Best Dog Food For American Bulldogs
This page contains affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post through our independently chosen links, which earn us a commission. Learn More
American Bulldogs are larger than average-sized dogs and marginally taller than English Bulldogs.
This dog breed, like any other breed, has special nutritional requirements. Their nutritional requirements depend on their age, size, and weight.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the best dog food for American Bulldogs and their nutritional requirements.
Compare Best Dog Food For American Bulldogs
|
OVERALL BEST
1. Taste Of The Wild Grain Free High Protein Natural Dry Dog Food |
BEST FOR WEIGHT LOSS
2. Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food |
|||
|
Protein
32% Min |
Protein
24% Min |
Protein
24% Min |
Protein
36% Min |
Protein
23% Min |
|
Fat
17.00% Min |
Fat
10% Min |
Fat
14% Min |
Fat
18% Min |
Fat
15% Min |
|
Fiber
4% Max |
Fiber
11% Max |
Fiber
4.5% Max |
Fiber
4% Max |
Fiber
4.50% Max |
|
Calories
3656 kcal/kg or 370 kcal/cup |
Calories
231 kcal/cup |
Calories
3606 kcal ME/kg or 382 kcal ME/cup |
Calories
3900 kcal/kg or 470 kcal/120 gram cup |
Calories
3718 kcal/kg or 454 kcal/cup |
Our Criteria
The criteria we use in selecting the best dog foods for American Bulldogs and other breeds comes from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association.
Using the WSAVA guidelines, we look for dog foods that meet the following standards:
- The food should meet AAFCO approval, preferably by means of a food trial instead of a nutrient profile.
- We like dog food companies that have nutritional research to back up their formulations.
- Pet food companies should have canine or veterinary nutritionists on staff to formulate their foods.
- A pet food company needs to have strong quality control measures and be willing to discuss them.
Best Dog Food For American Bulldogs Reviewed
American Bulldogs are loyal, and they make perfect security dogs as well. Though low-maintenance, these lovely pets do have specific food requirements. So, if you’re a careful and loving pet owner, our list of the 5 best dog foods should surely help you.
Taste Of The Wild Grain Free High Protein Natural Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 32% Min
- Fat: 17.00% Min
- Fiber: 4% Max
- Calories: 3656 kcal/kg or 370 kcal/cup
- High protein content
- Promotes healthy digestion
- Rich in fatty acids (Omega 3 and Omega 6)
- Incapable of managing the puppy’s weight
- Not perfect for puppies with a sensitive stomach
Moreover, it derives all the protein it has from buffalo, peas, lamb, eggs, beef, and fish. This dog food additionally contains antioxidants that keep your puppy at bay from stomach upset.
Nutro Natural Choice Healthy Weight Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 24% Min
- Fat: 10% Min
- Fiber: 11% Max
- Calories: 231 kcal/cup
- Primarily made with high-value animal protein
- Contains probiotics for digestive health
- Highly digestible
- Expensive when compared to other dog foods
It also contains fibers, vitamins, and natural antioxidants. The product also contains lentils, dried vegetables, minerals like zinc and calcium, and many more natural ingredients.
Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet
Product Info
- Protein: 24% Min
- Fat: 14% Min
- Fiber: 4.5% Max
- Calories: 3606 kcal ME/kg or 382 kcal ME/cup
- Highly digestible
- Available in flavors including duck, chicken, fish, and lamb
- Reduces itching and makes the coat soft and shiny
- All single source protein flavors are not perfect for all dogs
- Quite expensive for the amount provided in a single packet
It also contains essential vitamins and minerals to make the dog’s bones stronger. Suitable for all ages, you just need to adjust the feeding amount according to your dog’s age, size, and weight.
Orijen Original Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 36% Min
- Fat: 18% Min
- Fiber: 4% Max
- Calories: 3900 kcal/kg or 470 kcal/120 gram cup
- High protein content
- Keeps hair soft and shiny, and improves stool
- Free of harmful artificial preservatives
- It is expensive for the amount given in a packet
- Not useful for dogs suffering from joint problems
All protein sources are deboned and come in flavors including turkey, chicken, fish, and lamb. Moreover, this dog food also contains dried fresh vegetables. It is devoid of artificial preservatives, flavoring agents, and potatoes.
