19
Jul
Is Bark Mulch Toxic To Dogs. According to the National Capital Poison Control Center. 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. The bark mulch that we use at Groundhog Landscaping is locally produced and non-toxic to the environment and to pets. Black bulk mulch that contains CCA or other toxic chemicals are bad news for dogs.
One particular type of mulch can be especially poisonous to dogs and cats. 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. 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. 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. As a result dogs may be tempted to ingest it. 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.
So before you settle on buying bags of mulches from home renovation stores and landscaping shops online consider their effect on your pets. The kind made from the shells of cocoa beans. Crabapple dogwood Dougless fir and countless other tree barks pose no risk to you or your dog. While mulch is not meant to be ingested some dogs still love chewing on the wood chips. They can irritate or puncture the stomach if your friend eats them. These mulches have a natural resistance to being compacted and spread by the weather and can be found at most gardening shops.