Best firm treats for Bulldogs with sensitive stomachs

Soft treats causing loose stools is a really common problem, and it's almost always down to the ingredient list — glycerine, artificial humectants, and cheap fillers are what keep those treats soft, and they're also what wreak havoc on sensitive guts. The best treats are high in protein, low in additives, and sized right for the dog. Single-ingredient dried or baked options are almost always a better call than the heavily marketed soft chews. To point you in the right direction: what size is your Bulldog, any known food sensitivities or allergies, and what are the treats mainly for — training, rewards, or something else?

Good to know. A 25kg Bulldog with a sensitive stomach needs something firm enough to hold its shape, made from a single protein source, and small enough that a few throughout the day won't tip his calorie balance. What were the soft treats he was eating before? Just so I can check what to steer clear of ingredient-wise.

That tracks — Wagg soft treats contain glycerine and a long list of additives that commonly cause digestive upset, especially in Bulldogs who already run sensitive. The good news is the fix is straightforward. I'd go with Forthglade Natural Chicken Liver Bites. They're baked firm, made with a single protein (chicken liver), no glycerine, no artificial anything. They come in small pieces which is ideal for casual daily rewards without overfeeding. Chicken liver is also highly palatable, so a dog who liked the taste of Wagg treats will almost certainly take to these. Bulldogs with sensitive stomachs typically do well on them because there's simply nothing in there to cause a reaction.

They stay firm as long as you seal the bag between uses — they're baked rather than extruded, so they don't have the moisture content that makes soft treats go sticky or crumble. Keep them in a cool dry spot and they hold up well. Some people decant them into a small clip-seal container which works fine too. One thing worth mentioning: any new treat, introduce it gradually over a few days rather than giving a full handful on day one. His gut is already a bit reactive, so a slow introduction gives you a clean read on whether he's tolerating them well.

Exactly the problem — 'natural' on packaging means almost nothing without checking the actual ingredient list. With Bulldogs especially, less is more. Forthglade Chicken Liver Bites should do the job well. If for any reason he doesn't get on with chicken liver specifically, dried sprats or beef liver bites follow the same principle and are worth keeping in mind as alternatives.