Homemade or commercial food ?
Photo by Willee Cole
The choice between home-prepared meals or commercial food (dry or moist) is more a matter of personal preference and schedule rather than of purely quality. Some owners still consider commercial food as a second-choice option while quality pre-packaged food really covers all of the major nutritional requirements a healthy dog has. On the other hand, home-made diets are tricky. Most people have difficulties to eat a well balanced diet themselves, so why assume this will be different when preparing their dog's meals ?

The truth is, it is extremely difficult to compose a dog's meal that contains all the essential nutrients in exactly the right proportions for your dog's breed at every different stage of his life (puppy, maturity, senior).

One satisfactory solution, if you feed your dog twice daily, is to serve him/her one home-prepared meal, for example in the morning, and another, for example in the evening, consisting in high-quality dry food. This guarantees enough variation in your dog's diet, with at least once a day a balanced dry meal that exercises his teeth and gums properly, while the other meal ensures she/he receives enough variation in his food in order to not get bored. If you choose to serve your bulldog home-prepared meals, collect several recipes and bring enough variation in his/her diet to cover all the essential nutrients. You can find recipes for homemade diets in books devoted to this topic and dog magazines. Good quality commercial pet foods are usually well balanced with vitamins and minerals, but home made diets may require vitamin and mineral supplementation. As oversupplementation is as harmful as deficiencies, ask you vet for advice and stick to the recommended dose.

For the dry food part, there are a number of excellent high-quality pre-packaged dog meals on the market. Choose a brand that includes at least the following options: puppy vs. adult food and small breeds vs maxi (large) breeds (this means at least 4 different recipes according to the combinations !). The requirements for each group differ to such an extent that it is hardly possible to market one kind of food that would cover the needs of puppies and adult dogs alike, indifferently of type of breed (small, large). Finally, the composition of the food showing the ingredients ("guaranteed analysis") should be detailed on the package, including a recommended feeding guide.

Food especially designed for BULLDOGS:
A product specially formulated for bulldogs over 12 months old that promotes correct digestion and helps reduce flatulence by means of its highly digestible proteins, insoluble minerals, rice as the only starch source, fructo-oligo-saccharides, and sugar beet pulp. The special kibble shape is designed to make it easier for the bulldog to grasp and chew its food. Last but not least, the special food formula should help combat epidermal inflammation by means of its combination of vitamins and amino acids, associated with essential omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids and zinc.

See also
- The Basics of a Balanced Diet
- Homemade or commercial food
- Switching pet foods
- Puppy nutrition tips
- Preventing Obesity in Dogs
- Bulldog puppy weight chart
- Nutritional needs of the breeding bitch
- Barf, all meat diet and raw meat diet



Real Food for Dogs
Royal Canin Health Nutrition Bulldog
Real Food for Dogs:
50 Vet-Approved Recipes to Please the Canine Gastronome
by Arden Moore
More information:

Canine parasitic skin diseases
 Bulldog Health Information
Hereditary Diseases
Transferable Diseases
Heat stroke in Bulldogs
Anal Gland Impaction
Inverted hind feet
Swimming Puppy Syndrome
The Good Food Cookbook for Dogs:
50 Home-Cooked Recipes for the Health and Happiness of Your Canine Companion
(Paperback)
by Donna Twichell Roberts
 More information

Recommended Food for Bulldogs
(Home-Preraed Meals or Dry Commerical Food ?)

Better Food for Dogs
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Related Pages
Home > Articles > Everyday Care > Feeding and nutrition > Recommended food for your Bulldog
Bulldogs for Dummies
Bulldogs for Dummies
by Susan M. Ewing
Better Food for Dogs
David Bastin
Bulldog Information 2003-2010 © All rights reserved. 

Royal Canin Medium Breed Bulldog
(30-lb bag)
More information:


Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
by Richard H. Pitcairn, Susan Hubble Pitcairn
More information:
For Food for Bulldog puppies, see here >>
References:
A Commonsense Guide to Feeding Your Pet published by The  CVMA (Canadian Veterinary Medical Association) Pet Food Certification Committee
BARF for beginners
www.barfworld.com
Raw Meaty Bones for Dogs and Cats by Samantha J. Coe, Vetbase.co.uk
UK Raw Meaty Bones Website www.rawmeatybones.com



External Links:
Dry Dog Food Comparison Chart
Understanding dog foods and dog food labels