French Bulldog Diarrhea: Common Causes and When to See a Vet

Part of our complete guide French Bulldog Health: The Complete Guide to Common Problems and Care →

Sooner or later, most dog owners deal with loose, messy stools, and French Bulldogs are no exception. Most cases of French Bulldog diarrhea are mild and short-lived, often caused by something your dog ate. But diarrhea can also be a sign of infection, parasites, food allergy or a serious illness, and a dog with diarrhea can become dehydrated quickly. This guide covers the common causes, what different stools may mean, the red flags that need a vet, and what to tell your vet when you call.

Why does my French Bulldog have diarrhea?

Diarrhea simply means stools that are looser, more watery or more frequent than normal. The Merck Veterinary Manual points out that diarrhea can even be a defense mechanism, helping the body flush out something harmful. It is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and the list of possible causes is long. VCA Animal Hospitals and PDSA group them roughly like this.

Common and often mild causes

• Dietary indiscretion: eating garbage, table scraps, something found on a walk, or rich, fatty or unfamiliar food.
• Sudden diet changes: switching foods abruptly can upset the gut. Our guide to the best food for French Bulldogs explains how to change foods gradually.
• Food intolerance: some dogs simply don’t tolerate certain foods well.
• Stress: VCA lists stress from travel or changes in the environment, such as boarding or moving home.

Causes that need a vet to diagnose

• Intestinal parasites: PDSA lists worms and Giardia among common causes.
• Bacterial and viral infections: including Salmonella and Campylobacter, and viruses such as canine parvovirus, which is especially dangerous for puppies who are not fully vaccinated. Check where your puppy is in their vaccination schedule.
• Food allergy: covered in more detail below.
• Toxins and swallowed objects: PDSA lists gut blockages among the causes, and poisoning can also cause digestive upset. Some human foods are toxic to dogs, so keep table scraps out of reach.
• Acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS): a sudden illness with vomiting and bloody diarrhea, discussed below.
• Longer-term conditions: colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), pancreatitis, liver disease, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and, less commonly, cancer.
• Medication side effects: PDSA advises contacting your vet if a dog with diarrhea is taking any medication, especially anti-inflammatory drugs.

Are French Bulldogs more prone to diarrhea?

Not necessarily. A large UK VetCompass study of dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 compared 2,781 French Bulldogs with 21,850 dogs of other breeds. Diarrhea was recorded in 3.8% of French Bulldogs and 3.8% of other dogs, with no significant difference between them after accounting for factors such as age.

The same study did find that French Bulldogs had about seven times the odds of other dogs of being diagnosed with food hypersensitivity. Food allergy usually shows up as itchy skin and ears, but PDSA notes food allergies often cause diarrhea as well as itchy skin, and some dogs have soft stools or more frequent bowel movements. If your Frenchie has recurring loose stools alongside itchy paws, ears or skin, mention both to your vet. Our guide to French Bulldog allergies explains how vets diagnose food allergy with a strict elimination diet trial lasting at least eight weeks.

What your Frenchie’s stool may be telling you

The color, consistency, smell and frequency of stools give your vet useful clues. Vets often think in terms of whether the problem is in the small intestine or the large intestine (colon). The table below is a rough guide only. It can’t tell you the cause, and your vet will need to examine your dog.

A quick photo of the stool can be more useful to your vet than a description from memory.

French Bulldog diarrhea with blood: when it’s an emergency

A small streak of blood with an otherwise bright dog still deserves a call to your vet. Large amounts of blood are more urgent. VCA describes acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS), formerly called hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, as a sudden illness with vomiting and bloody “raspberry jam” diarrhea that often strikes otherwise healthy dogs. Affected dogs can also show a painful belly, lethargy that may progress to collapse, and fever. VCA warns that dogs with AHDS appear severely ill and, if left untreated, may die. In most cases, VCA says, the illness runs its course in a few days with appropriate supportive veterinary care.

