French Bulldogs are playful and affectionate pups with quirky personalities. Despite their bubbly nature, they can be prone to health conditions that can impact their quality of life, like skin allergies, weight gain, musculoskeletal conditions, and sensitive stomachs.  

All pup parents want to ensure their dogs live long, healthy, and happy lives. The secret to unlocking their full potential? What’s in their bowl.  

That’s where real food comes in. 

Real food meals (like Lyka), with the right balance of high-quality protein, healthy fats, and fresh ingredients, can significantly improve their overall wellbeing. 

Whether you’re looking for natural ways to address skin issues, maintain a healthy weight, support musculoskeletal health, or improve digestion, real food for your Frenchie can make a significant difference. 

Health issue #1 — skin allergies and itchiness

Skin allergies can be a common concern for French Bulldogs, and are often triggered by food, or environmental factors, like grass or pollen.  

Common signs of skin allergies (atopic dermatitis): 

• Red and itchy skin (pruritus) 

• Inflammation 

• Recurring ear infections 

• Hives 

• Incessant licking or grooming 

• Chewing their paws 

When a French Bulldog has contact with an allergen, it triggers their immune system which releases histamines to defend their body against the attack. It’s the histamines that cause the red, itchy and inflamed skin.  

Although food intolerances don’t trigger an immune response, they can cause similar skin irritations to food allergies. The way to address an allergy or an intolerance begins by removing the trigger.  

If your pup has a suspected food sensitivity, an elimination diet is the gold standard method to identify the problematic ingredient, and your vet may also recommend a hypoallergenic diet.  

Lyka’s Hypoallergenic Pro is a fresh therapeutic diet for dogs with food allergies, skin conditions, and gut sensitivities. It’s formulated with goat, which is a unique single novel protein – ideal for elimination diets and suitable for long-term feeding. 

Environmental allergies can be harder to address, especially if the trigger is pollen, grass, or another contact allergen. A thorough wipe down after exercise can minimise seasonal allergies.  

Research has shown that even in dogs with environmental allergies, food can lead to skin irritation: this is where a fresh food diet could help.  

The gut microbiome plays a vital role in a dog’s immune system, which is connected to allergy treatment. An easy way to nourish good gut bacteria is with a real food diet containing prebiotic fibre from fresh vegetables. 

Lyka meals are bursting with fresh ingredients to nourish dogs from the inside out, strengthening their immune defence and skin resilience: 

🐟 Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) and vitamin E to boost skin and coat health. 
💚 Spirulina is a powerful antioxidant and superfood, shown to reduce allergic inflammation. 
🍄 Shiitake mushrooms are bioactive foods that support your dog’s immune response. 

Read more: Dog skin allergies: triggers, symptoms and itch relief treatment →

Health issue #2 — Musculoskeletal issues: hip dysplasia, arthritis, and IVDD 

French Bulldogs can be susceptible to joint issues and intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) — painful conditions that can affect their mobility and feelings of wellbeing. 

Hip dysplasia 

Hip dysplasia is a common genetic disease, causing problems in a dog’s back legs. The abnormal development of the hip socket means the hip ball can easily slide out of place (dislocation). In some cases, hip dysplasia can lead to arthritis, as the body tries to compensate for the unstable joint. 

Although hip dysplasia can be hereditary, it can also occur when puppies grow too fast, because of excess calcium in their diet. 

Read more: Hip dysplasia: how can your dog's diet help? →

Arthritis 

Arthritis is caused by the deterioration of cartilage and synovial fluid, which normally prevents the joint bones from grinding against each other. Some dogs may also experience the growth of bone spurs. The result is inflammation and impaired movement. 

Arthritis is linked to a dog’s genetics, with some breeds being more prone to developing it than others. It’s not just an age-related health problem for French Bulldogs: it can be caused by injury, disease, or repeated stress.  

Read more: Arthritis in dogs: tips to naturally help your pup's sore joints →

IVDD 

Intervertebral disc disease happens when the cushioning disc between a dog’s vertebrae bulges (herniates) or ruptures. In human terms, it’s informally known as a slipped disc. IVDD is very painful, causing immobility and paralysis in some cases, but it can also have an impact on their ability to posture to urinate or defecate.  

The risk of developing IVDD can be increased through injury, excess weight, and repeated strain from jumping on furniture or navigating stairs.  

For pups like French Bulldogs, prevention is key. 