Holistic Select Natural Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 23% Min
- Fat: 15% Min
- Fiber: 4.50% Max
- Calories: 3718 kcal/kg or 454 kcal/cup
- Offers 6 delicious flavors to choose from
- Free of preservatives and artificial flavoring agents
- Grain free
- Contains less amount per packet when compared to other brands
- Unable to control the dog’s growing weight
Whilst proteins keep the muscles strong, it is vitamins and minerals that keep the digestive system of a senior dog fit like a fiddle. This dog food also contains prebiotics and probiotics, and it is devoid of fillers, wheat, gluten-wheat, artificial preservatives, and meat by-products.
Key Considerations When Buying Dog Food For American Bulldogs
All dog breeds have different nutritional requirements. As a pet parent, it can get quite frustrating to pick the best dog food that meets all the requirements for your pup.
This is especially troublesome because there are a lot of products on the market.
For this reason, you should know what features to consider while buying food to keep your pet healthy and happy.
- Quality Ingredients. The quality of the ingredients determines the quality of the product, so look for whole food ingredients and a lack of artificial additives and byproducts.
- Animal Protein. High-quality, animal-based protein should be the first ingredient in any good dry dog food. Things like meat, poultry, and fish are good options.
- Healthy Fats. Fat provides a highly concentrated source of energy for your dog as well as essential fatty acids for brain development and healthy skin and coat. These fats should come from animal-based sources as much as possible.
- Digestible Carbohydrates. Dogs don’t have specific requirements for carbohydrates, but whole grains and other digestible carbs are a valuable source of energy, essential nutrients, and fiber.
- Beneficial Supplements. In addition to protein, carbohydrate, and fat, your dog needs a blend of vitamins and minerals in its diet. Beneficial supplements like vitamins and chelated minerals ensure nutritional balance in high-quality dog food.
Nutritional Requirements
Dogs that are extremely active, such as a dog that is engaging in hunting, agility, or other sports, could eat foods with a higher protein percentage. In that case, look for a good grain-inclusive food, such as one that has 28–30 percent protein.
Fat
Most adult dogs require a minimum of 5 percent fat in their diet. Puppies and pregnant or nursing dams require a minimum of 8 percent fat in their diet.
Virtually all dog foods have higher fat percentages than these recommendations. Fat is one of the ingredients that makes dog food appealing to your dog, so most dog food companies are happy to include lots of it.
However, if you feed your American Bulldogs a food that has a high fat percentage, your dog could easily become overweight. Or, a food that is too rich can lead to an upset stomach and diarrhea.
We recommend dog foods for American Bulldogs that have a fat percentage between 12 and 16 percent. This is considered a moderate fat level.
Carbohydrates
Many people believe that carbohydrates in dog foods are empty calories or filler ingredients, but this is false.
Carbs provide your dog with energy, fiber, and other nutrients. Simple sugars and starches in carbohydrates help your dog’s brain function.
Complex carbohydrates help regulate your dog’s glucose levels, preventing sugar spikes.
They keep your dog from feeling hungry all the time. The fiber from some carbohydrates helps regulate digestion.
Fiber
Your dog also needs fiber in his diet. Fiber generally comes in soluble and insoluble forms. Soluble fiber, found in beet pulp, chicory, and inulin, attracts water and turns material into a gel.
This slows down the digestive process. Insoluble fiber, such as cellulose, adds bulk to your dog’s digestive matter and can help speed the process. It is also used in some weight-control diets.
Most dry dog foods have around 3–6 percent crude fiber. If your American Bulldog appears to have loose stools, check the fiber percentage. You may need to switch to a food that has slightly less fiber.
Probiotics and prebiotics
Many dog foods today also contain prebiotics and probiotics. Prebiotics, a dietary fiber, encourage the growth of healthy bacteria in your dog’s digestive tract.
Chicory and inulin are often added to dog foods as prebiotics.
