10 Best Dog Foods for French Bulldogs With Gas – 2023 Reviews & Top Picks
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As one of the friendliest small breeds around, the French Bulldog is a favorite for many dog lovers. They’re cute, adoring, and personable — but they can also be a bit gassy on occasion. The French Bulldog is prone to various digestive issues that can be aided or worsened by their diet.
There are many dog food brands out there that claim to be good for sensitive stomachs, but that doesn’t mean they’re all suitable for your Frenchie. You need to take into account their size, dietary requirements, and how easy it is for them to eat certain sizes of kibble.
The following reviews are the 10 best dog foods for French Bulldogs with gas to help you choose the one that is right for your dog.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites (2023)
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Ollie Turkey Recipe (Fresh Dog Food Subscription) |
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Best Value
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Hill's Science Diet Adult Dry Dog Food |
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ORIJEN Amazing Grains Original |
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| Best for Puppies |
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Royal Canin French Bulldog Puppy |
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| Vet’s Choice |
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Wellness Complete Health Dry Food |
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The 10 Best Dog Foods for French Bulldogs With Gas
1. Ollie Turkey Recipe (Fresh Dog Food Subscription) — Best Overall
| Main ingredients: | Turkey, kale, lentils, carrots |
| Protein content: | 11% |
| Fat content: | 7% |
| Calories: | 1,390 kcal ME/kg |
Brands of dog food that you find at your local supermarket can save time, but they don’t allow you to tailor the recipe to your dog’s individual needs. Ollie Fresh Turkey Recipe uses a short questionnaire to help ensure that your dog receives the nutrition that they need based on their age and breed.
As our choice for the best overall dog food for French Bulldogs with gas, Ollie uses high-quality, natural ingredients. There are fresh, baked, or mixed recipes with beef, chicken, turkey, or lamb recipes. The turkey recipe, in particular, contains pumpkin, which can help ease your French Bulldog’s stomach troubles.
Ollie requires a subscription and needs to be thawed before use.
- Recipes are customizable
- High-quality ingredients for healthy nutrition
- Contains pumpkin to aid digestion
- Fresh, baked, or mixed recipes
- Needs to be kept frozen or refrigerated
- Subscription required
2. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach and Skin – Best Value
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, brewers rice, chicken meal, yellow peas |
| Protein content: | 20% |
| Fat content: | 13% |
| Calories: | 394 kcal/cup |
The Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach and Skin Dry Dog Food is recommended by veterinarians as one of the best options for dogs with sensitive skin and stomachs. Formulated for small breeds, the kibble is designed to be easy to chew and is the best dog food for French Bulldogs with gas for the money.
It’s filled with prebiotic fiber to make it easy for dogs to digest and supports a healthy gut. Omega fatty acids are included in the recipe to promote the health of your dog’s skin.
This Hill’s Science Diet does contain legumes, which have been linked to heart disease1. The correlation is still being investigated, but many owners prefer not to take the risk.
- Recommended by veterinarians
- Prebiotic fiber to support a healthy gut
- Formulated for small breeds with sensitive stomachs
- Omega fatty acids to support skin health
- Contains legumes
- Some picky dogs refuse to eat it
3. ORIJEN Amazing Grains Original Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, turkey, chicken liver, whole herring |
| Protein content: | 38% |
| Fat content: | 18% |
| Calories: | 3,920 kcal/kg |
The ORIJEN Amazing Grains Original Dry Dog Food is formulated with real meat and fish to provide a protein-packed diet. Herring and mackerel supply the recipe with omega fatty acids, DHA, and EPA to support your French Bulldogs’ skin and coat, while grains supply natural fiber to aid digestion. The recipe also contains prebiotics and probiotics to make it easy for your Frenchie’s sensitive stomach to digest.
A few owners have reported that their dogs suffered from diarrhea and vomiting after eating this product. The fish content also gives it a strong smell that some people and their dogs find unpleasant. It’s expensive for what you get.
- Prebiotics and probiotics to support digestive health
- Made with real meat
- Natural fiber from wholesome grains
- DHA and EPA support skin and coat health
- Reports of diarrhea and vomiting
- Has a strong fishy smell
4. Royal Canin French Bulldog Puppy Food — Best for Puppies
| Main ingredients: | Brewers rice, chicken by-product meal, wheat gluten, wheat |
| Protein content: | 28% |
| Fat content: | 18% |
| Calories: | 3,881 kcal/kg |
One of the best ways to make sure your dog gets the nutrition that they need is by choosing formulas designed for their breed. The Royal Canin French Bulldog Puppy Dry Dog Food is specially designed to support the development of Frenchies.
Along with containing a precise blend of nutrients to support French Bulldog puppies, the kibble is shaped to be easy for your Frenchie to pick up and eat. The recipe contains an easy-to-digest protein that helps alleviate gassiness and digestive distress. It’s also designed to boost skin and coat health for French Bulldogs with sensitive skin.
This Royal Canin puppy food is only available in small, 3-pound bags. It’s also unsuitable for puppies over 12 months old, and you’ll need to transition to the adult formula.
