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''Happiness equals health, health equals happiness''
''WE STRIVE TO HAVE BOTH''
We understand that different dogs will have different nutritional needs throughout their life and may require their own nutritional meal plan. BEAU BELLE BULLDOGS realizes there are many different food options available on the market from dry kibble, lightly cooked, raw, and freeze dried raw are all readily available in pet stores. BEAU BELLE BULLDOGS strongly encourages a complete, balanced whole food diet in its most natural form.
When it comes to nutrition, no matter what species you are, there is always a diet that is most appropriate and naturally provided within their habitat. We all have a whole food diet readily available to eat, whether the land provides it, animals hunt it, people grow it or we raise it. Every being on this earth can survive and thrive without processed food.
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Dogs are descendent from the grey wolf, the wolves diet consists of primarily a carnivorous diet from the prey they catch. They receive most of their nutrients from eating meat, bones, and organs. They will also eat plant material, berries, and grasses.
Below you will learn the reasons why we choose to provide our dogs with a balanced BARF (Biologically appropriate raw foods) diet and get an inside look at our meal plan. BEAU BELLE BULLDOGS has had great success in the overall condition and health of our dogs by feeding a BARF diet, however we strongly encourage everyone to do their own research and choose a diet that they are most comfortable feeding.
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The following are the differences we have personally noticed in our dogs, along with other reasons why we feed BARF.
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Cleaner teeth and better smelling breath.
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Healthy coat that is shinier and more vibrant in colour.
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Less dehydration. They don’t need to drink as much water, dry kibble makes dogs really thirsty as dry food needs to soak up a lot of water during digestion, this can lead to dehydration which can cause diarrhea.
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Fewer potty breaks. Drinking less water results in less accidents when potty training because puppies don’t have to relive their bladders as often. They also have dryer nights in their crates.
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Puppies don't get belly bloat. Belly bloat can be very uncomfortable after they eat dry food as they will drink a lot of water and the food in their tummies will expand.
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Healthier skin, decreasing hair loss and itchiness, with less allergy reactions.
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Better digestive systems.
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Much smaller and less frequent stools, poops are a quarter of the size as kibble poops because they don’t contain so much filler and the dogs only poop once, maybe twice a day. They are also easy to pick up, they don’t turn to a pile of mush in your yard and break down very fast without taking up so much room in your poop bucket or compost.
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Less allergies, finding the allergy source is a lot easier to detect on a barf diet. The process of elimination in finding the culprit is a lot easier when you’re only dealing with a few whole ingredients, rather than switching from bags of kibble only to make the dogs allergies and digestion worse as changing their diet takes a large toll not only on their digestion but on their overall health. Finding the allergy in dry kibble can be a nightmare for you and very stressful to your French bulldog with a lot of money wasted in bags of food, time, and vet bills.
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Lean, strong muscles.
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Stronger immune system.
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Less trips to the vet.
We love having the comfort of knowing exactly what our dog’s are eating in real whole food forms, no fillers, no by-products, no recall worries.
Feeding barf also works out to be a lot less money (as long as you’re doing it yourself and not buying pre packaged) Especially for us feeding multiple dogs in our home. Bags of kibble can cost up to almost $200 a bag that may last you a month. It costs us $60 to feed one French bulldog a completely balanced diet with everything they need and more for a month.
ALWAYS remember to exercise and play with your dog prior to feedings and feed a minimum of 2 meals a day. Do not feed 1 large meal a day. After your puppy or dog has eaten let them nap. Dogs need time to REST after every meal. If a dog is active after eating, running, and jumping, they are at higher risk of twisting their stomachs. Picture holding a zip lock bag at each end with the bag ¾ full of water and food. Now flip the bag up and over your fingers, that’s a twisted stomach, and it requires immediate emergency surgery to untwist. When the stomach twists, everything in it becomes trapped and the blood supply is cut off. The stomach will start to deteriorate and compress the large vessels that return blood back to the heart and shock the circulator system.
Signs your dog has twisted their stomach,
2 – 3 hours after eating a meal they will start to show signs.
Swollen abdomen, more to one side that may be sticking out.
