Best Dog Food for American Bulldogs 2022 – Top 10 Reviewed
Finding the best dog food for your American bulldog’s age is far more important than it is for most other dog breeds.
That’s because bulldogs are a large breed with high activity levels and large muscles. And, the health issues that American bulldog adults commonly face as a result of their activity levels and muscles are far different from those that bulldog puppies experience.
American bulldog adults and seniors have an increased risk of developing crippling hip dysplasia whereas puppies are more prone to developing muscle and bone problems unless they’re fed a diet that’s specifically designed to be safe for them.
For this reason, Dog Food Care has selected the 10 best dog foods listed below because they meet or exceed AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult and puppy American bulldogs. And they’re made by some of the best companies in the industry!
Best Dog Food for American Bulldogs 2021 – Top 10 Reviewed – Overview
Here are the top 5 picks (keep scrolling for more details and picks 6-10).
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | Merrick Backcountry Grain Free Dry Dog Food Recipes
| 10 | Check Price |
High Protein  | Wellness CORE Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food,
| 9.9 | Check Price |
Best for Puppies  | Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Puppy Large Breed Dry Dog Food, Chicken and Brown Rice
| 9.6 | Check Price |
For Adult Dogs  | ORIJEN Dog Fit and Trim Recipe, 25lb, High-Protein Grain-Free Weight Management Dog Food, Packaging May Vary
| 9.7 | Check Price |
Limited Ingredients  | Canidae PURE Limited Ingredient Premium Adult Dry Dog Food, Salmon and Sweet Potato Recipe
| 9.5 | Check Price |
Best Overall
1. Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Great Plains Red
The Great Plains Red formula contains protein from beef, lamb, fish, pork, and rabbit.
- A high-protein blend of beef, lamb and rabbit
- Free from gluten ingredients for comfortable digestion
- Enhanced with omega fatty acids, glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy skin and joints
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned beef, lamb meal, salmon meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adult American bulldogs
And, some of those proteins are in their meal form, meaning that their protein concentrations are extremely high. Plus, several of the protein sources come from the liver and heart, both of which are very nutritious for dogs.
Not only that, but the kibble is freeze-dried. This makes it more easily digestible, retains the nutritional value of the ingredients, and preserves the good taste that your dog loves. The formula contains a very high 38% protein, 17% fat, and an estimated 25% carbohydrates. That makes its fat-to-protein ratio to about 45%.
Why we like this brand:
- There are 8 different sources of animal protein in the formula
- It contains antioxidant-rich sweet potatoes for carbohydrates
- The formula is free of grains
- It has a very high protein content to support muscle growth and recovery
- Ingredients are grown and food is processed all in the USA
Best High Protein
2. Wellness CORE Wholesome Grains Original Recipe High Protein Dog Food
The High Protein formula from Wellness CORE has everything that your bulldog needs to fuel its high energy life:
- This recipe is a blend of superfoods and premium protein for a complete meal
- Omega fatty acids from salmon oil and flaxseed promotes shiny coat and healthy skin
- Crafted with wholesome, non-GMO ingredients
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned turkey, chicken meal, turkey meal, oatmeal, barley
- Type: Grain-inclusive – oatmeal, barley, quinoa
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adult American bulldogs
Lots of great protein sources for lean muscles, whole-grain carbohydrates for energy, and all the right vitamins and minerals for an overall healthy body.
This adult dry dog food has everything your bully needs. At the same time, it doesn’t include things that your dog doesn’t need such as fillers or animal by-product meals. The formula contains 34% protein, 16% fat, and an estimated 31% carbs. That makes its fat-to-protein ratio about 47%. We highly recommend this recipe by Wellness CORE for your Bulldog.
Why we like this brand:
- It contains several protein sources from different animals
- All of the carbs come from fiber-rich whole grains
- Both the turkey and chicken meal are good sources of glucosamine and chondroitin
- Fiber from the whole grains helps for better absorption of nutrients
- Created to support lean muscle mass on breeds like the American bulldog
Best for Puppies
3. Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Large Breed Puppy
The Large Breed Puppy formula was designed specifically for pups like the American bulldog.