Red flags: when to see a vet

Contact your vet promptly, or an emergency clinic out of hours, if your French Bulldog has diarrhea and any of the following:

• Your dog is a puppy, or is elderly. PDSA advises calling your vet about very young or very old dogs, and notes diarrhea can be more serious in puppies.
• Blood or mucus in the stool, or black, tarry stools.
• Severe or constant watery diarrhea.
• Vomiting as well. Losing fluid from both ends raises the risk of dehydration. Our guide to vomiting vs. regurgitation covers vomiting red flags.
• Lethargy, weakness or collapse.
• A painful belly. PDSA mentions yelping when picked up or standing in a “prayer position” with the front end down.
• Reduced appetite, fever or not drinking.
• A suspected toxin or swallowed object, even if your dog seems fine for now.
• An existing health condition or current medication.

Even without these signs, don’t let diarrhea drag on. PDSA advises contacting your vet if diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours, and VCA recommends consulting your vet if frequent liquid or semi-liquid stools persist for more than two days. Merck explains that losing large amounts of fluid through diarrhea can cause dehydration and salt imbalances, which may lead to shock, so it’s better to call early than late.

What to tell your vet

Your vet will ask a lot of questions, so it helps to note:

• When it started and how many times your dog has gone.
• What the stool looks like: watery or soft, any mucus, red blood or black color. Take a photo if you can.
• Straining or urgency, and whether your dog is having accidents indoors.
• Anything unusual your dog may have eaten, including garbage, human food, toys or possible toxins.
• Recent changes: new food or treats, boarding, travel or other stress.
• Other signs: vomiting, appetite, drinking, energy and any itchy skin or ears.
• Medications and parasite control, and for puppies, vaccination status.

Your vet may ask for a stool sample. PDSA acknowledges this can be tricky with diarrhea, so just collect as much as you can.

Home care for mild cases (check with your vet first)

If your adult Frenchie has mild diarrhea, is bright and alert, is eating and drinking, and has none of the red flags above, your vet may suggest monitoring at home. General guidance from veterinary sources includes:

• Keep fresh water available at all times. VCA notes that a dog with diarrhea can quickly become dehydrated, and PDSA adds that your dog will likely need a bit more water than usual.
• Ask your vet about resting the gut. Some vets advise a short pause in feeding for adult dogs, while others go straight to small, bland meals. PDSA says puppies, older dogs and dogs with other illnesses should not be fasted, so always follow your vet’s advice for your dog.
• Small, frequent bland meals when your vet recommends them, such as plain boiled chicken breast with plain white rice, or a veterinary gastrointestinal diet.
• Return to the normal diet gradually once stools firm up. PDSA suggests over three to five days, and VCA over seven to ten days; ask your vet which suits your dog.
• Avoid anything rich or fatty, including table scraps and new treats, until your dog has fully recovered.

Don’t give human medicines or home remedies. Some are harmful to dogs, and your vet can prescribe something suitable if it’s needed. If things aren’t clearly improving, or any red flag appears, call your vet.

FAQ

My French Bulldog has diarrhea but is acting normal. Should I worry?

A single bout of loose stool in a bright adult dog who is eating and drinking is often mild. Keep water available, watch closely and call your vet if it lasts more than a day or two, gets worse, or any red flags appear. Puppies should be checked sooner.

Is mucus in my Frenchie’s stool a problem?

Mucus, especially with straining and frequent small stools, suggests irritation of the large bowel (colon). It isn’t always serious, but PDSA advises contacting your vet about blood or mucus in stools.

Can food allergy cause loose stools in French Bulldogs?

Yes, it can. French Bulldogs are more often diagnosed with food hypersensitivity than other dogs, and some allergic dogs have soft stools or more frequent bowel movements. Diagnosis needs a vet-guided elimination diet trial, not a home test kit.

Can stress cause diarrhea in dogs?

Yes. VCA lists stress from travel or environmental changes, such as boarding or moving, as a possible cause. It should still settle quickly. If it doesn’t, or other signs appear, see your vet.