Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomCommon CausesMedical CausesDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to Seek Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptom
Common Causes
Medical Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
When to Seek Care
Pebble poop—small, hard pellet-like stool—is usually a sign ofconstipation. By increasing your fiber and fluid intake, you can usually go back to having normal stools. Severe cases may require more aggressive treatment, like osmotic laxatives or enemas.
If these efforts don’t help and pebble poop persists or worsens, it could be a sign of a medical condition. It might be something that is easily treated, like adjusting a medication dose, or it could be a sign of a more serious condition like inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, or colon cancer.
Symptoms and Complications of Pebble Poop
Left untreated, chronic constipation can lead to complications such as:
What Causes Pebble Poop?
In most cases, pebble poop is a sign of functional constipation, also known as primary constipation. Functional constipation is the most common cause, and while it is not life-threatening, it can severely undermine your quality of life.
Functional constipation is defined as having less than three bowel movements per week, resulting in dry, hardened stools that are difficult to pass.
With functional constipation, there is no medical condition underpinning the condition. Rather, lifestyle, diet, and/or problems with the function of yourcolonare largely to blame.
Lifestyle Factors
Lifestyle factors for constipation are those that are modifiable, meaning that you can take steps to change them. These include:
Physiological Factors
There are also functional disorders that affect the speed at which stools pass through the colon. This condition, known aschronic idiopathic constipation (CIC), is poorly understood but is thought to occur when the signaling of nerves between the brain and colon malfunction.
Conditions associated with CIC include:
Medical Conditions That Cause Pebble Poop
Pebble poop may not be the result of “regular” constipation. It could be due to a medical condition that indirectly affects the function of the intestines or the passage of stool.
Secondary constipation is a type of constipation linked to certain medical conditions or medications. Some of these conditions can slow the wave-like contraction of the intestines, known asperistalsis, drawing excess water out of stools. Other conditions can lead to bowel obstruction.
Medical conditions linked to constipation include:
Medications That Cause ConstiptionMany over-the-counter and prescription medications are linked to constipation, particularly when overused. These include:AntacidsAntidepressantsCalcium channel blockersDiureticsIron supplementsOpioid drugsAntispasmodicsOveruse ofcalcium supplements
Medications That Cause Constiption
Many over-the-counter and prescription medications are linked to constipation, particularly when overused. These include:AntacidsAntidepressantsCalcium channel blockersDiureticsIron supplementsOpioid drugsAntispasmodicsOveruse ofcalcium supplements
Many over-the-counter and prescription medications are linked to constipation, particularly when overused. These include:
How Is Pebble Poop Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of pebble poop is pretty self-evident. Even so, specialists in the digestive tract calledgastroenterologistswill commonly take steps to characterize your condition and explore the possible causes.
In the course of the examination, the gastroenterologist will classify your poop based on its hardness and consistency. The classification helps narrow the possible causes.
The classification system, known as theBristol Stool Chart, categorizes poop as follows:
Based on your symptoms, a physical exam, and a review of your medical history (including diet and lifestyle), your healthcare provider may immediately recommend conservative treatment.
If your symptoms are unusual or are resistant to treatment, additional tests may be ordered, including:
How Is Pebble Poop Treated?
If your symptoms are occasional and relatively mild, home remedies may solve the problem. If home remedies don’t resolve your symptoms, medical treatments may be needed.
At-Home Treatments
Try these tips to treat constipation at home:
Medical Treatments
Along with at-home remedies, your healthcare provider may suggest:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Pebble poop from time to time is usually nothing to worry about. However, you should speak with a healthcare provider if they last for longer than two weeks and you don’t know why.
There are other occasions where pebble poop is a cause for concern. Call your healthcare provider immediately if:
Summary
Constipation with small, hard, pebble-like stools is generally a sign of a low-fiber diet. Other contributing factors include drinking too little water or having an inactive lifestyle.
Certain medications and medical conditions can also cause constipation even if you are active and consume plenty of fiber. If constipation lasts more than two weeks and has no known cause, speak with a healthcare provider.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.United States Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025.Harvard Medical School.Common causes of constipation.Wlodarczyk J, Wasniewska A, Fincha J, Dziki A, Dziki L, Wlodarczyk M.Current overview on clinical management of chronic constipation.J Clin Med.2021 Apr;10(8):1738. doi:10.3390/jcm10081738Ueki T, Nakashima M.Relationship between constipation and medication.J UOEH2019;41(2):145-151. doi:10.7888/juoeh.41.145Blake MR, Raker JM, Whelan K.Validity and reliability of the Bristol Stool Form Scale in healthy adults and patients with diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2016;44(7):693-703. doi:10.1111/apt.13746
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.United States Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025.Harvard Medical School.Common causes of constipation.Wlodarczyk J, Wasniewska A, Fincha J, Dziki A, Dziki L, Wlodarczyk M.Current overview on clinical management of chronic constipation.J Clin Med.2021 Apr;10(8):1738. doi:10.3390/jcm10081738Ueki T, Nakashima M.Relationship between constipation and medication.J UOEH2019;41(2):145-151. doi:10.7888/juoeh.41.145Blake MR, Raker JM, Whelan K.Validity and reliability of the Bristol Stool Form Scale in healthy adults and patients with diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2016;44(7):693-703. doi:10.1111/apt.13746
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.United States Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025.Harvard Medical School.Common causes of constipation.Wlodarczyk J, Wasniewska A, Fincha J, Dziki A, Dziki L, Wlodarczyk M.Current overview on clinical management of chronic constipation.J Clin Med.2021 Apr;10(8):1738. doi:10.3390/jcm10081738Ueki T, Nakashima M.Relationship between constipation and medication.J UOEH2019;41(2):145-151. doi:10.7888/juoeh.41.145Blake MR, Raker JM, Whelan K.Validity and reliability of the Bristol Stool Form Scale in healthy adults and patients with diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2016;44(7):693-703. doi:10.1111/apt.13746
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Constipation.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Constipation.
United States Department of Agriculture.Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025.
Harvard Medical School.Common causes of constipation.
Wlodarczyk J, Wasniewska A, Fincha J, Dziki A, Dziki L, Wlodarczyk M.Current overview on clinical management of chronic constipation.J Clin Med.2021 Apr;10(8):1738. doi:10.3390/jcm10081738
Ueki T, Nakashima M.Relationship between constipation and medication.J UOEH2019;41(2):145-151. doi:10.7888/juoeh.41.145
Blake MR, Raker JM, Whelan K.Validity and reliability of the Bristol Stool Form Scale in healthy adults and patients with diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2016;44(7):693-703. doi:10.1111/apt.13746
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