The 6 Best Dog Foods For Bullmastiffs
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
Developed by British gamekeepers to keep poachers away from estates in the 19th century, the bullmastiff makes a good family pet as long as he is trained and properly socialized.
These giant dogs can weigh up to 130 pounds, so they are naturally powerful, but they are also affectionate and loyal. Bullmastiffs are one of the breeds that can be prone to bloating, so it’s especially important to choose good dog food.
Compare Best Dog Foods For Bullmastiffs
BEST FOR ALLERGIES  3. Hill's Science Diet Adult Large Breed Chicken & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food | BEST FOR SENIOR  5. Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Giant Adult Dry Dog Food | BEST FOR WEIGHT LOSS  6. Farmina Natural And Delicious Ancestral Low-Grain Formula Dry Dog Food | |||
Protein 30.0% Min | Protein 44% Min | Protein 20.0% Min | Protein 23% Min | Protein 26.0% Min | Protein 30.0% Min |
Fat 14.0% Min | Fat 28% Min | Fat 11.5% Min | Fat 15% Min | Fat 18.0% Min | Fat 18.0% Min |
Fiber 4.5% Max | Fiber 8% Max | Fiber 4.0% Max | Fiber 4% Max | Fiber 3.9% Max | Fiber 2.9% Max |
Calories 3600 kcal/kg | Calories 1,390 kcal/kg | Calories 363 kcal/cup | Calories 331 kcal/cup | Calories 427 kcal/cup | Calories 465 kcal/cup |
Our criteria
We understand that some people think of dogs as wolves and believe dogs need lots of meat in their diet. Many people have also been led to believe that dogs need to follow near-human guidelines about what they should eat.
Most of these beliefs, however, are based on pet food marketing and not nutritional research.
For reasons we will explain below, we try to follow the criteria provided by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association when choosing the best dog foods for bullmastiffs and other dogs.
Using the WSAVA guidelines, we look for dog foods that meet the following standards:
- The dog food should be AAFCO-approved, preferably by means of a food trial instead of a nutrient profile.
- We prefer dog food companies that invest in nutritional research to back up their formulations.
- We look for pet food companies that have canine or veterinary nutritionists on staff to formulate their foods.
- The company that makes dog food should have strong quality control measures and be willing to discuss them.
Along with these standards, we also consider the warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about a possible link between grain-free dog foods and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs. The FDA’s investigation has now expanded to include exotic proteins in dog foods.
You can read the latest research in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The FDA also recently released this update. According to the update, 276 cases of DCM have been reported since July. A wide range of breeds have been reported, including breeds with no known genetic predisposition for DCM.
Because of this investigation, we don’t usually recommend grain-free dog foods at this time. If your veterinarian happens to recommend a grain-free dog food for health reasons, such as an allergy, you should discuss the situation with him or her.
For these reasons, we aren’t recommending some of the most popular grain-free dog foods. We follow current veterinary health research and try to provide you with the best advice possible for your dog.
The foods we recommend are what we believe are the best dog foods for bullmastiffs. Bullmastiffs are a breed that can be prone to heart problems, including a possibly genetic form of DCM, so we think it’s especially important to follow the FDA’s recommendations for them.
The Best Rated Dog Foods For Bullmastiffs Reviewed
Open Farm Homestead Turkey & Chicken Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 30.0% Min
- Fat: 14.0% Min
- Fiber: 4.5% Max
- Calories: 3600 kcal/kg
- Humanely raised turkey and chicken as main ingredients
- Several sources of supplemental animal-based protein
- Made with 100% human-grade and ethically sourced ingredients
- No fillers, by-products, or vaguely named ingredients
- Contains a significant number of plant-based ingredients
- Doesn’t contain the moisture your cat needs
In addition to being packed with animal protein, this dry food formula contains a blend of superfoods which provide natural sources for essential vitamins and minerals. These superfoods are supplemented with vitamin and mineral additives, including chelated minerals which are chemically bonded to protein molecules, making them easy for your dog’s body to absorb.
Ollie Dog Food Healthy Turkey Feast Recipe
Product Info
- Protein: 44% Min
- Fat: 28% Min
- Fiber: 8% Max
- Calories: 1,390 kcal/kg
- Real ground turkey as main ingredient
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Rich in omega fatty acids for skin and coat
- May be too high in fiber for some Bullmastiff dogs
- Grain-free recipe
This Healthy Turkey Feast features ground turkey as a novel source of protein unlikely to trigger food allergies and, while it is a grain-free recipe, it only contains one carbohydrate ingredient high in plant proteins (lentils).
Overall, this recipe is loaded with fresh fruits and veggies, omega fatty acids, and beneficial supplements.
It will provide your Bullmastiff with plenty of protein to maintain lean muscle mass with omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, and lots of fiber for healthy digestion.