- Formulated for French Bulldog puppies
- Easy-to-digest protein
- Specialized Frenchie-friendly kibble
- Supports skin health
- Only available in 3-pound bags
- Unsuitable for dogs over 12 months old
5. Wellness Complete Health Adult Dry Food — Vet’s Choice
| Main ingredients: | Lamb, lamb meal, oatmeal, ground barley |
| Protein content: | 24% |
| Fat content: | 12% |
| Calories: | 3,655 kcal/kg |
The Wellness Complete Health Lamb & Barley Recipe is our vet’s choice. Filled with natural ingredients and wholesome grains to provide balanced nutrition and energy, it’s formulated to support your dog’s overall health.
Made with lamb to avoid common food sensitivities to chicken and beef, the contained blueberries and spinach also support your dog’s immune health. This option contains prebiotic and probiotic fiber to make the recipe easy to digest.
Several users have mentioned that their picky eaters found this dog food uninteresting and refused to eat it. It has also caused overly soft stools in some dogs.
- Contains probiotics to support digestive health
- Natural ingredients for healthier nutrition
- Supports immune health
- Provides energy with wholesome grains
- Picky eaters may refuse to eat it
- Reports of soft stools
6. CANIDAE Pure Goodness Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Salmon, salmon meal, menhaden fish meal, barley |
| Protein content: | 25% |
| Fat content: | 14.5% |
| Calories: | 3,642 kcal/kg |
The CANIDAE PURE With Wholesome Grains Real Salmon & Barley Recipe uses a limited-ingredient formula to help you avoid food sensitivities. Crafted with probiotics and fiber from wholesome grains, it’s designed to be easy for sensitive stomachs to digest, while still supporting your French Bulldog’s overall health.
Made with real salmon, the recipe is filled with natural omega oils to boost skin and coat health. The recipe also contains antioxidants to provide the needed nutrients to keep your dog’s immune system healthy.
Since this dog food is made from real fish, it does contain a strong fishy smell that many dog owners find unpleasant. Some picky eaters may dislike the salmon flavor and refuse to eat it.
- Limited-ingredient diet to avoid food sensitivities
- Probiotics for digestive health
- Omega fatty acids promote skin and coat health
- Supports immunity
- Some owners find the smell unpleasant
- Picky dogs might not like the fish flavor
7. Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Dry Food
| Main ingredients: | Salmon, barley, rice, oatmeal |
| Protein content: | 26% |
| Fat content: | 16% |
| Calories: | 4,049 kcal/kg |
Designed specifically to ease digestion issues in dogs with sensitive stomachs, the Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula is filled with prebiotics, probiotics, and easy-to-digest oatmeal.
Along with working to alleviate your French Bulldog’s gas, this sensitive-stomach formula also contains natural omega oils from the real salmon ingredients. The fatty acids and vitamin A work to promote skin and coat health in dogs with skin issues.
Several users have experienced issues with third-party sellers regarding the quality of the dog food, and some bags have been infested with larvae. This product has also caused diarrhea in some dogs, while others may refuse to eat it due to the salmon content and fishy smell.
- Formulated to support sensitive stomachs
- Probiotics and prebiotics promote digestive health
- Easy-to-digest recipe
- Nutrient-rich salmon
- Some bags have been infested with larvae
- A few dogs have suffered from diarrhea
- Fussy dogs might not like the salmon flavor
8. Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Deboned salmon, salmon meal, brown rice, oatmeal |
| Protein content: | 24% |
| Fat content: | 14% |
| Calories: | 3,623 kcal ME/kg |
Limited-ingredient diets are a good way to avoid your dog’s food sensitivities by focusing on ingredients that they don’t have a problem with. The Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet With Healthy Grains Real Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe contains nine natural ingredients, along with all the essential nutrients that your dog needs to stay healthy.
Made with real, deboned salmon and oatmeal, the recipe is easy to digest. It also avoids legumes — which have been linked to heart disease — and is chicken free to avoid protein allergies.
Despite the size of the bag, it isn’t resealable and needs to be stored correctly if you want it to last. It’s also one of the most expensive options on this list due to the natural ingredients. Some dogs also dislike salmon and may refuse to eat this due to the fishy taste.
- Limited ingredients to avoid food sensitivities
- Deboned salmon is the first ingredient
- Doesn’t contain legumes
- Chicken free
- Picky dogs might not enjoy the salmon
- Expensive
- Non-resealable bags
9. Blue Buffalo True Solutions Blissful Belly Dry Food
| Main ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal |
| Protein content: | 24% |
| Fat content: | 13% |
| Calories: | 3,778 kcal/kg |
Blue Buffalo True Solutions Blissful Belly Digestive Care Formula uses a science-based formula and ingredients recommended by veterinarians to create dog food that supports digestion. Real fruits, vegetables, and grains make up Blue Buffalo’s LifeSource Bits and provide antioxidant-rich fiber for immune and gut health. It’s free of artificial flavors and preservatives to ensure that your dog benefits from natural nutrition.
