10 Best Dog Foods for French Bulldogs With Gas – 2024 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.
Many dog food brands claim to be good for sensitive stomachs, but that doesn’t mean they’re all suitable for your Frenchie. You need to consider their size, dietary requirements, and how easy it is for them to eat specific sizes of kibble.
The following reviews are the 10 best dog foods for French Bulldogs with gas to help you choose one that is right for your dog.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024
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Best Overall
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Ollie Turkey Recipe (Fresh Dog Food Subscription) |
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Budget Buy
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Hill's Science Diet Adult Dry Dog Food |
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ORIJEN Amazing Grains Original |
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Royal Canin French Bulldog Puppy |
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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 they need based on their age and breed and provides a subscription to keep that customized food coming to your door.
As our choice for the best overall dog food for French Bulldogs with gas, Ollie uses high-quality, natural ingredients. There are fresh, baked, and mixed recipes with beef, chicken, turkey, and lamb. The turkey recipe, in particular, contains pumpkin, which can help ease your French Bulldog’s stomach troubles.
One consideration is that food from Ollie requires fridge or freezer space and will need to be thawed before use.
- Recipes are customizable
- High-quality ingredients for healthy nutrition
- Contains pumpkin to aid digestion
- Fresh, baked, or mixed recipes
- Subscription service
- Needs to be kept frozen or refrigerated
2. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach and Skin – Budget Buy
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, brewer’s 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 as one of the best budget 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 support 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 provide 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 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
| 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 ensure your dog gets the nutrition 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 Frenchie puppies.
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
| 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 fifth choice. Wellness is filled with natural ingredients and wholesome grains to provide balanced nutrition and energy, and it’s formulated to support your dog’s overall health.
It has lamb to prevent common food sensitivities to chicken and beef, and the blueberries and spinach also support your dog’s immune health. It also contains prebiotic and probiotic fiber to make the recipe easy to digest.
Several users have mentioned that their picky eaters found Wellness Complete Health 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 supporting your French Bulldog’s overall health.
Since it’s 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 CANIDAE PURE is made from real fish, it has 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 salmon. The fatty acids and vitamin A 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 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 an excellent way to avoid your dog’s food sensitivities by focusing on ingredients 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 your dog needs to stay healthy.
Merrick Limited Ingredient is made with deboned salmon and oatmeal, and the recipe is easy to digest. It also avoids legumes, which have been linked to heart disease, and is chicken-free to prevent 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 dislike salmon and may refuse to eat it 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. Fruits, vegetables, and grains comprise 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 your dog benefits from natural nutrition.
This recipe contains legumes, which 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, brewer’s 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 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 limited-ingredient formula 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. This section will give you a few pointers on what to consider when buying new food for your gassy Frenchie.
Ingredients
Part of ensuring your French Bulldog doesn’t suffer from gas is determining if 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 easily passes through their system.
Since French Bulldogs are prone to gassy episodes, it’s essential to pay attention to the foods that don’t set them off. This can change depending on the dog. For example, some dogs might be sensitive to protein in certain meats, like chicken or beef, while others might react to 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 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. However, too much fiber can cause digestive distress, 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 probably benefit more from the healthy nutrition from fruits and vegetables rather than chemical additives.
Novel and Hydrolyzed Protein Diets
Novel protein diets can be a good way to counter sensitivities to specific 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 which brand or formula to choose or which 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 formulas.
Customizable
One option that’s becoming more popular among dog owners is customizable formulas provided by subscription-based brands like Ollie. The recipes are tailored to your dog’s needs through a short interview, and you can also adjust the shipment times, the recipes 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 needs. However, a cheaper option is Hill’s Science Diet, which is designed to support sensitive stomachs. If you don’t mind spending more, our third choice, ORIJEN, contains plenty of probiotics to promote gut health.
Featured Image Credit: Gryllus M, Shutterstock
