What makes poo float?

[MoosMa]

I'm getting a bit sick of finding floaters after DH has been to the toilet, they can take 3 big flushes to go sometimes! What can I feed him/not feed him to stop it happening?

[hitchcock]

i think its fat that makes the float???

[Blandmum]

Often fat. Sometimes large amount of undigested fibrous food, like sweetcorn.

PS I am not poo fixated

[dumbymummy]

Tie a lead weight to it.

[southeastastra]

yuk learn something everyday

not too many aeros then

[MoosMa]

He has eaten a lot of chocolate recently (obviously) and eats quite a lot of ham/cheese so maybe I will try to cut that down a bit.

Thanks all (although it is odd that you know! )

[NadineBaggott]

I'm sure we had this convo only a week or so ago??????????????????????????

[Blandmum]

Biology teacher.

Goes with the teritory!

[3littlefrogs]

As long as they are a normal colour it is just whatever he is eating, but if they are very pale (like putty) it can be a problem. -
A drop of washing up liquid might encourage it to sink (!)

[MoosMa]

3lf I can't imagine he'd eat that!

[Bananaknickers]

cork sandwiches also have this affect

[NadineBaggott]

ah! I thought so!!!!!!

[MrsSpoon]

Reminds me of when I was going out with DH and used to stay at his parents' house, there was always a big floater in the loo in the morning.

[Summerfruit]

Message withdrawn

[Wotzsaname]

Tigger can make poo float, I read it in a book

[belgo]

too much fat in his diet will make it float

[Blandmum]

Undigested fat also makes faeces float. But in that case the poo is oily and often spreads out on the surface. It can also smell highly offensive (worse than normal poo). This can be a symptom of pancreatic insuficiency, and may be part of CF.

It can also be caused (to a lesser extend) by very fatty diets.

Fibre can also make the poo float, but in that case it isn't oily looking and tends to 'hold together' more. And doesn't smell as bad

[MoosMa]

His do smell very bad and he's always very trumpy too!

[3littlefrogs]

I meant in the loo MM.... but it would make an interesting garnish on his dinner

[Blandmum]

THis is wildly bad IYSWIM. Total the whole house kind of bad IYSWIM

[SlightlyMadSecret]

once and for all

See the link below for last months discussion

Summary

Healthy poos float and are caused by fibre in the diet
Poos that don't flush are due to an excess fat in the diet.

[Debbsyandson]

Fibre makes poo float dh must be healthy.
if they sink its a sign of possibly being constipated.