This recipe does contain legumes, and these ingredients are being investigated regarding a link with dilated cardiomyopathy. Some dogs can also be allergic to chicken protein and require a different diet to avoid a reaction. There have been a few reports of the bags arriving torn open.
- Provides natural fiber to aid digestion
- Science-based formulas
- No artificial flavors or preservatives
- Antioxidant-rich LifeSource Bits
- Contains legumes
- Some dogs are allergic to chicken protein
- Several bags arrive ripped open
10. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Small Breed Dry Food
| Main ingredients: | Lamb, lamb meal, brown rice, brewers rice |
| Protein content: | 22% |
| Fat content: | 12% |
| Calories: | 3,600 kcal/kg |
Designed with small breeds in mind, the Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Lamb & Brown Rice Small Breed Recipe is easy for French Bulldogs to eat. The recipe uses protein from real lamb to avoid common food sensitivities to chicken and beef, while fiber is provided by whole-grain brown rice. These ingredients help support your Frenchie’s muscle development and digestive health.
This is a limited-ingredient diet and doesn’t have artificial colors and flavors, relying on natural ingredients to supply your dog with an easy-to-digest formula and healthy nutrition.
Although the lamb caters to dogs with sensitivities to other meat proteins, some fussier dogs might dislike the flavor. A few people have mentioned that the bags that they received have smelled off. Natural Balance is also one of the most expensive options on this list, especially for what you get.
- Lamb avoids common protein allergies
- Whole-grain brown rice provides fiber
- No artificial colors or flavors
- Formulated for small breeds
- Expensive
- Some picky dogs might dislike lamb
- Some bags smell off
Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Dog Food for French Bulldogs With Gas
There is more to buying dog food than searching for a certain formula. You also have to consider your dog’s needs as an individual. This section will give you a few pointers on what to consider when you’re buying new food for your gassy Frenchie.
Ingredients
Part of making sure your French Bulldog doesn’t suffer from gas is ensuring that their food is gentle on their digestive system. The ingredients that make up a formula can be the difference between a meal that causes your Frenchie discomfort or one that passes through their system with ease.
Since French Bulldogs are all prone to gassy episodes, it’s important to pay attention to the foods that don’t set them off. This can change depending on the individual dog. For example, some dogs might be sensitive to the protein in certain meats — like chicken or beef — while others might be reacting to the artificial additives.
Easy to Digest
French Bulldogs are notorious for their sensitive stomachs, and the easier the ingredients in the recipe are to digest, the less likely they are to have trouble. Some formulas are specifically designed for sensitive stomachs. You can also try recipes that include ingredients that are known for settling upset tummies, like pumpkin.
Fiber content is a good thing to look for too. It can be a difficult thing to get right, though. Too much fiber can cause digestive distress, just like not enough can, especially if your French Bulldog isn’t used to a fibrous diet.
Natural
Natural ingredients are good options. The more natural the recipe is, the more likely your dog will be able to digest it without issue. They’ll also likely benefit more from the healthy nutrition from real fruits and vegetables rather than chemical additives.
Novel and Hydrolyzed Protein Diets
Novel protein diets can be a good way to counter sensitivities to certain proteins. These recipes use venison, bison, or other less common meats to provide the same animal protein without setting off allergies. You could also try hydrolyzed protein diets, where the protein content is broken down until your dog’s immune system doesn’t recognize it as an allergen.
French Bulldog Formula
If you’re stuck on what brand or formula to choose — or what nutrients your French Bulldog needs — breed-specific diets can help. French Bulldog-specific formulas are designed to meet the nutritional requirements of the breed and are tailored to help ease their common health issues, like gas and sensitive stomachs. The downside is that breed-specific formulas can be more difficult to find than other dog food options.
Customizable
One option that’s becoming more popular among dog owners is customizable formulas offered by subscription-based brands like Ollie. These recipes are tailored to your dog’s individual needs through a short interview, and you can also adjust the shipment times, the recipes that you receive, and how many meals you get in each shipment.
Slow Transition
Many digestion issues can come from a sudden change in your dog’s diet. If you’ve recently switched brands or even the flavor of your dog’s food, it’s likely their sudden gassiness is a result of their digestive system struggling with the unexpected food.
If you buy different dog food, whether it’s a new brand or you are trying out another flavor of the same brand, mix it into your dog’s existing food for a week or two. Most dog food brands include instructions on how to properly transition foods to keep your pet healthy.
Final Thoughts
Ollie Fresh Turkey Recipe is our choice for the best overall food for French Bulldogs with gas because the customizable formulas enable you to tailor the recipes to your dog’s individual needs. A cheaper option, however, is the Hill’s Science Diet, which is designed to support sensitive stomachs. If you don’t mind spending more, ORIJEN contains plenty of probiotics to promote gut health, and Royal Canin French Bulldog Puppy is formulated for young Frenchies.
Our reviews also included our vet’s choice of Wellness Complete Health, which is designed to protect your dog’s overall health, as well as their stomach.
Featured Image Credit: Gryllus M, Shutterstock
