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A French Bulldog’s flat face makes mealtime messier than it is for most breeds, so a bowl that suits the dog is worth a few minutes of thought. This page covers what to check before you buy and five bowls we found on Amazon. They are described from the listings; we have not tested them.
One point first, because many bowl pages get it wrong: raised bowls are not the safe default they were once thought to be. The next section explains why, and which of the bowls below it affects.
Nothing here is veterinary advice. If your dog coughs, gags or struggles to breathe while eating, talk to your vet before changing the bowl.
Raised Bowls: Check With Your Vet First
The American Kennel Club says some studies have shown that elevated dog bowls “can lead to an increased risk of bloat, a serious condition that can be fatal”, and advises asking your vet if you think your dog’s health condition would benefit from one. PetMD says “elevated feeding bowls may increase the risk of GDV and should be avoided”, and PDSA says earlier advice to feed at-risk dogs from a raised bowl “has now been shown to increase the risk of a GDV”.
The AKC bloat article describes the evidence as conflicting and says a solid recommendation can’t be made. Bloat (GDV) is an emergency, so we suggest the floor as the default and a raised bowl only if your vet recommends one. Three of the bowls below are raised (PETKIT, Neater Feeder, Pet Zone); the other two are slanted floor bowls.
Slowing Down A Fast Eater
The AKC bloat article says fast eaters have five times the bloat risk of slow eaters. The AKC’s bowl guide says slow-feed bowls have raised ridges that “prevent dogs from eating too quickly”, and PDSA suggests a slow-feeding bowl or scatter feeding for a dog that eats very quickly. Feeding several small meals a day instead of one large one is another PDSA tip.
Five Bowls To Consider
Enhanced Pet Bowl, Stainless Steel Slanted Bowl
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A slanted floor bowl in stainless steel with a raised ridge. The listing says it is made for flat-faced breeds. The listing also claims less gas and better digestion; we found no veterinary source for that, so treat it as the maker’s claim. According to the American Kennel Club, stainless steel is the most durable bowl material and is dishwasher-safe.
iBard Dual Purpose Slanted Dog Food Bowl
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A slanted bowl on the floor. The listing is a dual-purpose dog and cat bowl, so check the size and the cleaning instructions on Amazon before you order.
PETKIT Raised Stainless Steel Bowls
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A raised, tilted food and water set in 304 stainless steel with a non-slip base. This is a raised bowl: see the section above and ask your vet.
Neater Feeder Express
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A raised stainless-steel food and water set with a spill-catching tray. The listing is for small breeds under 15 lb (about 7 kg), so weigh your dog against the maker’s limit first. This is also a raised bowl.
Pet Zone Designer Diner
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A stand with three height settings and two stainless-steel bowls of 7 US cups each (about 1.6 litres). It can be set low, but it is a raised system, so the same advice applies.
What To Check Before You Buy
Material
The American Kennel Club lists stainless steel, ceramic, plastic and silicone as the common bowl materials. It calls stainless steel the most durable, easy to clean and dishwasher-safe; ceramic heavy but chip-prone and not always dishwasher-safe; and plastic inexpensive but, if it isn’t food-safe, possibly harmful.
Size and depth
Pick a bowl that fits your dog’s face and meal size and that is stable enough not to slide. We found no vet source that sets a depth rule for Frenchies, so if your dog struggles to reach food, ask your vet rather than guessing. Our page on special bowls for French Bulldogs goes further.
Water
PDSA advises a dog to drink little and often rather than a lot at once, and never to withhold water. A second bowl or an automatic water bowl can help; for outings see travel food bowls.
Common Questions
Do French Bulldogs need a special bowl?
We did not find a veterinary source saying they do. Flat-faced dogs can have breathing and eating problems, so if yours coughs, gags or struggles at meals, see your vet.
Are raised bowls bad for French Bulldogs?
The AKC, PDSA and PetMD pages above link raised bowls with a higher bloat risk in dogs generally, and the AKC calls the evidence conflicting. Ask your vet before choosing one.
Do stainless steel bowls rust?
We did not find a primary source on rust. The AKC says stainless steel bowls are durable, easy to clean, dishwasher-safe and don’t leach chemicals.
How do I clean a stainless steel bowl?
The AKC says stainless steel bowls are dishwasher-safe, so the dishwasher is the easy option; check the maker’s instructions for the bowl you buy.
The Bottom Line
For most Frenchies a stable stainless-steel bowl on the floor, or a slow-feed bowl for a fast eater, is the simple choice. Treat raised bowls as something to discuss with your vet first. More on feeding: best dog foods for French Bulldogs and bulldog food bowls.
DogFluffy.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. While we provide information resources and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance.
