Whilst there are plenty of things that you will need to keep an eye on with your Frenchie in order to get an idea of their general state of health, one of the best indicators of your dog’s wellbeing will be their poop. The frequency, color, and consistency will all tell you something, as well as how often your Frenchie should poop.
How often should a French Bulldog poop? There is no definite rule for how much your Frenchie will poop each day, as there are a number of factors that can influence this, including their age and diet. However, your French Bulldog should be pooping at least once a day, with the average for an adult being between 1 and 5 times daily.
I appreciate that this isn’t giving you a clear and definitive answer. My assumption is that perhaps you live in an apartment with your Frenchie and don’t have easy access to an outdoors area to let your Frenchie poop when he or she needs to.
If that is the case, my advice is that you try to get them outdoors at least 3 times a day so they can do their business.
To put this into perspective, we are lucky enough to have a dog flap that lets our Frenchie Claude go outdoors whenever he needs to poop or pee. That takes him out into a fenced off concrete area in our back garden (yard for US readers).
At the end of the day, we usually see that he’s left around 3 poops in his area, and he will usually do at least 1 poop on his morning or afternoon walk with us.
Having spoken with other French Bulldog owners, the general consensus is that 3 to 5 poops a day is pretty typical.
What should healthy Frenchie poop look like?
The ideal stool should be chocolate brown and a little firm in consistency. There shouldn’t be anything visible inside the poop, such as foreign objects or worms, and the poop should not leave a slimy film on the grass when you clean it up.
In the end, if your Frenchie is pooping just once a day, and there are no abnormalities when you inspect the stools, there is likely nothing to worry about.
However, if your Frenchie doesn’t poop daily, this could indicate constipation, particularly if you notice your dog straining as they are pooping.
On the flip side, if your Frenchie is pooping more than five times a day, and you notice that the poop is abnormal in any way, then this could indicate a variety of medical issues.
Handy Hint: Here’s a list of over 30 potential health problems your French Bulldog may suffer from and what signs you need to look out for.
If you’ve noticed anything that concerns you about your Frenchie’s toilet habits, I have compiled a list below of some of the most common factors that will influence how often your Frenchie poops, as well as some warning signs to keep an eye out for.
What can influence your dog’s pooping frequency
There are a number of factors that can influence the amount of times your Frenchie will poop throughout the day. Here are some of the most common factors:
1. AgeÂ
As a general rule of thumb, puppies tend to defecate and urinate more often than adult Frenchies.
As they get older and their toilet routine stabilizes, you should see the frequency of their toilet breaks reigning back a little.
2. Eating too much
Another strong factor that can determine how often your Frenchie is pooping, is their diet. The more a dog eats, the more it will need to go.
If you feel that your Frenchie is pooping a bit too much, it might be worth checking if your dog is at a healthy weight, and if you are feeding your Frenchie the right portions.
Handy Hint: Here’s a guide to how much you should ideally be feeding a Frenchie puppy to keep them strong and healthy.
3. Not eating enough
On the other hand, if your Frenchie isn’t eating at all, or is eating less than usual, this can result in them pooping less or not at all. First check if you have a fussy pup on your hands, as there’s a chance they have gone off their food.
Try tempting them with treats you know they love to see if this is the case. However, if your Frenchie refuses treats and food for more than forty-eight hours, take them to a vet immediately, as this indicates serious health issues.
4. FiberÂ
Fiber is a vital component for a healthy diet for your Frenchie, as its assists with bowel movement, water absorption, and provides energy, but too much can have a detrimental effect.
Excessive fiber may give your Frenchie gas, hard stools, diarrhea, and can also increase the frequency of defecation. It’s important to note that although excessive fiber intake will have a negative impact on your adult Frenchie’s health, it is especially bad for them as puppies as it can impact healthy development.
If you are concerned about your Frenchie’s diet or their fiber intake, I highly recommend contacting your veterinarian for a conversation. This is especially important before making any big changes.
When to be worried about your Frenchie’s poop
 Ideally it’s best to inspect any stools just after your Frenchie has pooped, as there are certain signs that can indicate developing health issues. Although some small variations from the ideal poop can be expected, you need to keep an eye out for drastic changes.
When you inspect your Frenchie’s stools, one of the first things you want to check for is if there is anything noticeable within the stool.
1. Worms in the poop
When inspecting a fresh stool, if you notice anything that looks like small pieces of rice, your Frenchie may have worms. The worms can be quite small, but may also be long and skinny, but always tend to be an off-white or tan colour.
If you spot this in your Frenchie’s fresh stools, you will need to contact your veterinarian immediately for a checkup and diagnosis.
2. Foreign items in the poop
Frenchies, like any other dog, are prone to scarfing down things they really shouldn’t be eating. If you find any foreign objects in your Frenchie’s poop, such as pieces of cloth, plastic, or jewelery, it is recommended that you call up your veterinarian for an inspection.
Finding something like this in your Frenchie’s poop indicates they may have eaten something that has gotten stuck in their digestive tract.Â
3. Abnormal coloring
The ideal color for your Frenchie’s poop should be a chocolate brown. The following colours indicate serious health issues:
4. Black poop
If your Frenchie’s stools and poop are black, this indicates that there is digested blood in the poop. This is usually the result of substantial bleeding in the stomach and small intestine, which can be a symptom of an infection, an injury to your Frenchie’s digestive tract, or even cancer.
5. Yellow poop
This colour stool indicates a possible infection or that your Frenchie has ingested something that is irritating their digestive system. It can also indicate a parasite, food allergies, or that your Frenchie has developed problems with their gallbladder, liver, or pancreas.
6. Green poop
Green stools indicates that your Frenchie has been eating large quantities of grass. Dogs tend to do this when they have an upset stomach, which may indicate an imbalance in their diet. However, green poop can also indicate that your Frenchie has a parasite; that they have consumed rat poison; or that they have other digestive issues.
If you notice any changes in your pup’s behaviour, such as lethargy or an unwillingness to eat, best get them checked out by a professional as quickly as possible.
7. Red streaks in poop
A small streak of bright red blood in your Frenchie’s stool is usually nothing to worry about, but if you notice large amounts of blood, or that your Frenchie is frequently passing stools with this colouration, it can indicate more serious health issues.
It may be an indication of parasites, ingestion of toxins, inflammation of the bowels or colon, and infection of the anal sac. It can also indicate trauma to the digestive system.
8. Coating
One of the things you need to look out for when checking your Frenchie’s stool is if there is any coating. A perfectly healthy poop should have no coating at all, and when you clean up after your dog, the stool should not leave any kind of trail or mucus behind. This type of poop often accompanies diarrhea and might be an indicator of large bowel inflammation.
If you notice any coating on your Frenchie’s poops for more than two days in a row, it is recommended that you get in touch with your veterinarian for a discussion.
9. Consistency
The ideal consistency for your Frenchie’s poop should be firm but not hard or dry. Soft or runny poops indicate more serious concerns that may warrant a visit to your veterinarian. The key is to look for drastic changes. If you notice any subtle softening or hardening, there usually isn’t anything to worry about at this stage.
The best thing you can do if you see this is to monitor your Frenchie’s poops. If they get softer and softer with each passing day, book your Frenchie in to see your veterinarian, and take a sample with you if you can.
You might also be interested in…
Talking of Frenchie poop, did you know that it’s very common for puppies to eat their own? However, this can be a sign of a problem if they continue to eat poop into their adult life.
I’ve put together a guide to stopping French Bulldogs from eating their own poop, including what signs to look out for.