Mulch made from cocoa bean shells smells delicious to humans and dogs but it can contain toxic compounds theobromine and caffeine that could harm your dog. Signs of cocoa mulch poisoning include.
Considering how many problems there are with mulch you will want to do what you can to make sure that you keep your dog as far away as possible from the mulch.
Is bark mulch toxic to dogs. Mulch made from cocoa bean shells smells delicious to humans and dogs but it can contain toxic compounds theobromine and caffeine that could harm your dog. Thankfully cases of mulch toxicity in dogs are rare and the attractive smell. A very common type of mulch used in landscaping cypress mulch is not toxic to dogs.
So before you settle on buying bags of mulches from home renovation stores and landscaping shops online consider their effect on your pets. Decide on one that is beneficial for your landscape design and safe for the environment and your pets. While mulch is not meant to be ingested some dogs still love chewing on the wood chips.
One particular type of mulch can be especially poisonous to dogs and cats. The kind made from the shells of cocoa beans. According to the National Capital Poison Control Center.
Cocoa bean mulch contains theobromine and caffeine just like chocolate. These chemicals are poisonous to dogs. Another mulch that is non-toxic and safe for dogs is pine.
Use caution if your landscaping material contains pine needles. They can irritate or puncture the stomach if your friend eats them. Black bulk mulch that contains CCA or other toxic chemicals are bad news for dogs.
But whether MSC-approved mulches are safe for dogs depends on the dog. They may be allergic to the wood choke on it or eat it causing vomiting. Some dogs wont chew on mulch at all.
Cocoa bean mulch has a higher tendency to have mold and it also contains the same toxins in it that make chocolate problematic for dogs. Considering how many problems there are with mulch you will want to do what you can to make sure that you keep your dog as far away as possible from the mulch. Some Bark Mulches Are Safe for Animals Though some kinds of bark contain compounds that are harmful to both humans and animals other trees could in.
I think but may be wrong that some bark chippings are poisonous to dogs as it is treated with something. I only know because I used bark chippings once as a mulch on my border and a group on FB which I came off where up in arms about how I could poison my dogs. As a result dogs may be tempted to ingest it.
That said there is still a small amount of theobromine the chemical that results in chocolate poisoning remaining in the mulch and when ingested in large amounts this can cause signs of chocolate poisoning. Signs of cocoa mulch poisoning include. Likewise are wood chips safe for dogs.
While normal bark mulch is not poisonous to dogs there is a specific bark which you should take allot of care with and that is cocoa mulch as this is very poisonous to dogs according to. What makes the mulch dangerous to pets especially dogs who would have a greater tendency than cats to chew the material is the chemical compounds found in the cocoa bean shell it is made from. The shells contain two compounds called methylxanthines that are also found in chocolate.
Bark harvested from the long-living hemlock tree provides a nontoxic mulch for your garden and is generally safe for dogs according to the ASPCA Poison Control Center. Cedar or pine chips are safe alternatives. Ingesting cocoa mulch can cause a number of symptoms ranging from slobbering to vomiting to seizures.
Cedar mulch is not toxic to dogs. However if you have a dog that likes to dig and chew ANY mulch may cause vomiting and diarrhea if too much is ingested. If the cedar mulch is too chunky gastrointestinal obstructions can result.
The bark mulch that we use at Groundhog Landscaping is locally produced and non-toxic to the environment and to pets. However as far as your four-legged friend is concerned you may want to consider ¾ river stone or 38 pea stone as a bedding material for dog kennels and resting areas. Some bark mulches are considered safe mulch for dogs.
Crabapple dogwood Dougless fir and countless other tree barks pose no risk to you or your dog. These mulches have a natural resistance to being compacted and spread by the weather and can be found at most gardening shops.