Frenchie sitting on chair with Zuel meal on table

Frequently Asked Questions

We've done our best to address any questions you may have, but if you are still left wanting more, please reach out!

Monday - Friday

9am-5:30pm PST

hello@zueldogfood.com

619-289-9414

Our Food

What is Zuel?

Zuel is a subscription based dog food company, based in California, that specializes in providing superior quality fresh dog food specifically tailored for French Bulldogs. Vet, nutritionist and Frenchie owner approved :)

What Are The Ingredients?

Thanks to help from a board certified nutritionist and veterinarian we have developed a diet that specifically addresses the needs of Frenchies. Using fresh ground lamb, lamb liver, butternut squash, cranberries, kale, green beans, fish oil, iodized salt and dicalcium phosphate (calcium essential for healthy bones, muscles, heart and blood; phosphorus is necessary in the body for healthy bones, teeth and cells), we make the ideal food for your dog. Everything is nutrient dense and hypo allergenic. All made fresh, each week sourced from our local farmers and ranchers.

Is There a Money Back Guarantee?

At Zuel, we ensure your frenchie loves our food, or you get your money back on your most recent subscription order. Guaranteed satisfaction for you and your pet, or it's on us. No questions asked.

Terms and conditions may apply. Money Back Guarantee

How Is Zuel Dog Food Made?

Zuel is made fresh weekly in our gluten free commercial kitchen in sunny San Diego. Ingredients are brought in fresh and broken down and processed by real chefs! The ingredients are then gently cooked, portioned according to your dogs specific caloric needs and then flash frozen. The meals are made fresh every week, ensuring quality and consistency.

Why Choose Zuel Over Other Dog Food Brands?

Zuel is uniquely tailored for French Bulldogs and their specific needs. We use only the finest ingredients, carefully chosen for their natural goodness and nutritional value, ensuring your Frenchie gets the best nutrition possible. Our blend is also designed to avoid many common allergens found in typical dog foods, including the protein! Most other fresh food brands don't have a great option for breeds prone to allergies. We've worked hard to give your pup the best shot at agreeing with our ingredients. Imagine a gourmet chef and a scientist high fiving. That's how we crafted our recipe!

How Do You Know How Much To Feed My Frenchie?

We have worked with our vet nutritionist partner to determine the ideal caloric needs for Frenchies! Zuel has a huge advantage since the other competitors have to feed every type of breed, their portions are educated guesses and ultimately end up needing to be adjusted up, 1-2 times, which increases their overall plan costs! We tend to nail it on our first try :)

Please note that you should start your Frenchie on Zuel the morning after your first package arrives to ensure you have enough food for them between shipments.

How Did You Determine Zuel's Price?

Zuel is priced on us using the best ingredients for your Frenchie. We all know how amazing these dogs are. How they instantly become members of the family. We all also know that they just seem to suffer from so many issues that are allergy related. 
Why?
Because most of the food that is sold to them is full of things that they are allergic to! What would your skin look like if you were eating something you had an allergy to everyday? 
We aren't just talking grains and soy but even most proteins, especially chicken have given Frenchies big issues!
The answer was to bring in only nutrient dense, hypo allergenic ingredients. This resulted in a recipe based of fresh ground lamb taken from a whole saddle, fresh lamb liver, butternut squash, fresh cranberries and local kale and green beans. Not to mention the very important fish oil to round out the nutritional profile. 
Of course, lamb in particular is much more expensive than almost any other protein used in food. But we feel it's important to offer the best, and what works for Frenchies and their issues. We all know how quickly the vet bills can pile up and what it's like to watch our beloved pups suffer from licking, itching, fur loss, indigestion, etc. 
We are quite confident that once your Frenchie tries the food you will love the results and so will they. We offer a money back guarantee so if you try the meals and it doesn't work out, no worries. 
Thanks so much for trusting us to feed your Frenchie.

Why Should I Feed My Frenchie Fresh Food?

