Best Affordable Dog Food For Bulldogs
American Bulldog Diet
To ensure your bulldog stays healthy and strong, a well-balanced diet is essential. Dogs like humans, have taste buds and definitely prefer some foods rather than others. They will rarely turn down a meal though, and will become accustomed to whichever diet choices you make. As a rule, you should avoid feeding your dog human foods or making frequent dietary changes in order to persuade him to eat. These practices encourage dogs to be picky over what they will eat. Avoid especially feeding him at the table - unless you want him to turn into a begging dog, constantly pleading for food.
The Home-Cooked Food Diet
There are numerous home-cooked dog recipes available to assist you with providing for your pet's nutritional needs. A medium-large, energetic breed like the American Bulldog needs plenty of protein, water and vitamins A and B in order to thrive. Bones and various raw meats - including fish and poultry - form the basis for the diet - with added cereals such as rusk or even plain rice for energy. Pay attention to the balance of the various nutrients (i.e. protein, carbohydrate, etc.) and attune these to your pets exercise and growth needs.
The Raw Meat Diet
Many pet owners are coming to realize what working dog owners have always known: that raw meat is the most natural way to feed your dog. American Bulldogs can gain enormous benefits from switching to raw meat - in terms of health and happiness, as well as cost-effectiveness - although some have misgivings about the safety of such a diet. While this is understandable, it really is no more difficult than being a meat-eater yourself. First: find a reputable supplier. There is no shortage of these - but check that the meat is 'fit for human consumption'. Second: store the meat correctly - whether frozen or defrosted - and observe 'use by' dates. Third: introduce the diet gradually if your dog is at all sensitive (most with sensitive stomachs respond very well to this diet) and mix approximately two parts meat to one-part steamed rice and vegetables.
The Ready-Made Food Diet
The advantages of feeding your American Bulldog one or more of the proprietary ready-made foods available are obvious: convenience, nutritional balance and variety. There is a lot of advice out there as to which to choose but bear in mind that much of this is either advertising or promotion - by its very nature.
Ready-made foods range in price from very inexpensive to very expensive - as does quality. As a general rule, buy the best that you can afford but remember that this is not always the more expensive option. Much of the price of a commercial food reflects the company's expenditure on advertising and distribution - rather than quality of ingredients. Should your American Bulldog suffer from halitosis, flatulence, diarrhea or skin problems on commercial diets - you are best advised to try them on a home-cooked or raw diet instead.