- Formulated especially for your large-breed puppy
- Contains natural ingredients packed with vitamins and minerals
- Recipe contains DHA and ARA fatty acids to support developmental function
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley
- Type: Grain-inclusive – brown rice, oatmeal, barley
- Profile: Growth
- Best For: American bulldog puppies
Given that it is high in protein and contains several whole-grain carbohydrate sources for energy, it’s a great choice for your bulldog pup. This formula also contains a unique ingredient called Lifesource Bits.
They contain several highly nutritious foods chosen by holistic vets to promote a healthy immune system and oxidative balance. The formula contains 26% protein and 15% fat for a fat-to-protein ratio of 58%. It also contains an estimated 39% carbohydrates.
Why we like this brand:
- Contains DHA and RHA supplements essential for proper puppy growth
- L-Carnitine supports lean muscle growth
- Chicken fat helps with smooth digestion
- High in fiber to promote optimal levels of healthy bacteria in the gut
- The brand uses only natural ingredients in all of its products
Best For Adult Dogs
4. ORIJEN Fit & Trim Grain-Free Dog Food
The Fit & Trim formula contains an astounding 42% crude protein.
- Made with fresh whole animal ingredients such as free-range chicken and wild-caught fish
- Recipe is made to fulfill your dog's biological nutritional needs
- No grain ingredients
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken liver, turkey liver, cod liver, cage-free eggs
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adult American bulldogs
This supports strong muscles and high activity levels in your American bulldog. Not only that, but the ingredients in this formula are top quality. Several high-quality protein sources make up the main ingredients.
Lower down on the label, there are numerous vitamin and mineral supplements to help keep your dog in tip-top shape. In addition to the protein content, this formula contains 13% fat and an estimated 20% carbs. That brings its fat-to-protein ratio to about 31%. We highly recommend it.
Why we like this brand:
- High protein content supports an active dog’s lifestyle
- High fiber at 12% promotes good digestive health
- 85% of the formula’s ingredients come from animal sources
- 15% of the formula’s ingredients come from fruits and veggies
- Freeze-dried liver coats the kibble to make it taste amazing
Best Limited Ingredient
5. CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Limited Ingredient Real Salmon and Sweet Potato
This formula by CANIDAE is considered to be a limited ingredient dog food.
- Great tasting salmon and sweet potato recipe
- Contains ten or fewer key ingredients, perfect for sensitive stomachs
- Antioxidant and probiotic blend helps with a healthy immune system and digestive health
- First 5 ingredients: Salmon, salmon meal, menhaden fish meal, sweet potatoes, peas
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adult American bulldogs
Meaning that it uses only the highest quality ingredients to reduce the need for endless supplements and fillers. This type of formula is great for dogs with sensitive stomachs, food allergies, and for dogs who need a lot of protein, such as the American bulldog.
With fewer ingredients that are all higher quality ones, the protein content tends to be higher than other dog food formulas. More protein = better health for your active bully. Overall, the formula contains a high 32% protein and 18% fat. That makes its fat-to-protein ratio about 56%. And, it contains an estimated 28% carbs.
Why we like this brand:
- Contains limited ingredients that are all of excellent quality
- Has a blend of probiotics and omega fatty acids
- Contains no artificial colors, artificial flavors, or artificial preservatives
- Easy on the digestive system
- The first ingredient salmon is naturally high in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
6. Royal Canin Breed Health Adult Bulldog
The goal of the American bulldog formula is to meet all of the dietary needs of the bully.
- First 5 ingredients: Brewers rice, oat groats, chicken by-product meal, brown rice, wheat gluten
- Type: Grain-inclusive – brewers rice, oat groats, brown rice
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adult American bulldogs
Considering that it has a full 5-star review from buyers on Amazon, we can say that Royal Canin is definitely doing something right. This formula contains 22% protein, 12% fat, and an estimated 47% carbs with a fat-to-protein ratio of about 54%.
