One of our readers recently asked: “What is the best hypoallergenic dog food for bulldogs?” Hypoallergenic food is a topic I’ve been covering at length lately. As you know, I generally promote the ideas of ingredients over pre-packaged breed specific branding. Today is no different. We’ll be looking at the best ingredients in hypoallergenic dog food if you’re feeding a Bulldog. This is a breed with very specific issues that food can absolutely help address.
Related:English Bulldogs: As Non-hypoallergenic as You Can Get
English Bulldog Issues
First and foremost, the Bulldog is a breed that has been over-bred to the point that its healthy issues are many and severe. In fact, this breed has been so inbred that recent studies have shown that there is little to no wiggle room in the breed to attempt to breed out all the problems it has. This means that if you have a Bulldog, you’re going to need every available weapon you can add to your Bulldog health arsenal.
Bulldog Issues Include:
- Fold Dermatitis – A condition in which the folds of the Bulldog’s skin become irritated and purulent
- Many Other Skin Problems – Severe allergies, eczema, dry skin, acne
- Elbow and Hip Dysplasia – Condition in which the bones don’t seat correctly in the sockets
- Arthritis
- Degenerative Spine Disease
- Joint and Ligament Issues
- Heart Disease
- Highest Cancer Rate of any Breed
These are just SOME of the health issues associated with English Bulldogs. I only included these because they are the ones which can be partially addressed with food. The right ingredients in hypoallergenic dog food can help support the health of English Bulldogs in all of these areas.
What is the Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food For Bulldogs?
The short answer? The best hypoallergenic dog food for bulldogs is one that is low in calories and high in omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and antioxidants. Let’s take a closer look at why those ingredients are so important.
As I said, the English Bulldog has a metric ton of health issues, and while you can’t remedy them, you can help to promote better health and a lesser instance of these things happen with your dog if you get food with the right ingredients. The right ingredients in your Bulldog’s hypoallergenic dog food can be an essential part of keeping him as healthy as possible.
Reduced Calorie
As with all dogs, the very first thing in a hypoallergenic dog food for your Bulldog is reduced calorie. It’s important for any breed to stay at a healthy weight, but with the English Bulldog’s propensity for joint and tendon issues along with the highest instance of cancer of any breed, it’s exponentially more important to keep them at their ideal weight.
Omega Fatty Acids
Omega fatty acids are an English Bulldog’s best friend. Look for a hypoallergenic dog food with fish as the main protein source or with added sources of omega fatty acids. They’re so important because they make antioxidants, powerful cancer-fighting agents, more effective. Fatty acids support joints. They also support skin health, which is so important for combating fold dermatitis, as well as reducing whole body inflammation and promoting heart health.
Glucosamine
Although many people say it’s a myth, I swear by glucosamine supplements. I have seen many a dog show vast improvement after using these supplements. When looking for hypoallergenic dog food for an English Bulldog, look for a food with glucosamine added. Some foods have it, and it can help with the joint problems that English Bulldogs are so prone to.
Antioxidants
Look for a hypoallergenic dog food with an antioxidant matrix, which is just a fancy term for added antioxidant ingredients. Antioxidants have long been known to combat free radicals which are major contributors to cancer. Antioxidants also support whole body health because they help destroy dangerous free radicals throughout the body.
Great Ingredients Support Great Health
The English Bulldog is a biological train wreck. That is a direct quote from the vet I used to work with, and she’s right. Years of over breeding, inbreeding, and breeding for traits that people found attractive but were ultimately extremely unhealthy have led to an animal with a host of MAJOR health issues. If you have an English Bulldog, any and everything you can do to support better health is incredibly important.
So whether you’re looking for hypoallergenic dog food or just food in general, always look for the ingredients above. These ingredients can help support every part of your English Bulldog and his potential health risks.
