Don’t Ever Worry About Cow Patty Poop Again: Know the Causes

By - Anika Binte Asad

You visited the washroom but your stool is loose like a cow patty. Your poop also looks kind of sticky. You are also feeling shy to discuss it with others.

So, are you embarrassed about cow patty poop? 

Well, It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You may have poop like cow patties due to intolerance to certain foods. Loose stool can form due to some diseases. But if your poop isn’t normal for days at a time, then it isn’t a good sign. You should probably visit a doctor then.

Don’t fret. Here, I have discussed the reasons and their remedies. So hop on into the article. Be assured that you won’t feel awkward anymore.

Why Is My Poop Like A Cow Patty? 

Poop is nothing but the byproduct of your diet. The food you eat gets processed by your digestive system and the parts that don’t get used come out as stool. So, the foods you eat directly constitute the nature of the stool you’re having.

Cow patty poop or any other kind of unusual stool may be caused by your diet or diseases of the digestive tract. You may be intolerant to some foods, which may cause your poop to look like a cow patty. 

Let’s explore the reasons behind this situation. 

5 Causes of Cow Patty Poop:

Cow patty poop or loose and sticky stool might be caused by some problems in your Gastrointestinal Tract or GIT. These problems may range from simple intolerances to certain foods or more serious problems like autoimmune conditions.

Here are the 5 of the most common causes of Cow Patty Poop:

1. Lactose Intolerance 

Lactose is a type of sugar. It’s mainly found in dairy products. A common example of dairy is cow’s milk. 

Other lactose-containing foods are – 

• Goat’s milk 
• Buffalo’s milk 
• Mozzarella 
• Cottage cheese 
• Cream cheese 
• Ricotta 
• Butter 

In lactose intolerance, people usually lack enzyme lactase. As a result, they can’t digest dairy foods and drinks.

The degree of intolerance is different in each individual. Some may be able to drink or eat little amounts of dairy products. While others can’t even take a sip or bite. 

In lactose intolerance, the normal bacteria in the gut interact with undigested lactose. This can produce the symptoms and signs of this situation. Symptoms that can be found are – 

• Cow patty like poop
• Farting 
• Cramps around stomach 
• Bloated stomach 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 

2. Irritant to Gluten Foods 

Gluten is a protein. It is mainly found in wheat, barley, and cereals. Gluten intolerance is a rare condition that affects 6% of the world’s population. People irritant to gluten cannot digest foods with gluten and suffer from symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. They may also have a sticky stool. This stool resembles cow patty poop. 

Other symptoms usually found  – 

• Nausea 
• Bloating 
• Not feeling well 
• Constipation 

Foods that causes gluten intolerance- 

• Bread 
• Pasta 
• Cookies 
• Biscuits 
• Products containing semolina 
• Couscous dishes 

Gluten intolerance can be a rather unpleasant thing to live with. But thankfully gluten-free ingredients and foods are widely available. You can find gluten-free alternatives to almost every food in your neighboring supermarket.

3. Eating Greasy Food

Foods cooked with excess oil are greasy foods. These are high-calorie foods and contain fats. High fat-containing foods include fast food like burgers, fries, heavy cream, cheese, etc. The extra fat of food makes the poop stickier.

Common foods that contain excess oils, fats, and grease are – 

• Pizzas 
• Hamburgers 
• Chips and fries 
• Red meat 
• Deep-fried dishes 
• Doughnuts 

Eating foods loaded with fats and oil are not only bad for your bowels, but they are also the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases like high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attack. So keep your calories in check and avoid junk food.

4. Irritable Bowel Syndrome 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome or IBS is a very common condition and affects a huge portion of the population. This condition includes both feelings of uneasiness in the abdomen and irregular bowel movements.

It includes the symptoms like – 

• Loose stool which is usually sticky 
• Swollen belly 
• Increased stomach pain after eating 
• Nausea 
• Not feeling well 

The exact cause of IBS is still unknown. It is believed that it might be caused due to muscle contractions in your intestines or problems of the enteric nervous system. Some also believe it may be caused due to severe infection or changes in the bacterial microbiome of your gut. But the symptoms of IBS can be treated with medication and proper diet.

Crohn’s Disease

It’s a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. This mainly causes irritation and inflammation of the digestive tract. It mainly attacks small and large intestines. 

Symptoms of Crohn’s disease are – 

• Stickier poop 
• Fever 
• Fatigue 
• Soreness in mouth 
• Cramps around abdomen 
• Gradually lose of appetite 

Chron’s disease can cause intestinal discomfort and hamper normal bowel movements. So it can disturb the normal function of your gut, causing the formation of loose, sticky stools like cow patty poop. Unfortunately, there is no cure yet for Chron’s disease. The symptoms can be treated with medications like steroids and immunosuppressants. In serious cases, surgery may be required.

So, now you’ve learned about the causes of usual bowel habits like cow patty poop. So what can you do to fix this problem? The answer is by developing a Healthy Bowel Habit.