Hill's Science Diet Adult Large Breed Chicken & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 20.0% Min
- Fat: 11.5% Min
- Fiber: 4.0% Max
- Calories: 363 kcal/cup
- Chicken is the first ingredient
- Contains healthy grains and natural fibers
- Provides natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin
- Hill’s canned dog food was previously recalled because of excess Vitamin D.
This formula has natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin to support your Bullmastiff’s joint health. Omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins, and other nutrients nourish your dog’s skin.
A clinically-proven blend of antioxidants and vitamins C, A, and E help keep your dog’s immune system healthy. This food contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Eukanuba Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 23% Min
- Fat: 15% Min
- Fiber: 4% Max
- Calories: 331 kcal/cup
- Specialized fiber system promotes better nutrient absorption and healthy digestion
- Contains naturally-sourced glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints
- The 3D DentaDefense System reduces tartar build-up in 28 days
- This is a maintenance dog food so it’s not appropriate for puppies or pregnant dogs
- Meets AAFCO guidelines based on nutrient profile
This food also has a larger kibble size that makes it easier for big dogs to eat. Eukanuba 3D DentaDefense System is proven to reduce tartar build-up in 28 days.
This large breed dog food uses a specialized fiber system made from natural beet pulp and prebiotic FOS (ructooligosaccharides), a natural sugar, to promote nutrient absorption and healthy digestion. This formula is made with no artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors.
Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Giant Adult Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 26.0% Min
- Fat: 18.0% Min
- Fiber: 3.9% Max
- Calories: 427 kcal/cup
- Larger kibble so it’s easier for big dogs to eat
- Contains glucosamine and chondrotin for joint support
- Contains nutrients and taurine for your Bullmastiff’s heart
- Not suitable for puppies
We like all of these foods for Bullmastiffs at various ages.
For adult Bullmastiffs, we can recommend Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Giant Adult Dry Dog Food. This food is specifically made for adult dogs that weigh over 100 pounds.
The giant adult formula is also a good choice for dogs that can be prone to gaining weight. Weight gain is especially problematic in giant dogs since excess weight can lead to bone and joint problems.
This Royal Canin dog food contains an exclusive complex of antioxidants and a combination of nutrients, including taurine, to support your dog’s heart.
This formula also supports your giant dog’s digestion with proteins that are easy to digest and a balanced blend of fibers.
Farmina Natural And Delicious Ancestral Low-Grain Formula Dry Dog Food
Product Info
- Protein: 30.0% Min
- Fat: 18.0% Min
- Fiber: 2.9% Max
- Calories: 465 kcal/cup
- No peas, lentils, or pea protein
- 60 percent animal ingredients
- Lower in fiber
- All life stage formula
- There have been shortages in some places because of the recent increased demand for the ancestral, low-grain formulas
These foods have been doing exceptionally well with the dogs that have been tested for dilated cardiomyopathy. Farmina’s low-grain formulas contain no peas, lentils, or pea protein.
Also of interest to Bullmastiff owners, these formulas are slightly lower in fiber than most other kibbles which could be beneficial in reducing gas in your dog’s stomach.
Farmina’s low-grain dog foods are made up of 60 percent animal ingredients such as chicken or fish; 20 percent organic spelt (an ancient form of wheat) and organic oats; and 20 percent vegetables, fruits, vitamins, and minerals. The company uses no artificial preservatives.
Most of the protein in the foods comes from animal sources. The ancestral, low-grain formulas come in puppy, adult, light, and senior recipes. Most of the foods also come in mini, medium, and maxi options which refer to the kibble size.
If a maxi option isn’t available for your Bullmastiff, Farmina considers a medium-size kibble to be suitable for most dogs.
What Kind Of Diet Should You Feed Your Bullmastiff?
Bullmastiffs do have some health issues which can be affected by their diet.
However, most Bullmastiffs should be able to eat a normal diet for dogs. We will discuss some of the exceptions in a later section.
Protein
Adult dogs, in general, need a minimum of 18 percent protein in their daily diet. Pregnant/nursing female dogs and puppies need a minimum of 22 percent protein per day.
Research suggests that large/giant breed dogs tend to have poorer stool quality and poorer digestion if they are fed a diet with a less digestible protein.
Large/giant dogs need to have protein that is more easily digestible in their diet if they are to have better stool quality and better digestion. Feeding your Bullmastiff a dog food with a protein percentage between 22 and 26 percent is recommended, but you should also look for a food that has easily digestible protein.
Fat
It’s a nutritional fact that small dogs burn up more calories per pound than big dogs. This means that your Bullmastiff uses fewer calories per pound when he’s resting or playing in the backyard than a Pug doing the same things.
