SHRINKABULLS STYLE ENGLISH & FRENCH BULLDOGS
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IMPORTANT ENGLISH BULLDOG NUTRITION FACTS!CANNED vs. DRY FOOD Choosing canned food vs. dry food is really just a personal choice. However, a few things you should consider when making a plan for your English bulldogs diet are as follows. On one hand, canned dog foods tend to have higher-quality and fewer preservatives & fillers for your Bulldog. On the other hand, the dry dog foods sold by reputable dog food companies can be just as nutritionally balanced as their wet counterparts. Dry foods often have more meat by-products. Kibble will let your Bulldog satisfy his or her urge to chew, and it’s helps knock tartar off of your English bulldog’s teeth. When using wet/canned dog food you should schedule in much more “tooth brushing” time! But also if you have an older English bulldog with delicate gums or are missing teeth, wet food might be the way to go. Dry food tends to be less expensive and is easier to store. Also, if you start with canned/wet food remember that your Bulldog will likely become spoiled, making it hard to go back to dry food. Always pick nutritionally balanced food, the highest quality! Remember cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs. DRINK! English bulldogs should drink about an ounce of water per pound of body weight daily and, of course, have fresh, clean water available several times per day. Most English bulldogs regulate their own water intake. If you notice changes in your Bulldog’s drinking habits, see your vet, as this could indicate health problems. Doggie sports drinks are available, and while it might be cute to share a post-workout quaff with your Bulldog, dogs don’t need specialty drinks(English bulldogs don’t sweat out electrolytes as humans do). FISH Fish is an excellent source of occurring Omega 3 and levels of EPA and DHA, and can be a lifesaver for English bulldogs with meat allergies. However, because of the small parasite or salmonella risk, I cook fish before I add it to my bulldog’s food. We also used canned, cooked, pink salmon. GRAINS The gluten in wheat is a noted allergen for some English bulldogs—these symptoms include itchy skin and ear inflammation (a Bulldog may shake their heads in discomfort)—so foods containing oats and barley may work better. If you suspect food allergies in your English bulldog, see your vet. HOW MUCH AND OFTEN TO FEED Of course, in the wild, Canines would eat open 24 hours a day (or when they could catch food). Most English bulldogs love to eat, and eat… It is tempting when your Bulldog looks up at you with those cute, sweet, puppy dog eyes to make food available all day. Overweight English bulldogs can suffer from the same ailments as hefty humans do. There is no precise answer as to how much to feed your English bulldog because, as with people, caloric needs vary with size, age, and activity level. One rule of thumb is that if your English bulldog is energetic and keeping his figure trim, he’s probably eating the right amount. Dog food packaging offers recommendations, but remember: those are just guidelines (see Use a Measuring Cup). How often should you feed your Bulldog? Morning and evening meals or once a day morning meals are recommended for adult dogs (English bulldog puppies over 10 weeks age are normally fed 2-3 times per day). COMPANION FOR LIFE Dog Chewable  The #1 supplement I use for my English bulldogs is COMPANION for Life dog Chewable order user ID # 1006930. This supplement has worked wonders for Bulldog joints, hips, skin problems, fantastic product! Legacy For Life (800) 557-8477 Ester C Vitamin  Ester-C is good for immune system support and immune system building and great for good joint development (see http://www.workingdogs.com/doc0039.htm). English Bulldog puppy’s hips and joints start growing at conception and continue to develop until your English Bulldog reaches 18 months of age (for this reason we put all of our pregnant and nursing English Bulldog mother’s on 1000mg of Ester C each day). We recommend that every English Bulldog puppy be on 500mg of Ester Vit C every day. For adult English Bulldogs we also recommend 1000mg of Ester Vit C daily. Hip dysplasia is one of the largest health issues faced by the English Bulldog breed. OFA ranks English Bulldogs #2 for hip dysplasia, yikes! It’s best to begin taking preventative measures as early on as possible for the rest of your English bulldogs life. Most local pharmacies carry Ester C. Dasuquin  Another great hip/joint supplement is called Dasuquin. This supplement is HIGHLY recommended. I have heard of many amazing success stories! It is a Glucosamine & Chondroitin-type supplement but better!  EGGS  They don’t call it the incredible edible egg for nothing! 