Probiotics are living organisms added to dog foods so they can form beneficial colonies with millions of good bacteria in your dog’s gastrointestinal system. Once established, these microorganisms can improve your dog’s digestion. You can visit our friends from allpetsexpert.com for more information on the best dog food for sensitive stomach
Vitamins and minerals
You will also find vitamins and minerals added to most dog foods today.
Kibble is cooked at such high temperatures that some of the nutrients in the ingredients can be destroyed.
By adding vitamins and minerals to the food after cooking, pet food companies make sure that your dog gets the nutrients he needs.
Feeding American Bulldogs By Age
As an owner of an American Bulldog, you must be aware of the fact that the dietary needs of a puppy are totally different from those of adults and seniors, and vice versa.
- 0–3 Months: A young puppy should be fed up to four times a day until the age of 3 months.
- 3-6 Months: An American Bulldog puppy between the ages of 3-6 months should be fed three times a day.
- 6–12 Months: At this playful age, the growing puppy should be fed twice a day.
- Above 1 year: Once your dog is a year old and aging, it needs just 1 meal a day.
Now that you know the frequency of feeding, you should know how much your dog needs to eat daily.
- 2 months: 231-271 grams/day.
- 3 months: 276-341 grams/day.
- 4 months: 297–371 grams/day.
- 5 months: 304–410 grams/day.
- 6 months: 304–446 grams/day.
- 7 months: 282-446 grams/day.
- 8 months: 240–387 grams/day.
- 9 months: 216–320 grams/day.
- 10 months: 215–318 grams/day.
- 11 months: 476–991 grams/day.
- 12 months: 434–941 grams/day.
American Bulldog Food Allergies
American Bulldogs are considered to be a strong breed. However, they are equally as prone to food allergies as any other dog breed is.
Furthermore, they need more dietary guidance, considering they can easily gain weight. Nonetheless, we will be focusing on food-related allergies that American Bulldogs suffer from.
- Grain Allergy: Grain allergy is the most common type of food allergy that affects American Bulldogs. It can be treated only by avoiding all kinds of grains. The best possible solution is to feed your dog a grain-free and gluten-free diet.
- Carb Allergy: The most common culprit leading to carb allergies in bulldogs is a potato. However, this does not mean that all carbs are harmful. Although you must buy potato-free dog food if your pet is allergic to them,
Other than these two major allergy foods, there are some others that are worth mentioning.
- Peanut allergy
- Soy allergy
- Chicken allergy
- Beef allergy
Hypoallergenic Food Diet For American Bulldogs
American bulldogs suffering from food allergies largely benefit from a hypoallergenic food diet.
A hypoallergenic diet is one that includes only novel proteins, hydrolyzed proteins, or home-cooked proteins. A novel protein is derived from the meat of kangaroos and rabbits.
Such a diet is devoid of protein from chicken, turkey, duck, salmon, and bison.
American Bulldogs: Food-Related Health Issues
American bulldogs can easily gain weight if they are overfed. On top of this, the situation gets worse if your dog has a sensitive stomach or is allergic to specific food ingredients. Since this breed needs more care, we have made an awareness list of the most common food-related health issues that affect American Bulldogs.
- Hip dysplasia: This is a bone-related disorder caused by a deficiency of calcium in American bulldogs. It is quite common in underweight dogs. It can also lead to immobility and acute pain in the hip bones and joints.
- Bloating: This health issue leads to a gastrointestinal upset. It is caused by gassy food items. The dogs suffering from sensitive stomachs are most prone to it. It results in indigestion and constipation as well.
- Obesity: While some people believe that bulldogs become obese because of low to no physical activity, a low fat diet is equally responsible. Obesity can lead to joint problems as well as thyroid problems.
Final Thoughts
While all dog breeds need care and love, there are some others, like American Bulldogs, that demand more attention to stay healthy.
The major reason behind most of the health troubles that these dogs suffer from is an improper diet. This is why you should be extra careful while feeding your dogs.
This calls for the need for a general guide like ours. It will be beneficial for all pet owners who care for their dogs. On a side note, remember to never feed your dog chocolates, nutmeg, onions, or raisins.