Although you can’t change your dog’s genetics, you can protect them from stress and injury, giving them a real food diet to support joint health. Anti-inflammatory foods are a great place to start and should contain the optimal ratio of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). 

AAFCO recommends an omega-6 to omega-3 limit of 30:1 — a high ratio that can trigger inflammation. Lyka meals contain a lower ratio between 2:1 and 3.8:1, to maximise the benefits of both fatty acids. 

All Lyka meals contain fish oil (full of EFAs!) to support common musculoskeletal ailments in French Bulldogs. We use a variety of vegetables and plant superfoods, rich in antioxidants and phytochemicals, to protect joints and joint fluid. These include: 

🥥 Coconut which is full of potent antioxidant properties to support supple joints and relieve inflammation. 
🌱 Fennel seeds — an anti-inflammatory superfood, supported by human research demonstrating its potential aid in managing conditions such as arthritis. 
🧡 Turmeric, containing the active ingredient curcumin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects to fight chronic inflammation and arthritis symptoms. 

Health issue #3 — Overweight or obesity 

Excess weight can put unnecessary strain on your dog’s health, including their joints, vital organs, and immune system. For small brachycephalic pups like French Bulldogs, being overweight can seriously impact their breathing too.  

As dog parents, we're very familiar with the cheese tax, but too many treats or free-feeding can cause weight gain. A helpful rule of thumb is to remember that treats shouldn’t exceed 10% of their daily caloric needs.  

Help your dog maintain a healthy body condition with custom-portioned, real food diets, like Lyka: 

🐔 High-protein, low carbohydrate meals: Made with 100% human-grade protein like grass-fed beef and free-range chicken. Protein is an excellent source of energy (without the glucose spikes), builds tissue, and helps your pup to feel fuller for longer.  
🍠 Made with low glycaemic load carbohydrates: Lyka meals contain low-GI carbohydrates like purple sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and carrots for their nutritional benefits and slow-release energy. 
🥩 Single protein treats: Lyka’s single protein treats are one of the healthiest options for your dog – they don’t contain any other ingredients like flavours, preservatives or carbohydrates that can add to weight gain. 

Read more: Help your overweight or obese dog: actionable expert tips →

Health issue #4 — Sensitive stomachs 

French Bulldogs are known to suffer from digestive issues, like sensitive stomachs which can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, gassiness, or constipation – unpleasant for both pup and parent. 

Digestive problems are one of the most common reasons to visit the vet and can be triggered by food sensitivities, infections, or an imbalanced microbiome. It can also be a sign of chronic enteropathy: a broad diagnosis for long-term symptoms of gut issues with no known cause.  

If they’ve ingested something that doesn’t agree with them, or they’ve picked up a pathogen, their body will try to purge the problem. You can tell a lot about a dog’s health just by looking at their vomit and poo, but it’s always best to speak to a vet if your dog is showing any signs of illness. 

A healthy pup has a robust and balanced microbiome that digests food effectively and supports a strong immune response. An imbalanced gut microbiome can lead to digestive issues. Likewise, an upset tummy can impact the bacterial balance in the gut.  

Maintaining your French Bulldog’s gut health or restoring it after illness is central to their wellbeing and can prevent secondary illnesses.  

The secret to good digestion is real food that supports gut health.  

Each Lyka meal contains bioavailable ingredients including high-quality proteins and fresh vegetables, gently cooked so they’re easy on the stomach.  

🥦 Prebiotic fibre: Lyka meals contain soluble and insoluble fibre from vegetables like broccoli, kale, spinach, carrots and cabbage, to nourish good gut bacteria and promote healthy bowel movements.  
🐟 Omega-3 fatty acids: meals enriched with omega-3 from fish and fish oil may reduce intestinal inflammation, leading to more settled stomachs.  
✅ Free from pro-inflammatory ingredients: dogs with gut issues may be intolerant to ingredients like wheat, corn, soy, dairy, and lectins. Lyka avoids these pro-inflammatory ingredients that can irritate the gut and may contribute to chronic enteropathy. 

Read more: Sensitive stomachs in dogs: how to relieve your pup's discomfort →

Why choose Lyka for your French Bulldog? 

Developed by board-certified nutritionists alongside Co-founder and Integrative Veterinarian, Dr Matthew Muir, Lyka meals are made with fresh, real food ingredients to boost your pup’s skin and coat, and support musculoskeletal health, good digestion, and body condition.  

Is your French Bulldog ready to feel the difference?