Non-productive vomiting (trying to vomit but nothing is coming up)
Dry heaving
Lethargy, unwilling to move, play or eat.
BEAU BELLE BULLDOGS FEEDING PLAN
This barf diet is shared by BEAU BELLE BULLDOGS to show how we feed our own personal dogs. It is up to the pet owner to further educate themselves on the risks involved before feeding raw. BEAU BELLE BULLDOGS has provided their own examples and is not responsible for any negative outcomes due to raw feeding.
BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO FEEDING RAW DOG FOOD
BEAU BELLE BULLDOGS has created a simplified guide to help pet owners understand the feeding techniques on a raw food diet. We believe feeding our dogs a healthy, natural raw dog food that will lead to a healthy lifestyle that has many benefits to our dogs.
We suggest feeding a complete balanced diet that includes muscle meat, fats, organs, raw (uncooked) bones, berries, vegetables, fish, other foods, and supplements.
Puppy Feeding Guidelines
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Puppies between 2-4 months require a raw diet that is 8-10% of their body weight, broken into 3 meals a day.
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Puppies between 4-7 months require a raw diet that is 6-8% of their body weight, broken into 3 meals a day.
Or feed puppies 2-3% of their predicted adult weight split between 3 meals a day. An adult French bulldog’s max weight is 28 pounds.
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Puppies between 7-12 months require a raw diet that is 4-6% of their body weight, broken into 2 meals a day.
Always look at your dog’s physical condition to see how they are doing with the feeding amounts. They are the one true barometer for feeding percentages. If they are very active and looking too slim you will need to increase the amount of food given at each meal. During the puppy stage you always want a nice round belly on them, with an indentation where the belly meets the hip. If there’s a dip inward right after the last rib, they are under weight. If they are gaining too much weight, maybe they are inactive, or getting older, you need to decrease the amount of food. Overweight you won’t be able to see the transition where the belly meets the hip, and they will look like a little potato.
If you are not sure, please take photos or video and send to us for a weight evaluation and we will guide you on changes you can make.
Adult Dogs:
Adult dogs who are over a year old require a raw diet that is between 2-3% of their body weight, broken into 2 meals a day.
Again... always monitor your dog’s physical condition to see how they are doing with the feeding amounts. Active dogs may require 3%+ of their average body weight daily. If your dog is inactive, and/or overweight, start feeding 2% of their current body weight daily, decrease if needed until they reach their ideal weight. If your dog is at its ideal weight and has a normal activity level, then start by feeding them 2.5% of their body weight daily. Every dog is going to be different, there isn’t a set amount given for feeding raw or dry food. It is up to the owner to feed the puppy/dog according to its age and lifestyle to maintain appropriate physical shape. A growing French bulldog needs a balanced diet for growing strong bones and building muscle. An adult dog only requires maintenance, obesity in French bulldogs not only takes a toll on their overall health, but it is also very hard on all their joints and especially their backs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS TO FEEDING RAW DOG FOOD
HOW DO I START FEEDING RAW?
Find a local raw dog food supplier. Some local butchers offer a dog meat, bone, organ mix. You can purchase retail raw food at local pet stores, it is the most expensive way, but it is more conveniently packaged. Buying from a butcher is like buying wholesale in bulk amounts. You will most likely have to do some meal prep to make feedings more convenient and you will need a kitchen scale to weigh your portion amounts.
HOW DO I SWITCH FROM KIBBLE TO RAW?
Adult: Fast your dog for 24 hours, allow drinking water. This clears the digestive track since kibble and raw are digested differently by the dog’s digestive system. Add 1 tablespoon of canned pumpkin (not pie mix) at ever meal to avoid diarrhea for the first week.
Puppy: Start the puppy on half the amount of the recommended % of food for their body weight and type. Serve with 1 tablespoon of canned pumpkin with each meal. Increase the amount of raw to the full recommended % after a few days with normal stools. Use the full can of pumpkin during the transition, then discontinue. Pumpkin helps prevent diarrhea with any change in digestion. Bring back pumpkin if needed, taper off use until stools are firm.
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE THE RAW FOOD?