Zuel is not only fresh food, but it's breed specific, designed just for Frenchies. Right out of the gate, this will help your dog truly flourish. While traditional pet foods do offer essential nutrients, there's a vast difference between that and Zuel. Alarming rates of health issues in pets, including allergies, skin issues, obesity and diabetes, signal the need for better nutrition. Fresh food has been scientifically shown to benefit health and counter the adverse effects of many commercial pet food processes. At Zuel, we've experienced the magic of fresh, both with our own Frenchies and those of our customers. It's genuine, Fresh, human-grade food, crafted the way it was meant to be.

What If My Dog Doesn't Like The Food?

We are confident in the taste and quality of our food. However, if your French Bulldog doesn't take to Zuel, we have a 100% money back guarantee. Please contact our customer support and we'll assist you with any concerns.

My French Bulldog Has Allergies. Can I Feed Them Zuel?

Our unique blend is crafted to avoid many of the common allergens found in typical dog food. However, if your dog has specific allergies, we recommend checking our ingredient list or consulting with your vet before making a switch.

Is Zuel Suitable For Puppies?

It sure is! Our puppy food has the same incredible ingredients as the adult food plus extra nutrients puppies require for healthy development. Also it's lightly blended for easier consumption.

How Might The New Fresh Food Affect My Dog's Stools?

Switching to fresh food can initially lead to some changes in your Frenchie's stools. It's their body's way of adjusting to the new, nutrient rich meals. You might notice a change in consistency, color or frequency at first. But don't fret! As their digestive system gets acquainted with the fresh ingredients, things typically stabilize. If ever in doubt, always best to consult with your vet for peace of mind. Remember, every pup's tummy is unique, just like their charming personalities! Check out our food transition guide for help with the switch.

How Do You Determine My Dog's Portion Size?

Our quiz is like a friendly nutritionist for your Frenchie! It helps us pinpoint the right calorie count for your pup. But just as every dog has its own personality, their caloric requirements can differ too. It's all about finding that sweet spot! So please keep us in the loop, if you notice any undesired weight loss or gain, customer service is here to help make the proper adjustments to your subscription plan. Teamwork makes the dream work!

How Do I Switch My French Bulldog To Zuel?

Switching from one type of food to another suddenly can cause digestive upsets in dogs, including diarrhea or vomiting. A gradual transition helps your dog's digestive system adapt to the new food, reduces the risk of digestive upset and makes the switch a more comfortable experience for your pet.

The Transition Plan:

We recommend transitioning your dog to our fresh food over a period of 6 days. Here's our suggested ratio of old to new food per day:

Day1: Mix 90% of your dog's old food with 10% of Zuel

Day 2: 80% old food and 20% Zuel

Day 3: 60% old food and 40% Zuel

Day 4: 40% old food and 60% Zuel

Day 5: 20% old food and 80% Zuel

Day 6: Serve 100% Zuel

Remember, every dog is unique, so it's important to observe your dog's behavior and physical reactions during the transition process. If your pet experiences any signs of digestive upset, it might be a good idea to extend the transition period.

Tips for a Smooth Transition:

Consistency is Key: Stick to regular feeding times during the transition to help your dog adjust to the new food.

Talk to Your Vet: If you're unsure about transitioning your dog to a new diet or if your pet has specific health concerns, it's always a good idea to consult your veterinarian. 

How Do I Store Zuel's Dog Food?

Zuel is vacuum sealed for optimal shelf life without any preservatives or junk! Since Zuel is made from fresh ingredients, we recommend storing it in freezer upon arrival. It can store in the freezer for up to 6 months. When you're ready for a new pack, thaw out a pack on the counter the night before, or in a pinch, you can thaw it out in a bowl of warm water! The packs are good in the refrigerator for up to 4 days once opened.

Do Zuel Recipes Meet AAFCO Guidelines?

Yes! Zuel is formulated with the insights of board-certified veterinary nutritionist and meets the strict AAFCO standards, but in the most natural way we could! Every essential vitamin, micro and macro nutrient was carefully considered when formulating our recipe. Our commitment: only human-grade ingredients, direct from top suppliers and local farms.

Do I Need To Cook The Food?

No, we've handled that for you. Our food comes pre-portioned in day packs for your Frenchie's dietary needs and ready to serve!

