Bulldog Weight Loss Finding Healthy Alternatives to Table Scraps
What Is The Ideal Weight For An English Bulldog?
English bulldogs are stocky and dense by nature what is the ideal weight for an English Bulldog? I have known many other bulldog owners over the years as well. Many of us struggled with finding the best solution to maintain their weight. We talked with our veterinarians, done a lot of research and tried everything else we could think of. The thing that helped us the most was tracking our bulldogs weight by using an English Bulldog Weight Chart.
Why is Weight an Issue for Bulldogs?
Unlike most dogs, English Bulldogs tend to be sedentary by nature. However, it puts them at a high risk for obesity. This isnt just due to pure body fat, they are also big boned. Choosing the right diet for your dog is essential and its best to start walking it within the first week that you adopt it.
Bulldogs need a lot of nutrients once they reach adulthood to maintain their large bone mass. This is around 18 months. Most can get by with being fed their usual diet twice a day. Table scraps are bad so dont give them any of those if you can help it. However, some fruits and vegetables, such as a banana slice, a few green beans and a sliced apple can serve as treats. Treats and bones are fine as long as you dont give them too often. A treat once a day for good behavior during a walk or when theyve achieved a new good behavior is usually adequate.
How Often Should English Bulldogs Be Fed?
Puppies under four months old should be fed about four times a day, about one to three cups a day. Once they reach six months, you can cut back to three times a day. Then once they reach a year old, thats when theyre ready to start being fed twice a day. If you work outside of your home, you can try feeding them when you wake up or are about to leave and then again when you get home.
However, if feeding your dog twice a day creates bloating issues, you could try cutting it down to once a day. Another thing that you could try is portioning out their food throughout the day. If neither one works, its time to visit your local veterinarian.
Typical English Bulldog Weight Chart
Age Ideal Weight
One Five lbs
Three to Five 15-30
One-Year-Old Female 48-50
One-Year-Old Male 52-55
One way to tell if your dog is overweight is if their waists are large. Thats the one place that theyre normally slimmer. If theyre unable to scratch their ears, to stand properly, to clean themselves adequately or are unable to breathe properly, those are bad signs. The last can also lead to other health complications such as bronchitis.
Bulldogs are best weighed on kitchen scales. However, if you dont have a kitchen scale or if your dog is too big for it, you can do it on your bathroom scale. Its simple, just get on the scale holding your dog first, then weigh yourself and subtract the two.
How Can I Help My Bulldogs Weight Loss?
First, please dont feel guilty. A lot of bulldog owners often overfeed their dogs without even knowing it. Cutting their portions down is usually the first solution. The second is to walk and exercise them on a daily basis. If you just want to walk your dog twice a day, thats fine as well. Just be consistent with whatever you do.
However, do be careful not to overexert your dog. It could easily get heatstroke if you walk it in high humidity. They tire out and get dehydrated easily. The reason that bulldogs are often seen in dog-sized t-shirts or sweaters is because their bodies dont resist temperatures very well. If youre really in doubt, do your walks and outdoor exercises in mild temperatures.
If diet and exercise dont work, it could be a medical issue, such as hypothyroidism. That means that their thyroid doesnt work properly, which doesnt allow the metabolic system to function properly. If you think that something like that may be the case with your dog, its time to see your local veterinarian.
What Kind of Diet is Best for an English Bulldog?
They usually eat brands like Wellness and Blue Buffalo. One in high meat protein is usually best. Occasionally mixing scrambled eggs and carbs, such as rice or pasta, can go a long way. So can occasional pieces of cheese unless they show signs of lactose intolerance. However, goat cheese is better for them than traditional cows cheese.
Summary
The biggest challenge of owning an English Bulldog is monitoring their weight. However, the good news is that, unless its due to a health issue, its not too difficult to do. The majority do well on a well- balanced and well-portioned diet and regular exercise.
Again, however, you want to do your best not to overwhelm your dog. You dont want it to just laze around the house 24/7 but you dont want to make their routines too rigorous, either. They may have been bred for the cruel sport of bull-baiting originally but theyre not aggressive or particularly active by nature. In fact, theyre usually very sweet, loyal and friendly dogs.
