to obesity due to the high-fat content the body doesn’t need for optimum growth.

Why Is My English Bulldog Not Eating?

Your English bulldog will not eat if it has one or a combination of the factors listed below: Anxiety, dental or mouth injury or upset, acid stomach, short illnesses, medications and vaccinations, old age, and getting food elsewhere.

You should not panic just yet if your dog refuses to eat. The best thing you can do at this stage is to consult your vet to perform a check-up on your dog.

Why Is My English Bulldog Always Hungry?

English bulldogs tend to have a healthy appetite, so it can feel like they are always overeating. If you ensure that the food you give is properly measured and that you have chosen a food that is suitable for small breeds, then the following are reasons that your lovely pet is always hungry.

Your English bulldogs can feel hungry all the time if they have engaged in lots of exercise, gone through stress and anxiety, had an illness, or have engaged in bad habits reinforced by people around them.

Frequently Asked Questions On Feeding An English Bulldog

Final Thoughts On Feeding An English Bulldog

English bulldogs are energetic and sweet dogs that will make wonderful companions for anyone. Our small furry friends are hyperactive and tend to have a huge appetite, so you must be careful of what you feed them.

As pet owners, we must be sure of how much and when we should feed them. Since English bulldogs are energetic dogs with huge appetites, we must put extra effort into planning out their diet. 

Options such as dry, wet, raw, and homemade diets are all great for them. Free feeding them or giving them too many treats can lead to severe health problems. 

It is also essential to know what foods are healthy and should be avoided, as some foods are toxic.

If you are not sure about any information or problem concerning your Frenchie, it is best to contact the nearest veterinarian.