The scores
Royal Canin Bulldog: C (58/100) — Average. Brewers rice, oat groats, and brown rice fill the top positions, with chicken by-product meal at #3 and wheat gluten at #5.
Blue Buffalo: B (78/100) — Above average. Deboned chicken leads, backed by chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, and barley. Two real protein sources in the top five.
A full grade-tier gap separates these foods. For Bulldogs — a breed where food allergies and skin inflammation are among the most common health complaints — what goes into the bowl has outsized consequences.
How the ingredients compare
Royal Canin Bulldog: Brewers Rice, Oat Groats, Chicken By-Product Meal, Brown Rice, Wheat Gluten
Blue Buffalo: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley
Royal Canin puts two grains before any animal protein, with chicken by-product meal arriving at #3. Wheat gluten at #5 is particularly concerning for Bulldogs — wheat is one of the most common food allergens in dogs, and Bulldogs are among the breeds most susceptible to food sensitivities. Using wheat gluten in a breed-specific formula for an allergy-prone breed is a puzzling formulation choice.
Blue Buffalo leads with deboned chicken (whole muscle meat) and chicken meal (concentrated protein), then uses whole grains that provide more nutritional complexity than processed rice and oat by-products. Blue Buffalo also includes real fruits, vegetables, and its LifeSource Bits antioxidant blend — none of which appear in the Royal Canin formula.
Where Blue Buffalo pulls ahead
No wheat, no gluten fillers: Blue Buffalo contains no wheat, no wheat gluten, and no corn gluten meal. For Bulldogs with food sensitivities — which is a significant percentage of the breed — eliminating common allergens from the base diet is one of the most impactful changes an owner can make. Royal Canin includes wheat gluten despite marketing specifically to Bulldog owners.
Real chicken first: Deboned chicken as #1 and chicken meal as #2 deliver two named, high-quality animal protein sources before any grain appears. Royal Canin’s only protein in the top five is chicken by-product meal — a generic category that includes heads, feet, and intestines.
Whole food antioxidants: Blue Buffalo includes blueberries, cranberries, and carrots for natural antioxidant support. Bulldogs are prone to oxidative stress from their chronic skin inflammation, and whole food antioxidants support the immune system in ways synthetic supplements alone cannot. Shop on Amazon →
Where Royal Canin Bulldog holds its own
The Bulldog formula includes pork meal and egg product as additional protein sources beyond chicken by-product meal, adding digestive variety. L-tyrosine supports skin health, and glucosamine and chondroitin support joints in a breed built low and heavy with significant skeletal stress. The kibble is designed for a Bulldog’s brachycephalic (flat-faced) jaw.
Hydrolyzed yeast may support digestive health, and the formula’s protein sources are spread across chicken, pork, and egg — diversifying the amino acid profile. These are legitimate formulation considerations for Bulldog health.
If your vet has recommended Royal Canin specifically for a diagnosed condition, that guidance carries weight. But for general feeding of a healthy Bulldog, the ingredient quality gap favors Blue Buffalo. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
Blue Buffalo provides better ingredient quality across the board — real chicken first, no wheat gluten, whole food nutrition — at B/78 vs C/58. For Bulldog owners dealing with skin allergies, food sensitivities, or chronic inflammation, eliminating wheat and by-products from the base diet is a meaningful step. Blue Buffalo delivers that while also providing superior protein quality.
Royal Canin Bulldog’s breed-specific kibble and joint supplements are thoughtful additions, but they sit on top of a formula that includes one of the most common allergens for the very breed it targets. Read our full reviews of Royal Canin Bulldog and Blue Buffalo for the complete analysis.