Chicken is one of those things that divides bulldog owners. Half the breed can eat it just fine; the others have debilitating symptoms that their pet parents more often than not need to clean up. But… why can’t bulldogs eat chicken? What happens when they do? It’s time that we found out.
Can bulldogs eat chicken?
There isn’t a hard-and-fast rule against bulldogs eating chicken, but many bulldog parents report that their four-pawed friends get odd, vague symptoms after eating it, that can’t be attributed to something else, such as an underlying medical condition.
Chicken is actually super healthy and good for bulldogs… in theory.
The meat contains a whole host of different vitamins and minerals, according to PetMD. These include:
- Protein
- Zinc
- Vitamin B3
- Vitamin B6
In practice, however, you might find that the high-protein food leaves your pup with lots of scratching, excessive licking, red raw spots on their body, and more – all of which are signs and symptoms of canine atopic dermatitis, also known as canine eczema.
It all starts with an allergen, such as chicken, and then your bulldog’s immune system overreacts on an enormous scale, causing unpleasant and unsightly side effects and symptoms. It’s just one of the issues that English bulldogs are known for, unfortunately.
Why can’t bulldogs eat chicken?
George the bulldog couldn’t eat chicken because it made his skin super itchy. He would scratch himself until he was red raw, and that’s not all. He would lick the skin between his paws until they bled, scratch his face until he was covered in scabs, and the poor guy would have a super sensitive tummy for days.
It didn’t take us long to work out the link between eating chicken and all of the above symptoms, and we didn’t need veterinary tests to tell us what was causing the issues. When we took chicken out of George’s diet, the symptoms went away. As soon as chicken was reintroduced to his diet, the symptoms would start back up again.
For that reason, we eliminated chicken from George’s diet permanently. And then, when we lost George over the rainbow bridge and adopted Frank the bulldog, we made a conscious effort not to feed him chicken at all.
He has been slipped the odd piece of cooked chicken by uneducated guests, and the obvious happened: he had all the symptoms that George had after eating chicken.
There might not be a rule against feeding bulldogs chicken, but more bully doggos seem to have an issue with it, than not.
Recommended reading: Bulldog Eczema: The Pet Parents Guide.
What should I feed my bulldog instead of chicken?
The good news is there are plenty of alternatives to chicken that won’t leave your bulldog with stomach upsets, skin issues, or other uncomfortable symptoms.
Your vet will likely recommend that you try the following:
- Beef
- Lamb
- Turkey
- Fish
Make sure you check the ingredients of kibble and wet food. If it says chicken, avoid the food and try another one.
FAQ
Are bulldogs sensitive to chicken?
Yes, bulldogs can be sensitive to chicken. Some are, but some aren’t. If you feed your bulldog food with chicken in it (or chicken cooked for human consumption) and they start displaying odd, unusual, or new symptoms, stop giving them chicken and choose something else instead.
What are symptoms of chicken allergy in bulldogs?
If your bully has an allergy to chicken or are triggered by it, you are likely to see excessive scratching, licking, pacing, or whining. Chicken can give some bulldogs an upset stomach, causing vomiting and diarrhoea. Decreasing interest in food, drink, toys, walks, and other favourite activities is also a sign that there’s something not quite right with your four-legged friend. If in doubt, seek advice from a vet.
Bulldogs and chicken: summary
In short, bulldogs tend to suffer from a lot of allergies. Chicken is a common trigger for many bulldogs, so the two, hand-in-hand, means that your bulldog either can eat chicken… or can’t. It’s one or the other, and the only way to find out is to a) consult your veterinarian, and b) try them with a bit of chicken.
Unfortunately, if you attempt the latter and your bully has a chicken allergy, you’ll put your bulldog through some very unpleasant symptoms, just to prove a point.
Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out Planet Bulldog today! We’ve loved having you here, and we hope that you stop by again.