Are The Ingredients in Zuel Natural?

Yes! At Zuel, we pride ourselves on using only superior quality, fresh ingredients that are carefully sourced from local farms and suppliers. Think, "Farm to Frenchie".

What is the Difference Between Zuel Adult and Puppy Food?

Our puppy food has the same incredible ingredients as the adult food plus extra nutrients puppies require for healthy development. Also it's lightly blended for easier consumption.

Shipping & Packaging

Why Do You Charge For Shipping?

Most online businesses hide the cost of shipping by bumping up the price of their products to incorporate it. For a long time, we tried to do that (thanks Amazon Prime!). Unfortunately, the rates move up quite often and we aren’t able to raise our prices to reflect that.

What’s the difference if you pay it in one column or another, right? You’re still paying for it, and everybody knows there is no package transport fairy! 


So here’s what we’ve done. From now on, we are charging for what our food costs to make, and then you will be billed at checkout for exactly what our shippers charge to get the meals fresh to your door. As I’m sure you’re familiar by now when ordering for yourself with Grub Hub, Uber Eats, etc. there’s a cost associated with having these great meals brought to your doorstep.

Thanks as always for understanding!

How Is The Dog Food Delivered & When?

Simple answer: FedEx nationwide delivery (Ground/Home Delivery or Express) 

Please note - Every order that is in by Saturday at midnight PST will be shipped from our kitchens on Tuesday to arrive by Wednesday or Thursday (based on your location).  Every order that comes in after Saturday at midnight PST will ship out the following week.

Food is shipped directly to your home or office via FedEx (within 1-2 days of ship day, Tuesday), nationwide. Food that is shipped is placed in recyclable insulated boxes with custom frozen gel packs which are reusable (and dry ice during summer months).

Remember, we are shipping food, and while it ships frozen in an insulated box with frozen gel packs (and sometimes dry ice), it’s still perishable. You will receive tracking information from FedEx on Tuesday or Wednesday. Please arrange for the box to be brought inside as soon as possible. 

How Do I Dispose Of The Packaging Materials?

Great question! Our goal when choosing our packaging materials is to always maximize the convergence of being environmentally friendly, having an efficient combination of materials, and cost effectiveness.

Our gel packs are made with a tough, recyclable polyethylene plastic that is proven to be puncture-resistant and resist tears during rigorous handling.

Our gels can be reused, donated to local food pantrys or drain the contents into the trash and curbside recycle the outer lining.

Our liners are curbside recyclable. They are made with a 100% paper interior, cased inside a recyclable plastic outer lining.

They are custom sized to our various box sizes, so we optimize the packaging process based on your order size.

Our boxes can be curbside recycled.

If your delivery still has dry ice in it, please place it in a well-ventilated area at room temperature; the remainder of the ice will sublimate away. Never dispose of dry ice in a trash can, chemical waste container or other garbage/waste can.

Your Subscription

Can I Skip, Cancel Or Reactivate My Subscription At Anytime?

Yes, you can easily skip, cancel or reactivate anytime! Click here to see options in your account.

How Do I Add A New Frenchie To My Subscription?

Congrats on your new addition! Please take the Zuel Quiz again and you'll be able to add the appropriate additional servings to your existing plan.

If I'm Traveling Can I Send My Shipment To Another Location?

You can change your shipping address in your Customer Portal prior to the Saturday midnight PST charge date (if it's after Saturday but before Wednesday, when we ship, please contact our customer service to change address for you). Our food also travels well through TSA and in the car, as long as it's stored with gel packs in an insulated container!

How Do You Know How Much To Feed My Frenchie?

We have worked with our vet nutritionist partner to determine the ideal caloric needs for Frenchies! Zuel has a huge advantage since the other competitors have to feed every type of breed, their portions are educated guesses and ultimately end up needing to be adjusted up, 1-2 times, which increases their overall plan costs! We tend to nail it on our first try :)

Please note that you should start your Frenchie on Zuel the morning after your first package arrives to ensure you have enough food for them between shipments.

Still Have Questions?