🙂 Eggs really are the best source of nutrition for an English Bulldog, as they are high in Omega 3 fatty acids and they contain needed vitamins in a natural form. About 100% of the nutrition in every egg is used by your dog’s body, unlike processed supplements and dog foods. COD LIVER OIL I love cod liver oil! Cod liver oil has extremely high levels of Vitamins A & D! Cod liver oil has been clinically proven to have a positive effect on the heart and bones, as well as helping to nourish your bulldogs teeth, skin, coat and ears! Cod liver oil makes your English bulldog’s coat look very shiny and healthy. Cod liver oil also helps ease pain and joint stiffness associated with arthritic changes. English Bulldogs go through many arthritic changes when growing up until 18 months of age & also later in life. I also find that giving cod liver oil to my dogs is extremely easy. I buy a gallon of it from Revival Animal Health and pour some on each of my dogs/puppies food every morning & they love it! BONES Despite popular images, most bones can be harmful to your for your English bulldog. The worst are easily-splintered poultry bones, which are particularly dangerous for Bulldogs. But also, improperly prepared beef and pork bones can be just as harmful. The safest bones for your English bulldog are specially prepared to be near rock-hard and virtually “shatterproof.” NO CHICKEN BONES AT ALL! JERKY The FDA has cautioned against feeding dogs chicken jerky from China, and some U.S. companies issued voluntary recalls of jerky treats because of fears of melamine-tainted gluten (also from China). But there are lots of safe jerkies and English bulldogs go wild for it, making a nice treat for training. You could also try making your own: Recipes abound online. HOMEMADE KIBBLE If you have the energy, making your own dog food kibble(AKA dry food) is a great way to monitor ingredients for fillers, preservatives, and other additives, and to tailor your English bulldog’s food to his or her specific likes and needs. (Spike has a gluten allergy? Use rice flour.) Recipes are all over the internet. It’s easy and economical (if you are a smart shopper) to make (buy supplies in bulk), and kibble lasts a long time in the freezer. Remember, though, that English dogs have specific nutritional needs, so keep them in mind when looking up recipes for your English bulldog. LABELS…and how to read them If you want to be sure you’re feeding your English bulldog the best canned or dried food, you need to carefully read the label. Terms like “gourmet,” “super-premium,” or “natural” don’t really tell you anything about what’s in the dog food. In the USA, pet food labeling is regulated on a federal (FDA) and state-by-state basis, with guidance from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). However, AAFCO provides only minimum requirements. The reality is that dog food producers very commonly use terms that are undefined by the regulations, in order to improve their product’s image in the market. The AAFCO warns on their website that “it is not rare at all that labeling and marketing information is designed to appeal to the latest trend in marketing human products.” In other words, the focus tends to be more on appealing to OUR preferences than on whether or not the food is suitable for YOUR English bulldog. For this reason, learn to look behind the marketing hype and find the real substance of the nutrition status within the dog food brands. On that note, English bulldogs should have a lower protein diet, under 25%. NUTS NEVER give your English bulldog walnuts or macadamia nuts! Both are extremely poisonous for dogs (a toxin in macadamias can lead to tremors and hind-quarter paralysis). Cashews and peanuts are better, but nuts in general are high in calories and phosphorous (which can lead to bladder stones in dogs), and they’re often salty. None of that is good for Bowser. I will give my Bulldogs peanut butter in a kong toy at times to give them a game to play (trying to get it out) if I will be away all day. But that’s as far as I would go, and if you notice any reaction I would discontinue all together. ORGANIC FOOD Thinking of going organic with your English bulldog’s diet? I would always go organic when possible. But here are a few things to keep in mind: organic dog foods often use human-grade protein sources and generally have fewer fillers (corn and wheat, and their by-products) and no synthetic preservatives, pesticides, food coloring, or other additives—thereby reducing the number of potential allergens in your Bulldog’s diet. They typically contain whole grains instead of bulk fillers, which aid in weight control and digestive health, and boast superior nutritional quality, which can reduce skin irritation and boost coat sheen of your English bulldog. So what’s the downside? Well, apart from the expense of organic dog foods, as of this writing, dog foods are certified as organic