Why we like this brand:
- Designed to achieve the American bully’s ideal balanced diet
- Fish oil is high up on the ingredient list
- Promotes healthy skin and good joint health
- Dried plain beet pulp is high in fiber and helps with digestion
- Contains both EPA and DHA supplements
7. Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy Lamb & Rice
While the AAFCO considers the formula as good for all life stages, Diamond Naturals designed it to meet the nutritional needs of large breed puppies specifically.
- First 5 ingredients: Lamb, lamb meal, whole grain brown rice, cracked pearled barley, grain sorghum
- Type: Grain-inclusive – brown rice, cracked pearled barley, grain sorghum
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: American bulldog puppies
Such as the American bully puppy. We highly recommend this puppy food for your bully.
In addition to the meat and grains, it contains excellent whole food ingredients such as blueberries, pumpkin, and spinach. Also, it contains flaxseed which is high in omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. The formula contains a high 27% protein, 15% fat, and an estimated 38% carbohydrates. That yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 55%.
Why we like this brand:
- Real meat from lambs is the first ingredient
- Several sources of protein provide lots of amino acids
- A calcium supplement supports puppy bone health
- Prebiotics and probiotics support a healthy gut
- Made without corn, wheat, fillers, or artificial flavors
8. Purina One Smartblend True Instinct Natural Dog Food
The first ingredient in this formula is real beef and the second is chicken meal.
- First 5 ingredients: Beef, chicken meal, soybean meal, canola oil, cassava root flour
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adult American bulldogs
This combination helps yield a high protein content of 30% crude protein. The high protein content is what helps support your American bully’s growing muscles. The formula contains 30% protein, 17% fat, and an estimated 32% carbs. That brings its fat-to-protein ratio to about 56%.
Why we like this brand:
- Contains four different antioxidant sources
- Has several natural sources of glucosamine
- Designed to mimic a dog’s instinctive diet
- Has a salmon and tuna flavor that dogs love
- Has no artificial flavors or preservatives
9. Taste of the Wild High Prairie
The High Prairie formula contains just the right amount of protein for your active and muscular bully.
- First 5 ingredients: Water buffalo, lamb meal, chicken meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: Adult American bulldogs
The protein comes from several sources including unique ones like water buffalo and venison. Plus, Taste of the Wild uses only natural and sustainable ingredients in their food.
So, dog owners can feel good about their impact on the environment in addition to their dogs. his formula contains 32% protein, 18% fat, and an estimated 31% carbs. That comes around to yield a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.
Why we like this brand:
- Has a vitamin e supplement to support the immune system, skin health, and nerve health
- Contains species-specific K9 Strain Proprietary Probiotics
- Uses only sustainably sourced ingredients
- Contains superfoods like blueberries and raspberries
- Bison and venison support bones, joints, and muscles
10. Nulo Freestyle Freeze-Dried Raw Beef Recipe
Nulo’s Raw Beef formula is fantastic for bullies.
- First 5 ingredients: Beef, beef heart, beef liver, beef kidneys, ground beef bone
- Type: Grain-free
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: Adult American bulldogs
It is a limited ingredient formula, contains only the highest-quality ingredients, and is very high in protein. It contains several ingredients from cows alone which are not only protein-dense but also nutrient-dense.
After the meat ingredients come several superfoods such as apples, broccoli, and spinach just to name a few. And, while it is technically good for all life stages, we mostly recommend it for adults. The formula contains a very high 42% protein, 28% fat, and an estimated 15% carbohydrates. That brings the fat-to-protein ratio to about 67%.
Why we like this brand:
- Designed to mimic a dog’s ancestral raw diet
- 83% of the food is made up of beef ingredients alone
- Freeze-dried kibble is easy to digest and helps absorb nutrients
- Very minimally processed
- Contains a powerful probiotic called GanedenBC30
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, if you care about the health of your American bulldog, you’ll feed them dog food that fits the needs of their age. Without a dog food that coincides with their age, they’re more likely to develop those crippling health issues.
Therefore, take one of our top recommendations for American bulldog food and feel good about feeding your bully something good for them!
Bonus tip: Hip dysplasia is common in adult American bulldogs and one of the best ingredients to help prevent it is DHA. Here’s everything you need to know about super healthy DHAs in dog food.
