Gastroenterology

Poop that smells like ammonia can happen when there isn’t enough water in your body, or when your gut or liver makes extra ammonia from breaking down protein.

Your poop might smell like burnt hair because changes in your gut bacteria can create unusual chemicals that give off a strong, odd odor.

Drinking coffee can affect your digestion, and some of its strong aromatic compounds might pass through your body, making your poop smell like coffee.

Your poop might smell like gasoline because your gut is making unusual chemicals from bacteria or problems in digestion.

Your poop may smell like metal because iron, from supplements or bleeding, changes the way your gut works and creates a metallic odor.

Poop that smells like weed may be related to how certain plant chemicals, like those in cannabis, change the way your gut works.

Sweet-smelling poop may happen when changes in your body, such as high blood sugar or shifts in your gut bacteria, cause unusual chemicals to be made during digestion.

A feeling of fullness in the anus may be caused by conditions such as enlarged hemorrhoids, changes from an enlarged rectum, or an anal fissure. Each of these can put pressure or cause irritation in the area, leading to that uncomfortable sensation.

Sometimes stool can become hard even without constipation because factors like not getting enough water or fiber, medications, or how your body moves food through can change stool texture.

Feeling like you didn’t wipe completely can come from leftover stool or a change in how your rectum and anus feel. Changing your cleaning technique, diet, or even discussing it with a doctor may help.