according to guidelines established for human organic foods. Read food labels closely to make sure your English bulldog is getting all his essential nutrients. Plans are in the works to bring organic dog food standards in line with dogs’ needs, but until that happens, be sure you scrutinize the small print. You can follow the progress on the Association of American Feed Control Officials website (aafco.org). PUMPKIN This festive gourd is a miracle food for most English bulldogs. Good for both diarrhea and constipation, canned pumpkin (not raw and not the sugary, spicy pie filling) is loaded with fiber and beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. Don’t give your English bulldog a lot of it — too much A isn’t good (need the right balance) — but a couple of teaspoons a day for a little Bulldog, or a couple of tablespoons for an adult English bulldog, should keep them right on track. RAW MEAT And so, the raw food debate rages on… One thing all parties would agree on, though, is that pristine raw meat would be a marvelous source of quality protein for dogs. However (and this is a BIG however) the meat most of us have access to just isn’t pristine. Salmonella & parasites are a major concern, especially in raw poultry (not to mention the danger posed by chicken bones). All raw meat carries the risk of microbes and parasites, including E. coli. And we’re not just talking about dogs being at risk here; humans are also vulnerable, through handling the meat and also through cross-contaminated surfaces. While many do feed their English bulldogs raw meat to no ill effect (yet), take care to purchase the highest quality available! If you go this route (and you will not be alone, as the raw movement is gaining more and more support), be sure your ingredients are absolutely fresh. Watch out for bones and keep a close eye on your English bulldog’s total needs. TREATS Who’s a good dog? Every single English bulldog, who deserves a treat now and again. And that’s the key: now and again. A cornerstone of many training methods, treats provide almost as much joy to the giver as to the recipient. But unfortunately, like most wonderful things in life, they come with a catch: even healthy snacks have calories, so make sure you count your English bulldog’s daily intake. And remember that sometimes the things that make treats so tasty are salt and fat—another reason for moderation (and they often cause the runs). When choosing snacks, keep your English bulldog’s particular nutritional needs and dietary restrictions in mind, along with his flavor preferences. A quick online search will turn up lots of easy, healthy recipes for homemade dog treats, many customizable to various dietary restrictions. USE A MEASURING CUP Alas, humans aren’t the only animals getting wider, and obesity in dogs leads to the same kinds of problems that it does in us: diabetes, increased cancer risk, and liver disease, to say nothing of the toll it takes on an English bulldogs joints. One solution, along with lots of exercise, is strict food portion control. Don’t eyeball it. As one expert noted, your eyes are bigger than your dog’s stomach, so use a measuring cup. And serving sizes recommended on packaging are just guidelines. If your English bulldog is packing on the pounds while eating the recommended amount, use a smaller measuring cup! Obesity is the most serious medical problem facing dogs in the U.S. today (as with humans). Scientists delicately advise owners to look for things like a slight increase in the fat over the rib cage, an unusually rounded abdomen, or subtly jiggling flank folds as signs that a dog is moderately overweight. But what they’re saying, in essence, is that deciding whether your Bulldog is headed for maximum density comes down to a commonsense assessment and followed up with the ability to be strong when he looks at you with those cute puppy dog eyes! PLEASE SEE OVERWEIGHT BULLDOGS. APPLES All the stuff in apples that makes them nutritional powerhouses for humans(fiber, vitamins A and C, omega-3 and -6, antioxidants, flavonoids, polyphenols) work wonders for English bulldogs also…IF YOU CAN GET THEM TO EAT THEM! Try giving them to your English bulldog just leave the seeds out! X: AS IN BAD!!! This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are some common people foods that should never be fed to your English bulldog: avocados, alcohol, baking soda and powder, caffeine, chives, chocolate, corn cobs, fruit pits and seeds, garlic, grapes, macadamia nuts and walnuts (see above under “Nuts”), milk and milk-based products, mushrooms, nutmeg (and other spices), onions, raisins, rhubarb leaves, tomatoes (especially stems and leaves), xylitol (found in many candies and gums), gum, mints and type of mushrooms growing in your yard or yeast dough. |
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