Care Guide, Health Issues
French bulldog has diarrhea
Aug
We all have had a bad case of diarrhea from time to time. Poop happens, right? There is no difference when it comes to your frenchie. Most of the time it is not that big of a deal. If your puppy has diarrhea but seems fine, it likely is. I know it is probably a bigger deal you than for your little one since you are the one having to clean up the mess.
There are many causes why your French bulldog could have diarrhea. Some causes are not that big of deal while others are cause for more serious concern. There are a few things to consider when your dog has the case of the runs.
Simple causes of diarrhea
A sudden change in diet
Have you recently switched dog foods? French bulldogs have sensitive stomachs changing their diet can easily have an effect on their digestion system.
I have found it best to slowly introduce the new food in with their old food. If you gradually up the new food in to their normal diet, their little bodies seem to have an easier time of getting use to it.
A food intolerance or allergic reaction
Your dog may be intolerant to what it is being fed. If you suspect the issue is a food allergy, you can diagnose this yourself through a diagnostic challenge.
That means that you put them on a strict
This will let you know if their having a food allergy. Itching can also come as a sign of a skin allergy. Keep watch to see if they are itching more after reintroducing the food.
Indigestion of trash or expired foods
We all know that dogs can be gross at times. They will get in to stuff that we would never dream of touching. Dogs may eat garbage, poop, etc. The list goes on.
It is always best to stay on guard while taking your dog outside for a walk or when you or others have stuff out and about. Take preemptive action before your dog eats something gross.
Also, be sure to check the expiration dates on your dog food like you do your own. If you wouldn’t eat it, why should they?
Stress
Awe yes, stress. Stress takes a toll on all our bodies. Dogs can suffer from great stress as well. If your dog has been under a great deal of stress lately, this can result in an upset stomach.
If it is stress from a person or object, remove your dog from that stressor. Place it somewhere they feel comfortable like their dog bed or crate to regroup. Treat the situation as normal as to not feed that fear of that person or thing.
Another way you can comfort your pet is exercise through a walk or play. This will take their mind off the stressful situation and feel more secure.
Ingestion of foreign bodies
This fits in and is quite obvious. We have covered that dogs will eat strange stuff. This category includes toys, shoes, underwear, or anything they can get ahold of especially when they are pups.
The best way to prevent this is to teach yourself and your loved ones to pick up after yourselves. Well, that and train your pup which is a whole other subject. Stay conscience of what is in arms length.
Dog toys can also be an issue. If your dog is anything like mine, he will chew the squeaker out of the toy and keep going if you let him. Be sure to keep watch of their toys and dispose of the ones that have seen better days.
Certain Medications
If your pet has been put on any medication recently, oral or application, this could be the cause of their diarrhea. Is the medication necessary? I would think in most cases, yes.
You and your dog will have to put up with this for a while. You could do some research or ask your vet what you can do to help out his digestive issues.
More serious causes of diarrhea
Diarrhea with other symptoms
If your dog has had diarrhea for a few days or shows other symptoms as well, I would say this is a call to action. There is likely a more serious problem and it is best to take your dog to the vet.
Ingestion of poisonous substances or plants
I know you are like, “duh” on this one. Did you know that some things around your house may be poisonous to your dog and they do not even have to ingest it? Those tea tree oil reed diffusers is one example. There are many other examples out there. Not to mention that your dog likely licks everything including the furniture for some reason.
So before you use certain cleaners, scented oils, or anything in your home, please be sure to do your research to make sure it is safe for your pet. Same goes for what you feed your pet. Just because grapes and chocolate are delicious to use, they can be deadly to your dog.
I will say it again, keep an eye on your dog when you have him or her outside. There are many plants out there that are poisonous to them. You do not have to go out and learn the whole world of botany, but keep them away from unfamiliar plants. Although it is a good idea to learn about the plants you have in your yard or inside your house.
Bacterial Infections
There are many bacterial infections of which I have listed below. These are something you should have checked out and treated immediately.
Leptospirosis
Typically contracted from drinking stagnant water or through the urine of other animals that are infected. Your dog can also contract this through a bite or through mating.
Symptoms may include:
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Depression
- Vomiting
- Redness of mucous membrane
Clostridium Perfringens
Usually contracted through food, grooming of fur, chewing carrion, etc.
Symptoms include:
- Recurring diarrhea
E. Coli
Usually transmitted through foods or contact with other animals that have this.
Symptoms may include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Lack of appetite
- Depression
- Weakness / Lethargy
- Rapid heart rate
- Cold skin
- Bluish color in gums, nostrils, ears, lips, or anus.
Salmonella
Usually by ingesting raw or under-cooked meat, contaminated pet food, or saliva and feces from another infected animal.
