Is it safe for puppies to eat mulch

The mulch is sold at most garden supply stores and according to Hersheys 98 of dogs wont eat it. Many forms of mulch are filled with chunks of wood and sticks and can be just as damaging for a pet when its consumed.

Its unlikely that your pet will have a chance to eat the mulch but with such high risks its better to be safe than sorry.

Is it safe for puppies to eat mulch. Dogs love to chew and a fresh bed of mulch is a prime target for digging and chewing. If your dog is a mulch eater precautions should be taken as complications can result. Dogs that chew on small pieces of mulch or sticks can develop gum irritation from splinters that embed in the oral cavity.

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 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. Even though most mulch are somewhat safe for dogs some are unsafe and can cause gastrointestinal tract blockage which is a condition that can be quite detrimental to the dogs health.

That been said lets take a look at how to address the issue of a dog eating mulch dog safe mulch alternative as well as what to do if my dog ate mulch. The mulch is sold at most garden supply stores and according to Hersheys 98 of dogs wont eat it. Its unlikely that your pet will have a chance to eat the mulch but with such high risks its better to be safe than sorry.

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. Depending on the size of the wood chip you can run into quite a few problems. Smaller wood chips have the threat of causing an intestinal blockage perforations and other similar problems.

Cedar mulch is considered safe for dogs. It does not contain toxic chemicals but can still pose a risk if your dog swallows large chunks. As we mentioned above cedar also has some insect repellant properties.

This product has a pleasant aroma and an attractive natural red color that may appear in your garden. 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. A common complaint among those living with puppies is that they eat everything they can when outside.

Grass dirt leaves sticks feces from geese rabbits deer and other animals and sometimes rocks garbage or anything else they find when on a walk or out in the back yard. Many forms of mulch are filled with chunks of wood and sticks and can be just as damaging for a pet when its consumed. 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. 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.

Some dogs may prefer specific areas such as mulch piles that may have a mushroom-like aroma or taste. Too much dirt munching can obstruct your puppys digestive system but an occasional taste probably wont cause issues. 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.

Mulch that is safe for dogs. Wood-based mulch Basically any wood-based mulch is safe for your pooch. However pine cedar and cypress are probably the three of the most popular dog-friendly options.

Any untreated wood mulch Besides the bove mentioned types of mulch any untreated wood mulch is also safe for your canine. Cocoa bean mulch has an attractive smell that makes the ingestion of the mulch an interesting prospect to many dogs. The danger of ingestion lies in the compounds theobromine and caffeine which are also found in chocolate.

These substances will poison a dog leading to symptoms like tremors and vomiting. Puppies and small breed dogs are at the greatest risk of poisoning from garden mulch but there are risks for all dogs. Large pieces of mulch can present a chocking hazard.

If your dog is chewing on larger pieces of mulch and tries to swallow one they may choke similar to how some dogs have choked on bits of sticks. Dogs that eat mulch are at risk of ingesting chemicals that some mulch companies treat the mulch with even if the material the mulch is made of is dog-safe. Make sure any mulch you buy is labeled as dog safe.

Pesticides which may be on or near the mulch can make a dog sick. Dental and Digestive Issues. Unfortunately the repurposed wood that is often used to make red mulch may contain toxic chemicals.

Therefore if you really want to be on the safe side it is best to skip red mulch and use. The colored mulch is a food safe dye so thats not the problem. However colored mulch is often used as a way to disguise ground up shipping pallets.

Those potentially can contain pesticides. But I dont know how or if you would ever know if thats the case.