When your poop smells like dog poop, you know it’s time to make a change.
Maybe you’re not eating as much fiber as you should. Maybe you’ve been eating too many beans. Maybe you haven’t been drinking enough water. Or maybe you’ve been taking too many antibiotics—it can mess with your digestive system and make it harder for things to move through your body properly.
Whatever the reason, if your poop smells like dog poop, it’s time to get serious about what’s going into your body. Let’s discuss the reasons behind your poop smells like dog poop:
Reasons your poop smells like dog poop
So, why does this happen? Well, there are a few reasons:
1. You ate a sulfur-rich diet. Foods that contain a lot of sulfur are asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, onion and garlic. These foods can cause the smell because they contain sulfur-containing amino acids (proteins) which get digested by bacteria in your colon to produce hydrogen sulfide which gives off that rotten egg smell.
2. You have an infection in your digestive tract. This includes bacteria and viruses. They cause inflammation and irritation which can cause gas and bloating—and smelly bowel movements.
3. Parasite infestation in your gut. If you’ve ever traveled to a developing country or gone camping without proper hygiene (don’t worry—we’ll get back to normal hygiene in just a minute), you might have picked up parasites from drinking contaminated water or eating undercooked meat or unwashed fruits or vegetables.
4. Trimethylaminuria (or “fish odor syndrome”). It is a genetic condition that causes the body to produce an unusually high amount of trimethylamine—a compound that gives off the fishy smell we associate with poop. For people with this disorder, eating foods containing choline like eggs can make their stools smell worse. If this sounds like something that might be affecting you, talk to a doctor about getting tested for trimethylaminuria.
5. You are not drinking enough water. When your poop smells like dog poop, it’s usually because you’re not drinking enough water. Water helps to flush out the toxins and waste in your body, so if you’re dehydrated, those waste products will stay in your colon longer than they should and exert foul odor.
6. You are suffering from malabsorption syndrome. Can be caused by celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, carbohydrate intolerance, dairy protein intolerance, and food allergies. If you have any of these conditions, your body may not be absorbing the nutrients needed to produce healthy stools. The smell in the stool is due to malabsorption of nutrients like fat and fat-soluble vitamins. The odor is also caused by bacteria that live in your colon and process the undigested food into gasses that smell bad.
7. Medications and supplements. If neither of those things are true, then it’s possible that something else is going on with your body. Medications and supplements can cause unexpected side effects including changes in bowel habits or even changes in bowel flora that result in unusual smells or colors in stool or urine. Talk to your health care provider if this is happening to you so they can help figure out what’s causing it.
What to do your poop smells like dog poop
Don’t worry, this is a common problem.
The first thing to do when your poop smells like dog poop is to maintain proper hygiene and sanitation. You should wash your hands after using the bathroom, and you should always use hand sanitizer before eating. The next time you go to the bathroom, try using some antibacterial wipes on the toilet seat and on your hands. Make sure you flush with plenty of water so that any remaining germs are washed away.
The second thing to do when your poop smells like dog poop is to avoid foods that cause constipation or diarrhea. If you’re already constipated, try adding more fiber into your diet by eating more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds—all foods that are high in fiber but low in fat. If you’re already having diarrhea, try taking an over-the-counter medication like Imodium AD or Kaopectate with plenty of water (this will help slow down the body’s natural response).
Third, be sure to avoid foods that are high in sulfites or sulfur dioxide—these foods include wine, beer, cranberries, onions, garlic and eggs (also eggs!). These foods will cause a sulfur-smelling odor when digested by humans.
Fourth, take probiotics. Probiotics are bacteria that help keep your gut healthy by promoting the growth of good bacteria in your digestive tract. They can be taken in a pill form or as a drinkable yogurt-like substance called kefir. Some people find they experience better results with probiotics if they take them before bedtime.
Finally, consult with a doctor. If you have chronic digestive issues, it’s always best to talk with a doctor about what’s going on in your body. A colonoscopy can help identify any problems that may be causing your symptoms and determine whether they can be treated safely at home or if further treatment is needed.
Other causes of foul smelling poop
Find out the other causes of foul smelling poop here:
- Why does my poop smell like cat poop
- Why does my poop smell like horse manure
- Why does my poop smell like sulfur
- Why does my poop smell like death
Conclusion
So, there you have it! If you have been suffering from the same problem, or if you want to know more about it and why it happens, this article has hopefully shed some light on this topic and helped you find what you were looking for.
It’s important to remember that poop is a natural part of life, and that your body is doing exactly what it needs to do in order to keep you healthy. If your poop smells like dog poop, don’t panic—just follow the above simple tips, and you’ll be back on the right track in no time.