Symptoms may include:
- Diarrhea
- May cause mucous covered poops
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Increased heart rate
- Lethargy
- Depression
- Skin disease
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Shock
Campylobacter
Usually caused by by ingesting or coming into contact with infected feces, or infected food or water.
Symptoms may include:
- Diarrhea
- Mucous covered poop
- Abdominal cramping
- Lethargy
- Fever
Spirochetes
Typically caused by coming into contact or drinking contaminated water or from coming into contact with urine from an infected animal.
Symptoms may include:
- Sudden fever and illness
- Sore muscles, reluctance to move
- Stiffness in muscles, legs, stiff gait
- Shivering
- Weakness
- Depression
- Lack of appetite
- Increased thirst and urination
- Dehydration
- Vomiting
- Vomiting blood
- Diarrhea
- Bloody stool
- Bloody vaginal discharge
- Dark red speckled gums
- Yellow skin and/or whites of eyes
- Spontaneous cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Irregular pulse
- Runny nose
- Swelling of the mucous membrane
- Mild swelling of the lymph nodes
Internal Parasites
Hookworms
Contracted through ingestion or larval penetration of the skin. Mostly found in contaminated water or environment.
Symptoms may include:
- Diarrhea
- Tired, not wanting exercise
- Pale gums
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Blood in feces
Round Worm
Contract through eating roundworm eggs that come from another animal’s poop, or if he eats small infected animals. Pups can get this from their mother when their born or through their milk if mother has them.
Symptoms may include:
- Diarrhea
- Worms or eggs seen in stool or vomit
- Can have pot bellied appearance
- Poor growth
Whip Worms
Dogs get this by swallowing infective whip worm eggs in soil or other substances that may contain dog feces.
Symptoms may include:
- Diarrhea
- Mucous coated stool
- Weight loss
Tape Worms
Ingest a host that is harboring tapeworm eggs, most often an adult flea.
Symptoms may include:
- Diarrhea
- Ichiness around anal area
- Butt scooting
- Weight loss without loss of appetite
- No weight gain with increased appetite
- Distended abdomen
Gardiasis
Usually infected by ingesting infectious offspring (cysts) that are shed in another animal’s feces.
Symptoms may include:
- Vomiting
- Greasy or foul smelling poop
- Diarrhea
Inflamatory Bowel Disease
This is more of a syndrome that cause recurring spells of vomiting and diarrhea. This can also cause dogs to have poor appetite and weight loss. This syndrome is when inflammation occurs of the intestines due to an allergy from food, a parasite or a bacterial infection.
Kidney or Liver disease
I do not think that I need to explain this one since I think everyone know what this disease is. Here are symptoms to look out for though with some of them being severe.
Symptoms may include:
- Jaundice
- Seizures
- Disorientation
- Depression
- Head pressing
- Blindness
- Personality changes
- Decrease in appetite
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Increased water consumption and urination
- Changes in the color of their stool
- May also find fluid retention in abdomen
Cancer or other tumors in the digestive track
Cancer or tumors in the digestive have many symptoms along with diarrhea. Here are a few things to look out for.
Symptoms may include:
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Poor appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting of blood
- Black colored stools which is dried blood
- Fresh blooded stools
- Urgent but uneffective poop
- Rumbling stomach
- More gas than usual
- May feels an abdominal mass
Colitis
The cause of colitis could be due from stress, IBS, parasites, food allergies, algae or fungal infections, gastro-intestinal infections, injury or damage to the color, poor eating habits, or eating things that were not intended for dogs.
Symptoms may include:
- Soft runny stool
- Bright flecks of blood in stool
- Pain while pooping
- Irregular eating habits
- Weight loss
- Increased pooping
- Increased farting
- Inflammation of pain in the lower regions
Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis
That is a mouthful. Please do not make me say it again. Suspected causes of this condition include abnormal responses to bacteria or hypersensitivity to food.
Symptoms of this are sudden and severe vomiting and diarrhea. This should be taken seriously and you should take your dog to the vet immediately.
A healthy poop is a happy poop
I want to include a quick overview of what is a healthy poop for your French Bulldog. I have provided a healthy dog poop chart below in this section so you know what is normal and not so much.
Diarrhea is never a happy poop and there is a reason your dog is experiencing it. Although it is likely your dog has an upset tummy from something he or she got in to.
I wanted to include everything that I found that could cause diarrhea for you and am not trying to scare you. I wanted to make this disclaimer because every time I google something about my symptoms, I find I am going to die. I do not wish to cause that fear in you.
Though I do suggest that if your dog is having other symptoms along with diarrhea or prolonged diarrhea to take him to the vet. If you are worried, take him to the vet for the piece of mind. I am not