This is why dog foods formulated for large and giant breeds generally have fewer calories than you might expect. These big dogs simply have a slower metabolism than small dogs.
Of course, your Bullmastiff still needs fat in his diet. Fat makes food taste better to dogs. It provides energy.
Fatty acids are good for your dog’s skin, coat, and brain. And some vitamins are fat-soluble so they have to be distributed in the body in fat.
Adult dogs need a minimum of 5 percent fat for maintenance. Pregnant/nursing female dogs and puppies need at least 8 percent fat per day. Most dog foods have higher fat percentages that these amounts.
A moderate fat percentage would be between 12 and 16 percent. It is important to be aware of how much fat is in your Bullmastiff’s food because some Bullmastiffs can be prone to obesity.
Carbohydrates
You will often hear people say that dogs don’t “need” carbohydrates or that carbs are filler ingredients. We beg to differ. Carbohydrates perform some important functions for your dog.
They are a source of energy. Some fibers are also carbohydrates and your dog’s gastrointestinal system needs those fibers.
They can provide nutrients. Your dog’s brain requires the simple sugars and starches of carbohydrates. Complex carbs can also help prevent your dog’s glucose levels from spiking after meals.
And, complex carbohydrates prevent your dog from feeling hungry between meals. Dogs can’t live on protein and fat alone. As for giant dogs, such as Bullmastiffs, they do well with dog foods that have starches that are less fermentable and more gelatinized.
Fiber
Fiber is important for the digestion of all dogs. It exists in a soluble and an insoluble form. You will often see ingredients such as chicory, inulin, and beet pulp listed in dog foods.
These are all soluble fibers that draw water into your dog’s G.I tract, turning the contents to gel. With the stomach contents turned to gel, it slows your dog’s digestive process.
Insoluble fiber does the opposite. It adds bulk to the digestive matter in your dog’s G.I. tract and speeds up the passage through your dog’s system.
Most kibbles today have between 3 and 6 percent crude fiber. However, there is some thought that large/giant breeds and other dogs which can be prone to bloat, may do better with slightly less fiber in their diet, especially fermentable fiber.
If your Bullmastiff has a little less fiber in his diet, he may be a little less gassy and perhaps a little less likely to have his stomach fill up with air or gas.
Probiotics and prebiotics
Prebiotics and probiotics are becoming standard additions to many dog foods today. They assist your dog’s gastrointestinal system in function well and strengthen the immune system. Prebiotics are dietary fiber that encourages the growth of friendly bacteria in your dog’s digestive system. Prebiotics such as chicory and inulin are often added to dog foods now.
Probiotics are living microorganisms that “colonize” your dog’s digestive system. A teaspoon of probiotic powder can contain billions of “good bacteria” for your dog’s system. They are added to some dog foods or you can purchase them separately. Although probiotics often look like a dried powder, they are simply hibernating until they reach your dog’s G.I. tract.
It’s estimated that about 70 percent of your dog’s immune system is located in his gastrointestinal system so prebiotics and probiotics can do much to help your dog stay healthy.
Vitamins and minerals
Most pet food companies add vitamins and minerals to dog foods after the food is cooked. This is done because the food is cooked at very high temperatures which often destroys the normal vitamins and minerals present in the food.
By adding vitamins and minerals back into the food the company can be sure that the pet food is nutritionally complete.
What To Look For When Choosing The Best Dog Foods For Bullmastiffs?
When choosing the best dog foods for Bullmastiffs, we recommend the following:
- Look for a dog food that contains grains unless your veterinarian advises you otherwise
- Choose a food that has a protein percentage between 18 and 26 percent for adult dogs
- Healthy dogs usually need a moderate fat percentage between 12 and 16 percent
- A fiber percentage between 3 and 6 percent is suitable for most dogs; look for a percentage on the low side for a Bullmastiff
These recommendations are for kibbles.
If your Bullmastiff has any health problems that suggest he needs to eat a grain free dog food, please talk to your veterinarian about choosing a food.
Multiple veterinary sources maintain that food allergies in dogs are not as common as most dog lover believe but they do occur. If your dog has a food allergy or food sensitivity, work with your veterinarian and have your dog diagnosed.
Your vet may recommend a food elimination diet and food trial. Or, you could discover that your dog has some other kind of allergy – other allergies are actually more common in dogs than food allergies.
It can take some time to discover the source of your dog’s allergy and triggers but getting a good diagnosis is better than guessing and never figuring out your dog’s problem.
Special Considerations For Feeding A Bullmastiff
The Bullmastiff has several health issues which can be affected by diet. As a giant breed, we recommend that you feed an appropriate food for large/giant breeds.
These foods have the appropriate protein and fat levels, along with joint supplements. This is especially crucial or Bullmastiff puppies. Giant breed puppy food has the precise levels of calcium and phosphorus, as well as calories, that Bullmastiff puppies need so they don’t grow too fast.
