What to do if your pup has diarrhea? (and when to ask for help)

It can definitely be scary when you see that your little Frenchie is unwell and you’re not sure why it’s happened or what to do. As we get a lot of questions about diarrhea, we take a closer look at what could cause that and how you can help your pup (and when to ask for help!).

Why does my Frenchie have diarrhea?

Common reasons why your poor pup has the misfortune of diarrhea could be:

• Eating leftovers causing a viral or bacterial infection. Your curious furbaby may nibble on food/items that can be out of date, rotting, or just filled with bacteria, which can wreak havoc in their digestive system. This is why we always recommend you regularly scan your kitchen and dining room, remove leftovers, and ask your family members to do the same.
• A sudden change in their diet. It typically happens when you bring home your baby from the breeder and there’s miscommunication about their diet. Make sure you check with the breeder what meals, which type of food your pup has been eating so that this could be continued. Unknowingly providing them with an abrupt change in their diet can cause a reaction that triggers diarrhea. We always tell the puppy parents what we fed their puppy with on the farm, and give recommendations on their future diet. Bonus tip: If you do want to change your pup’s diet, do so by gradually mixing their old and new food so that they have a more integrated transition.
• Swallowing a small object. Back to being curious! Your pup may stumble upon small objects left on the ground or at home such as a small plastic toy, which can cause them to have an upset tummy and diarrhea – understandably! We can’t repeat enough times how important prevention is, as well as keeping an eye on your sweetie.
• An allergy. Pups can have allergies, particularly to dairy or wheat, which can make their system react adversely. Allergies are hard to prevent, this is why we carefully select every TomKings parent puppy from an award winning bloodline so that we build the healthiest and most Frenchie-authentic gene pool for our TomKings babies. 

What does my pup’s diarrhea look like?

It would be loose stools that are watery in consistency and your pup would have frequent bowel movements. It won’t smell very nice either… This is all your poor puppy’s body defense trying to flush out the issue from their colon.

There are two types of diarrhea that your pup could be suffering from:

Acute diarrhea – the sudden onset of watery stool/vomiting, is usually due to your pup eating scraps or reacting to food which has upset them.

Chronic diarrhea – this is associated with more long-term issues such as an allergic reaction or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which can be worsened by a change in their diet.

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OK, so what do I need to do to help my poor pup?

• Make sure your Frenchie has plenty of water to drink – this is to avoid any dehydration.
• As harsh as this may sound – do not feed your pup for up to 12 hours so that their body has time to adjust and flush out the issue.
• Do provide them with a mild and low-sodium soup like a chicken or beef broth to have as a meal replacement. This still provides your pup with all the necessary water and nutrition they need to get back to bouncing health.
• After this, – depending on whether or not your puppy has vomited again during this time – do feed them in small doses a few times a day with bland food such as rice or plain, boiled white-meat like chicken.
• Do continue this feeding cycle for up to three days, tracking your pup’s energy level and whether they are making an improvement.
• If their health is improving; gradually start to include their usual meals in their diet.

Normally, diarrhea is not a serious issue and often gets better over a 48-hour period. However, please do look out for more serious signs such as:

• A lack of appetite
• Vomiting continually 
• Blood in stools 
• If their diarrhea is persistent (lasting for over 3 days)
• Continuous lethargy over a few days

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If you do notice some of these signs, please do call your vet immediately.

Your puppy will get better over time, and with the right care, they’ll be back to their playful and joyful selves!

The article was written based on the experience and the services of the TomKings Puppies Team. TomKings Puppies have been breeding French Bulldogs for 13 years on their farm. All the pictures in the post belong to them and show puppies from their breed and puppy parents. Check their available colors and prices here, or if you have any questions or comments let us know below the article. (We base the content of our articles on our experience and consultations with trusted vets and other puppy experts. However, we are not vets, and this blog doesn’t replace medical help.)