Why Does My Poop Smell Like Horse Manure?

Every once in a while, something happens that makes you realize that there are some things in life that are universal—and this is one of them.

You know what I’m talking about: the smell of horse manure.

We all know what it smells like, and we’ve all smelled it. But that doesn’t mean we’re happy about it. And yet, here we are: smelling it, again and again, every single day.

Why does my poop smell like horse manure? What am I supposed to do? Does anyone else have this problem?

Well, today’s post is going to answer those questions and more! We’ll cover everything from how to identify the problem (and avoid it), to what kind of treatment options exist (and which ones work best).

So let’s get started—after all, you don’t need another day of smelling your own poop like a horse’s! Let’s explore the reasons first:

Reasons your poop smells like horse manure

1. You ate a sulfur-rich diet

One of the most common reasons your poop smells like horse manure is that you’ve eaten a sulfur-rich diet. Sulfur is a naturally occurring element in many foods, but it’s especially prevalent in meat, dairy products, and eggs. If you’re eating a lot of these foods and not getting enough fiber in your diet, then it’s possible that bacteria will begin to break down the sulfur-containing proteins in your food without having anything to counteract the smell. That’s why your poop might smell like horse manure for days or even weeks after eating an unhealthy meal.

2. You have an infection in your digestive tract

If the above reason doesn’t sound like an appealing thought to you, we don’t blame you! But there’s another reason why your poop might smell like horse manure: A common cause of foul-smelling poop is an infection in the digestive tract, particularly if you’re experiencing diarrhea or constipation.

This could be caused by bacteria such as E. coli or Shigella, which can be passed from person to person through contaminated food or water sources.

If your poop smells like horse manure, you may have one of these conditions:

3. Malabsorption syndrome

Malabsorption syndrome is a condition in which the body does not absorb nutrients in food properly. This can cause an increase in gas, bloating and diarrhea which alter the smell of your poop. These are the underlying diseases that can cause malabsorption syndrome.

Celiac disease: Celiac disease is a genetic disorder that causes severe damage to the small intestine after eating gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, affects the lining of the digestive tract. This can cause diarrhea and bleeding from the rectum that can cause foul smelling poop.

Carbohydrate intolerance: Carbohydrate intolerance happens when someone cannot digest carbohydrates properly because they lack specific enzymes needed for digestion. The result is gas, bloating and diarrhea.

Dairy protein intolerance: Dairy protein intolerance happens when someone cannot digest dairy products because they lack an enzyme needed for digestion. The result is gas, bloating and foul smelling poop.

Food allergies: A food allergy is an immune system reaction to a specific food or ingredient in food. This can cause diarrhea, vomiting, itching and hives.

4. You are not drinking enough water

If you are not drinking enough water, your body will lack in the nutrients and minerals that it needs to properly absorb food and process waste. This can lead to an accumulation of toxins in the body, which may cause smelly poop.

5. Parasite infestation in your gut

If you have a parasite infestation in your gut, it could cause the odor associated with horse manure. A parasite infestation can occur when you eat undercooked meat or raw fish that contains tapeworm larvae; they then make their way into your intestines and attach themselves to the walls of your digestive tract. The only way to get rid of these parasites is by taking medication prescribed by a doctor or visiting an expert at an urgent care center.

6. Medications and supplements

If you’re taking any kind of medication or supplement, it can change the way your body processes nutrients, which could also change the way your poop smells… well, like the contents of a stable. If you’ve noticed a sudden change in your poop’s odor after starting a new medication or supplement, check with your doctor to see if there’s anything else you should do to help things along.

What to do if my poop smells like horse manure?

The smell of horse manure can be a problem for many people. If you are one of those people, you may feel embarrassed, isolated, or even ashamed. However, there are steps you can take to manage the odor and regain control over your life.

First, it’s important to maintain proper hygiene and sanitation. This means washing your hands after using the bathroom and keeping the area around your toilet clean. It may also mean adding additional cleaning products to your routine if you notice your poop smells like horse manure more often than usual.

Second, consider changing some foods in your diet. For example, if you eat a lot of red meat or dairy products, try cutting them out for a week or two and see if this makes a difference in the odor from your poop. You may also want to consider adding more fiber-rich foods like whole grains and fruits/vegetables into your diet since these foods help improve stool consistency which can help prevent bad smells from developing inside the body and outside of it when they come out.

Finally, keep an eye out for any underlying health conditions that could cause this issue such as food allergies (especially milk products), Celiac disease (which causes an intolerance towards gluten), IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), infections (especially with bacteria and parasites), lactose intolerance, and so forth. If you have any of these symptoms or feel like something else is going on, talk with your doctor about them.

Other causes of foul smelling poop

Find out the other causes of foul smelling poop here:

Conclusion

If your poop smells like horse manure, it’s probably not a good sign.

If you’re concerned about the smell of your poop, it’s important to know that there are many causes for this issue. The most common cause is eating foods you’re allergic or intolerant of, but there are other conditions that can cause your poop to smell bad. If you have an infection or disease, for example, it’s possible that the bacteria causing the infection are producing a foul-smelling gas as part of their normal metabolic processes.

Besides knowing what kinds of things could cause your poop to smell bad, it’s also important to know how long these symptoms have been going on for and if they’ve gotten worse. If you’ve noticed any changes recently in how often or how much you go pooping as well as whether your stool appears different in color or texture than usual then you should see a doctor right away. These could be signs of something more serious going on inside your body like cancer or Crohn’s disease.