Is it safe for my dog to eat mulch

The key to keeping your dog from eating wood as with anything you dont want them to ingest is to keep it away from them. Mulch is highly absorbent.

This condition is a medical emergency.

Is it safe for my dog to eat mulch. Ingestion of mulch poses a lot of severe health problems to a dog and that is the more reason you should take precautions to prevent your dog from eating mulch or better still you should totally avoid using mulch in certain areas of your yard where your dog can have access to it. Mulch can come with a wide variety of issues for your dog which is why it is so important for you to try and keep your dog from chewing and eating it as much as possible. One of the biggest threats that mulch poses is the fact that the wood chips are not something that dogs are supposed to be eating.

But is mulch safe for your dog. The overarching answer is no. Mulch can be made from many different materials from cedar shavings to newspaper to rubber.

One dog may eat it and be fine but another might become seriously ill from the same type of mulch. Its risky to allow a dog to eat mulch of any type but certain mulches are even more problematic and dangerous. Mulch made from cocoa shells is known as cocoa bean mulch and it is particularly toxic to dogs.

Homeowners with dogs should stay clear of this type of mulch and seek a less toxic alternative. While others types of mulch may not necessarily be toxic they can also be dangerous. Why Dogs Eat Mulch.

Cocoa bean mulch unfortunately is particularly toxic to dogs. Large ingestion can result in severe signs requiring hospital care. If your pet is a mulch chewer take care to use pet safe mulch in areas where your dog has access.

You may also have to supervise your dog when he is outside to prevent him from consuming large pieces. Any wood-based mulch is safe for your dog. Pine cedar and cypress are probably the three of the most popular mulch options and they should all be dog-friendly.

To be completely safe consider these additional concerns. Larger mulch may present a choking hazard If your mulch is primarily large pieces and your dog tries to swallow one they may choke. Think about mulching your gardens with.

My dog likes to lie in mulch is that okay. In fact many pet owners choose to use mulch as a lining in their dogs bed or kennel. Mulch is highly absorbent.

This means that it quickly traps and removes liquids such as urine so that your dog can stay dry even after an accident. Justine Lee of the Pet Health Network notes that most mulches are safe for dogs not causing a toxic reaction. However a dog eating mulch still runs the risk of ingesting foreign bodies presenting choking hazards as well as esophageal inflammation scarring and perforation.

Mulch can even be more tempting to a dog due to its potent smell. Its safest to block off any parts of your yard where mulch is present in order to prevent your pup from being tempted. Mulch poses as large of a threat as sticks and wood of other kinds.

Sawdust mulch itself is safe for animals but gardeners commonly use it around blueberry and rhododendron bushes the latter of which can poison dogs and. You can put your mind at ease knowing that most mulch is non-toxic but there are a few that are quite hazardous to dogs and should be avoided. Cocoa mulch is one such mulch.

Cocoa mulch as you may have already guessed is made from cocoa beans. Cocoa beans similar to chocolate contain the chemical theobromine that is highly toxic to dogs. Dog owners who have garden areas which are accessible to their pets should be made aware of the dangers of mulch.

Cocoa bean mulch in particular causes toxicity in canines who ingest it. Other types of mulch can present risks as well. Protect yourself and your pet.

Compare top pet insurance plans. Mulch can tidy up a garden bed prevent weeds and help retain moisture. But is it safe for your dog.

The post Is Mulch Safe for Dogs to Eat. Appeared first on Readers Digest. Mulch can be sharp and cause some irritation or small wounds in the mouth and more.

If your dog happens to eat a large amount of black mulch then this could result in an intestinal blockage. This condition is a medical emergency. The severity of clinical signs from chocolate poisoning will depend on how much cocoa mulch is ingested.

In general one or two licks or bites will not cause a problem. Regardless make sure to keep the mulch out of reach of your dog for the first few weeks. I am trying to decide if it is safe to use mulch for my dogs kennel.

The mulch is free of chemicles and is actually from trees we cut down and mulched ourselves. The kennel is 25 by 30 and I. The key to keeping your dog from eating wood as with anything you dont want them to ingest is to keep it away from them.

Understandably keeping wood away can be more difficult given your environment especially if you live near a forest or wooded area. Moreover what happens if my dog eats mulch. 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.