In fact, they probably tend to be sedentary because they lack the energy to be as active as some other breeds. Their body structure is very unusual because theyre very stocky, have short legs, are big boned and stand very low to the ground. If you try to imagine yourself in that kind of a body, it probably would be hard to run very far without running out of breathe. It would probably also be very difficult to jump super high. Then on top of that, imagine if you couldnt easily cool down in hot temperatures or warm up in cold temperatures. You probably wouldnt want to be spending a lot of time outside, either.
Want to learn more about English Bulldogs? Check out my article on English Bulldog pet insurance.
English Bulldog Growth & Weight Chart: Everything You Need To Know
English Bulldogs are wildly popular, lovable dogs known for being Englands national dog breed! English Bulldogs are short in stature and stocky. If youre the lucky pet parent to an English Bulldog, you may be wondering exactly how large will my English Bulldog grow and when do they stop growing?
Everything you need to know about English Bulldog growth:
English Bulldog Growth & Weight Chart
The height and weight numbers in the chart below are all estimates. If your English Bulldog is slightly below or above the following numbers, dont worry! Continue to take your English Bulldog to regular veterinary appointments for personalized recommendations on food, exercise, and other recommendations for your English Bulldog puppys optimal health.
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Male English Bulldog Growth and Weight Chart
| Age | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 month | 4 - 7 lbs |
| 2 months | 9 - 12 lbs |
| 3 months | 13 - 18 lbs |
| 4 months | 18 - 24 lbs |
| 5 months | 30 - 33 lbs |
| 6 months | 33 - 37 lbs |
| 7 months | 38 - 42 lbs |
| 8 months | 42 - 45 lbs |
| 9 months | 43 - 47 lbs |
| 10 months | 45 - 48 lbs |
| 11 months | 46 - 49 lbs |
| 1 year | 51 - 55 lbs |
| 1.5 years old | 51 - 55 lbs |
| 2 years | 51 - 55 lbs |
Female English Bulldog Growth and Weight Chart
| Age | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 month | 3 - 6 lbs |
| 2 months | 7 - 10 lbs |
| 3 months | 12 - 15 lbs |
| 4 months | 18 - 22 lbs |
| 5 months | 22 - 25 lbs |
| 6 months | 26 - 30 lbs |
| 7 months | 30 - 33 lbs |
| 8 months | 33 - 36 lbs |
| 9 months | 35 - 37 lbs |
| 10 months | 35 - 38 lbs |
| 11 months | 37 - 40 lbs |
| 1 year | 40 - 44 lbs |
| 1.5 years old | 40 - 44 lbs |
| 2 years | 40 - 44 lbs |
At what age is an English Bulldog fully grown?
English Bulldogs will rarely grow taller after theyre a year old but may continue filling out in chest size and increase in weight until theyre about two years old. A full-grown male English Bulldog weighs about 50 to 55 pounds and stands 14 to 16 inches tall. A full-grown female English Bulldog weighs about ten pounds less at 40 to 44 pounds and stands at 12 to 14 inches tall.
(Image Source: Canva)
How big should a 6-month-old English Bulldog be?
According to Care.com, puppies reach about 75% of their adult height at six months old. This will be around 10-13 inches tall for a male English Bulldog and approximately 9-11 inches tall for a female English Bulldog.
As for weight, a 6-month-old male English Bulldog will weigh about 33 to 37 pounds, while a 6-month-old female English Bulldog will weigh around 26 to 33 pounds.
Pro Tip: Check out this ultimate pet parent guide that details 39 dog care tips on health, puppy-proofing practices, training, dog safety, and more!
How much bigger will my English Bulldog get?
The English Bulldog growth and weight chart above can give you an estimate of your English Bulldogs full size, but this will vary per dog. If your English Bulldog is over two years old, they are probably fully grown. Any additional weight they put on may be excess and should be discussed with your veterinarian.