A Healthy Bowel Habit can help you get rid of embarrassing problems like cow patty poop. Not only that, it can help you improve your gut health, leading to better overall wellness. A Healthy Bowel Habit can also help with other health issues like acid reflux, bad breath, obesity, insomnia, depression, mood disorders, etc.

What is a Healthy Bowel Habit? 

Healthy Bowel Habit means taking steps to ensure your bowel movements are regular, comfortable, and consistent. Basically, it means pooping better. Pooping regularly and having soft textured stool is an indicator of a healthy bowel habit. The stool should also be very easy to pass. 

The frequency of excretion differs from person to person. Usually, the standard is 3 times weekly or 3 times daily. This depends on the diet, climate, age, health, physical condition, stress, etc.

You can begin developing a Healthy Bowel Habit by making small yet meaningful changes in your diet, lifestyle, and habits. I’ll be discussing them in the next part of the article.

Remedies for Cow Patty Poop and Steps for Healthy Bowel Habit: 

The steps to take for Healthy Bowel Habit also eliminate problems like cow patty poop at the same time. You’ll find that the tips and remedies below not only solve the problems like loose stools but bring a holistic change in your bowel habits and improve your gut health.

Here are 8 top remedies for cow patty poop:

Increase Daily Water Amount 

Hydration is very important for your gut health. Healthy bowel habits depend on hydration.

Water helps to produce normal stool. A person should drink 6-8 glasses daily. But this intake can differ according to your body statistics.

Try to avoid alcoholic drinks. Also do not drink more than 3 cups of caffeinated drinks a day.

Doing Daily Exercises

Daily exercises play an important role in maintaining a healthy body and mind. Exercising daily can have dramatic effects on your gut. It improves the regularity of bowel movements and also promotes gut health.

Some exercises to include in daily life: 

Walking

Walking 40 minutes daily can be a great start as an exercise. Walking improves bowel movement and helps to easily pass poop.

Cycling 

Cycling is very good exercise for the entire body as well as the digestive system. It helps keep the gut active and is great for the uninterrupted function of the digestive system. It also helps to reduce your belly fat. 

Breathing Exercises

These are very simple yet effective exercises. The steps of breathing exercises are: 

1. Sit up straight. 
2. Breathe slowly and deeply. 
3. Breathe in and out. 
4. Use your belly muscles for breathing.

If you do this properly this can help to reduce bloating. This exercise also helps to keep your gut healthy. 

Yoga 

Yoga poses are beneficial for normal bowel movements. It can also improve gut motility. Here is a yoga pose you can try: 

• Cobra Pose 

This pose improves your posture. It also helps to stretch stomach muscles. Steps of it are- 

• Lie down on your stomach. Up your chin and keep the legs together 
• Place your hands on the ground beneath your shoulders
• Move your head and chest upward
• Keep your pelvis attached to the floor
• Look upward
• Hold for four to five breaths

Eating Bowel Friendly Foods 

Including bowel-friendly foods in your day-to-day diet is good for healthy bowel habits. 

Foods to include more in the diet- 

Probiotics 

Probiotics are good bacteria and yeast for the body. It mainly includes lactobacillus and bifidobacterium.

Probiotics containing foods are – 

Probiotics are also available as dietary supplements. You can take this to increase probiotics in your diet.

Getting Enough Sleep 

Good sleep is necessary to control your stress level. In this way, it can maintain your gut health.

You should make a habit of sleeping 7-8 hours daily.

Avoid Any Intolerance 

I have listed the foods included in lactose and gluten intolerance. You should try to avoid these. Then it will be easier for you to maintain a good gut. 

Don’t Take Greasy Foods 

Everybody loves pizzas and hamburgers. But eating too much greasy food might affect your gut badly. Your gut condition might deteriorate due to these foods. 

So, try to avoid greasy foods as much as you can.

Limit High Protein Foods 

High protein foods can make your poop look like cow patties. Try to limit these types of foods. 

High protein foods are – 

Eating large amounts of high-protein foods can cause harmful changes in your gut. They mainly affect the good microbes in your body. 

When to see a doctor 

You must visit a doctor for the following conditions- 

These states can indicate something serious. Visit your nearby doctor as soon as you can. Follow the doctor’s advice. 

FAQs

Is it better for poop to float or sink? 

Normal stool sinks in the toilet. Poop can float due to the intake of high fatty foods. It also floats if you have difficulties absorbing oily foods.

What is the amount of poop excreted daily? 

A normal man produces 16 ounces of stool a day. Females produce 14 ounces of poop daily. 

How long should I spend on the toilet? 

If you have a healthy bowel habit you can finish your pooping in a few minutes. The maximum time for staying in the washroom should be about 5 minutes. 

End Note  

Cow patty poop is mainly due to food intolerances. So, your poop can tell if you have any food allergies.

Healthy bowel movements are necessary for maintaining good health. Your stool says a lot about your gut. But If your poop isn’t normal you usually feel ashamed to admit it. Pooping is a natural process for human beings. Let’s not feel shy about our pooping norms. If you have an unusual stool you should not hesitate to discuss it. 

Do not ignore unusual pooping for a long time. It might be due to something serious. At that time be sure to call your doctor.