DIET AND ALLERGIES

Feeding Guidelines

We strongly recommend keeping your puppy on the food we send home. The only times you should change their food are if there is an issue or when they are ready to transition to an adult formula. If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.

We have spent the last 14 years trying many different puppy kibble formulas and have found this one to work best for this breed. Many puppy foods are too rich and can be hard on their stomachs, often causing soft stools and digestive upset. The food your puppy is currently on has consistently given us the best results.

Please do not switch foods because your frenchie seems “picky.” Trust us they will eat. If needed, try soaking the kibble in warm water for about 20 minutes; this usually does the trick. Changing foods due to picky behavior can teach them to hold out for something new, which Frenchies are notorious for. This often leads to lifelong feeding struggles and frequent diarrhea.

If a food change is truly necessary, always transition gradually.

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Diet & Feeding Habits

Keep your Frenchie’s diet simple and avoid high-fat table scraps. Dogs do not process fat the way we do, and high-fat foods can lead to pancreatitis (especially important to remember around Thanksgiving and Christmas).

We also recommend separating eating and drinking by a few hours. When Frenchies eat and drink too close together, the water can cause the kibble to expand further in their stomach, leading to vomiting and abdominal distension.

If your puppy eats too quickly, use a slow feeder. Fast eating can cause gas, stomach pain, and vomiting. We highly recommend supervising every feeding. Frenchies are known for inhaling their food, and if they choke, you want to be right there to help.

Frenchies are also notorious for overdoing it with both food and water. Monitor them closely and cut them off if you notice their belly becoming overly distended. If allowed, they will not stop on their own.

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Allergies & Food Sensitivities

When transitioning to adult food, we recommend avoiding chicken. Chicken isn’t harmful for puppies, but as Frenchies mature, many develop sensitivities or allergies to chicken protein and certain fillers. Some kibble formulations can also increase yeast production.

A daily probiotic can be very helpful. One tablespoon of full-fat, plain kefir is an excellent option and can be found at most grocery stores.

Always try to address the root cause of allergies before turning to medications like Apoquel or Cytopoint. Most allergies can be managed through diet changes. Acana Beef & Pumpkin (limited ingredient) has worked well for some of our dogs.

For Frenchies that continue to struggle despite multiple kibble trials, a properly balanced raw diet can be very effective. You can purchase premade raw food..

  •    vivarawpets.com

    •    bestdamndogfood.com (owned by close friends of ours)

If allergy medication becomes necessary, please wait until your dog is at least 1.5 years old. Starting these medications too young can interfere with immune development, worsen allergies long-term, and create dependency. These medications are not ideal for lifelong use, so dietary changes should always be tried first.

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Yeast Management

Frenchies tend to produce more yeast than many other breeds. Yeast is typically brown in color and commonly appears in the ears, between the toes, and in the armpits. Daily use of chlorhexidine wipes on affected areas can help eliminate yeast buildup and significantly reduce itching.

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Treats

We recommend single-ingredient treats such as freeze-dried minnows, lamb lung, beef tripe, or other single-protein options. Vital Essentials offers some high-quality freeze-dried treats we like.

Keep treats nutritious, plain, and simple. Treats with multiple ingredients can wreak havoc on Frenchie stomachs.