If these puppies grow too fast, they can become more likely to develop bone and joint problems while they are growing and later, as adults.
Allergies Bullmastiffs can have some problems with allergies, including food allergies and food sensitivities. The most common food allergens for dogs are chicken, beef, dairy, and egg.
These are not “bad” ingredients but they are very common so dogs are exposed to them often. Dogs can actually develop allergies and sensitivities to any ingredient. Symptoms of a food allergy include:
- Itching/scratching
- Red, inflamed ears
- Reddened skin
- Secondary skin infection (from scratching)
A food sensitivity is more likely to affect your dog’s gastrointestinal tract. Your dog may have diarrhea, vomiting, gas, or a rumbly stomach, especially when he eats a particular food.
If you notice signs of an allergy with your Bullmastif, please see your veterinarian. Your vet may suggest an elimination diet and food trial to identify the allergens that affect your dog. If you think you know the items that trigger a reaction in your Bullmastiff, you can try to avoid those ingredients.
You can also talk to your vet about veterinary or prescription diets. Humans who are allergic to pollen, mold, or dust will sneeze and their eyes will itch. In dogs these allergies make their skin itchy. This skin allergy is called “atopy” and Bullmastiffs often have it.
Their paws, stomach, folds of the skin, and ears are most affected. Symptoms often start between the ages of one and three-years-old and can get worse every year.
The most common signs are usually licking the paws, rubbing the face, and frequent ear infections. Many treatments are available.
Please note that this allergy might be mistaken for a food allergy but it’s not related to food. Bloat As a giant breed with a deep chest, Bullmastiffs are one of the breeds that can be prone to bloat.
Bloat or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a life-threatening condition if it’s not treated quickly.
There are several issues to consider with bloat, including some based on feeding your dog. Research indicates:
- Feeding one large daily meal puts dogs at greater risk.
- Feeding ONLY dry food can be a risk factor.
- If fat is among the first four ingredients in a dog food, the risk goes up greatly.
- If a dog food contains citric acid AND the food is moistened, the risk increases greatly.
By contrast, these things seem to decrease the risk of bloat:
- Feeding a dry food that contains rendered meat-and-bone meal.
- Mixing table food or canned food into dry food.
Encouraging your dog to eat more slowly by using a slow feeder bowl can also help.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy Bullmastiffs are one of the breeds that appears to have a possibly genetic predisposition to dilated cardiomyopathy.
Doberman Pinschers also have a genetic predisposition to DCM and researchers have developed a genetic test to identify dogs that are at risk. However, no such test exists or Bullmastiffs yet.
Since Bullmastiffs can be born with a risk for DCM, it is especially important that you don’t take chances with feeding your dog any dog food that falls under the FDA’s current warning. Obesity According to owners and breeders, Bullmastiffs can also be prone to obesity as they get older.
Be sure to monitor your dog’s food intake and make sure he gets regular daily exercise. Free feeding or leaving food sitting out all the time is not a good idea with this breed. Being overweight or obese will increase any tendency to bone or joint problems, including arthritis.
How Much Should You Feed Your Bullmastiff?
You can expect an adult male Bullmastif to stand between 25-27 inches tall at the shoulder. An adult female will stand between 24 and 26 inches tall at the shoulder. Adult males typically weigh 110-130 pounds. Adult females usually weight 100-120 pounds.
Since dog foods vary, it’s best to use calories to determine how much to feed your dog instead of cups or some other measurement.
- A three-month-old Bullmastiff male can weigh about 40 pounds and would need about 1849 calories per day.
- A six-month-old Bullmastiff male can weigh about 75 pounds and would need about 1975 calories per day.
- At one year your Bullmastiff might weigh 110 pounds and he would need about 2369 calories per day.
Your Bullmastiff will keep growing until he’s at least 18 months old or a little older. An adult Bullmastiff that weighs 125 pounds would need about 2608 calories per day. As usual, these are only estimates. Your puppy could weigh more or less.
A female puppy will normally weigh a little less. Instead of looking only at your puppy’s weight, you should also pay attention to his body condition.
If he’s fat or skinny you can adjust the amount you are feeding. Keep in mind that puppies also go through growth spurts so your puppy might look perfect one day and look like he’s all legs the next day.
If you have questions about how your puppy is looking or how much to feed, talk to your veterinarian or your puppy’s breeder.
Final Thoughts
We hope the information provided here will help you select the best dog foods for Bullmastiffs. As a breed, Bullmastiffs have several health issues that can be affected by their diet including bloat, DCM, allergies, and bone and joint issues. With luck, if you are mindful of these issues when choosing your dog’s food, you can help your dog stay healthy and live a happy life.