Thaw the frozen food in your fridge and not at room temperature. This will lower the risk of bacteria growth and extend the length of time it can be kept in the fridge. Remove the quantity you need from the freezer and allow 8-12 hours for thawing. Meat can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME FEEDING RAW. WHAT SHOULD I START WITH?
We recommend starting with turkey, lamb, or beef blend. French bulldogs have been known to develop chicken allergies. Start with one type of protein, feed only one protein for one month. If no signs of allergies slowly add a second protein such as turkey. Feed only beef and turkey for one month before adding anything new. Then you can try adding another one, repeat the process with any additional proteins. If signs of allergies, discontinue feeding the last one you added.
HOW DO I MEAL PREP TO MAKE FEEDINGS MORE CONVEINENT?
We use small deli soup containers with lids from Amazon. We portion out each meal into the bowls in breakfast and dinner options, then freeze. For example, our breakfast bowl might look like this,
Breakfast:
Meat, bone, organ mix of choice
Quail egg
Antioxidant berries – blueberries, blackberries, apples/apple sauce
Coconut oil
Goats milk
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Dinner:
Meat, bone, organ mix of choice (can be different than breakfast or the same)
Sardine
Veggies – carrot, green beans, peas
Green tripe
Bone broth
WHAT ARE SIGNS OF FOOD ALLERGIES?
Redness on face, in ears, between toes, and in armpits.
Itchiness, scratching at ears, licking paws, rubbing on the floor.
Hair loss around the mouth, nose, and eyes.
Upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea.
WHY SHOULD I FEED MY DOG RAW FOOD?
Cleaner teeth and better smelling breath.
Provides a healthy coat that it shinier and more vibrant in colour.
Drink a lot less water. (Kibble increases dehydration making dogs drink a lot more)
Fewer potty breaks from drinking less water, less accidents when potty training and puppies can hold it longer.
Healthier skin, decreasing hair loss and itchiness.
Less chance of arthritis and bone disease
Better digestive systems
Smaller, less frequent stools that are easy to pick up and break down very fast in compost.
Less allergies
Lean, strong muscles.
Stronger immune system
Less trips to the vet
Knowing exactly what your dog is eating in real whole food forms, no fillers, no by-products, no recall worries.
IS IT OKAY FOR MY DOG TO EAT BONE?
Yes, ONLY RAW bones. Raw bones are very soft and easily digested. Raw bones provide many benefits for a dog’s overall health. DO NOT FEED COOKED BONES. It is when bones are cooked, that they become brittle and splinter easily, potentially get stuck or puncturing, causing damage and potential death.
HOW MUCH TO FEED YOUR FRENCH BULLDOG
90% muscle meat, bone, organ mix: beef, turkey, lamb, rabbit, kangaroo (avoid chicken (allergies) and pork products)
5% fruit (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, apples (no seeds), banana.
5% Veggies (carrots, celery, green beans, peas, spinach,) feed 10% of diet a day.
ADD ON TOPPERS
Quail eggs: feed one up to 4-5 times a week. You don’t need to give one every day.
Sardines: feed one full sardine 3-4 times a week.
Coconut oil: ¼ teaspoon for puppies under 6 months, ½ teaspoon for puppies under a year, 1 teaspoon for adults.
Bone broth: 1 ounce for every 10 pounds of body weight.
Goats milk: 1 ounce for every 10 pounds of body weight.
DANGEROUS FOODS TO NEVER FEED YOUR DOG
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grapes, raisins
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Chocolate
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Salmon
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Onions, tomatoes, garlic, leeks, and chives
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Artificial sweetener (xylitol) in gum and mints, Toothpaste, Mouthwash, Peanut butter, Sugar-free candy, Sugar free breath mints, Fruit drinks, Jellies and jams, Cereals, Baked goods, Sugar-free puddings, and Jell-O, Over the counter vitamin supplements.
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Corn on the cob
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Cooked bones
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Avocado
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Macadamia and walnuts
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Cherry, peach, plum pits
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Alcohol
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Caffeine, coffee grounds
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Nutmeg
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Mouldy food
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Blue cheese
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Apple seeds
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Mold
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Mushrooms
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Mustard seeds
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Uncooked potatoes including skins.
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Tea