An English Bulldogs paws can reveal a lot about their final size. Take a look at your English Bulldogs paws compared to their legs and body size. Do their paws look big next to the rest of their body? They may still have room to grow as this is a classic puppy feature!
Lastly, if you purchased your English Bulldog through a breeder, reach out to them about your English Bulldogs expected weight and height. Your English Bulldogs parents and their previous litters should provide plenty of information for your breeder to give you a more precise figure for your puppys estimated adult size. A dog rarely grows to be larger than their parents, so this will provide you with a general idea of their final adult size.
What is the size of a full-grown English Bulldog?
According to the Bulldog Club of America Bulldog Standards, an English Bulldog should appear stocky but symmetrical with no excessively prominent features.
English Bulldogs are especially prone to gaining extra weight and may exceed these weight estimates. If your English Bulldog weighs more than these full-grown figures, consult with your veterinarian about your English Bulldogs ideal weight at his or her next vet appointment. If your pup is a bit overweight (or underweight), dont worry! Your veterinarian will be happy to discuss food type, quantity, frequency of feedings, and treats to get your English Bulldog back to their ideal weight.
(Image Source: Canva)
How do I make sure my English Bulldog is healthy?
English Bulldogs may require extra attention due to some genetic health problems that are common for the breed. For example, English Bulldogs will require regular at-home baths, this cleaning is specifically to prevent infections under their skin folds. English Bulldogs are also highly prone to putting on excess weight, which is detrimental to their health.
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimates that 55.8% of dogs are classified as overweight or obese, leading to rising numbers of weight-related disorders like type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis in dogs across the country. A healthy diet and exercise are essential to maintain a healthy weight due to the English Bulldogs propensity to gain excess weight.
English Bulldogs also have brachycephalic syndrome, this condition just means that their airways, specifically in their nose, are shorter than the average dog which gives them their squished nose look. The English Bulldog is one of the most severely affected dog breeds and brachycephalic syndrome can lead to difficulty breathing, respiratory distress, heatstroke, and difficulty exercising due to their breathing restrictions. All of this can make weight loss even more difficult for the English Bulldog breed. Because your English Bulldog may have a harder time breathing than other dogs, your vet can recommend safe ways to allow them to exercise and enjoy life without getting overheated. If your pup has a particularly bad case and has difficulty breathing even when not exercising, you can talk to your veterinarian about surgery for Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome which is a common procedure done to help English Bulldogs and other brachycephalic dog breeds, like pugs, breath more easily.
Taking your English Bulldog to regular veterinary appointments to keep them healthy and happy is one of the best things you can do for them! Not only can your veterinarian provide personalized advice to keep your pup healthy, but they can screen for common English Bulldog health problems, like skin infections, hip and knee problems. Preventive veterinary care is necessary for your English Bulldogs lifelong welfare to make sure they can live a long, joyful life with you and your family.
Unfortunately, veterinary care can be pricey. Veterinarian treatments for health issues, like hip and knee problems, can easily cost thousands of dollars. Treating medical issues, like accidents or sudden illnesses, can be expensive, but this should never be the deciding factor in treating your English Bulldog.
95% of pet parents consider their dogs part of the family, and doing the right thing for your English Bulldog should never be limited by treatment costs. Pet insurance reimburses you up to 90% of your veterinary bills over a pets lifetime so that you can focus on whats truly important, your English Bulldogs wellbeing and happiness!
Final Considerations
As pet parents, we do our part by providing quality food, exercise, and care at home, but we also need to take our dogs in for regular veterinary appointments. A professional can provide you with personalized recommendations for your dog, as well as testing to detect any health issues early on. Prevention and early detection are vital in keeping our dogs healthy and happy!
English Bulldog puppies grow into silly, lovable, and wrinkly dogs with a lot of personality. Compare and enroll in a top English Bulldog insurance plan here and gain the peace of mind that you'll always be able to do the right ting for your pet. At Pawlicy Advisor, we always want the health care decisions you make for your pet to be based on what you and your veterinarian think is best for them rather than being limited by financial restrictions.
