Mulch! It's menacing!

Photo by calgrin from morguefile.com

Mulch is used as an insulator for plants in gardens and backyards everywhere. It helps keep weeds from forming and gives the area more texture. It can be very harmful for some dogs. The two most dangerous types for dogs are wood chip mulch and cocoa mulch.

Wood Chip Mulch

This is one of the most common type of mulch available. It's known for giving great insulation to plants and is reasonably priced. The main problem with this for dogs is that if you have a dog who will eat just about anything, there's a good chance they'll ingest this and get wood splinters in their system. This can slice a dog's esophagus or even worse cause an obstruction in their stomach that may require surgery.

Cocoa Mulch

Cocoa Mulch is getting popular because it gives the planted area a pretty look and smells just like chocolate. The smell will last for two to three weeks. It's also great for those who want an organic substance for their gardening.

Made from cacao bean shells, it contains theobromine which is toxic to dogs. Fifty percent of dogs who ingest this will suffer from vomiting. If it's not caught in time and depending how much your dog has ingested, death can occur.

What If My Dog Ingests It?

In most cases, activated charcoal will counteract the effects. However, it's always a good idea to contact your vet if you suspect your dog has ingested anything at all.

Summing It All Up.

The majority of dogs will just notice mulch as decor. Many of them will not ingest it. If your yard has mulch and your dog is always picking up something when he's out in the yard, it's a good idea to be aware. Of the two, cocoa mulch is the one that can be very toxic to your pet.

More Resources

Chocolate Toxicity in Dogs
Dangers to Dogs from AVMA
Cedar Mulch and Dogs

Let's Discuss!

Has your dog or any dog you know had any mulch mishaps? What did you do in this situation? As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Related Posts

Toxic Foods for Dogs
Quite A Scare!

Coyotes

Sunning Coyote by Richard Spencer

This week I read about how Jessica Simpson's dog was snatched away by a coyote. Ozzy Osborne lost his little Pomeranian to a coyote during the summer when he let his dog out in the yard, while he and his wife were inside watching the tribute to Michael Jackson. These are examples of what happened to famous celebrities. One can only imagine how many times it has happened closer to home.

Coyotes are wild animals. When they are around humans they shy away from them. In recent years, they have been able to adapt to our urban environments. Many people feel sorry for them by feeling they should give them a little food since they are hungry. However, this tells coyotes that the person who gave them food is a source for food. They will think nothing of becoming aggressive towards that well-meaning person.

Adapting to city life coyotes range between 30 to 45 pounds (13.6 to 20.4kg). It's nothing for them to swipe an unsuspecting 10 pound dog,cat, or small child. In fact, cats are even more susceptible to their attacks than dogs.

If these animals are in your area, it is best to do the following:

• Keep all food inside

Leaving your food outside your back door or inside your garage is a huge magnet for this animals. They will dig through whatever they can to get to it.


• Keep your dogs on a leash or keep them close by.

Jessica Simpson's dog Daisy was standing right by her when that coyote swooped in and took off with her. It happened so fast because that is how coyotes are. I can only imagine how she felt when she saw it all go down. Larger dogs are not a target but large-breed puppies are just as much of a target as small-breed adult dogs.


• Keep your cat indoors

Years ago, it was common to let your cat to let your cat outside. Now, there are too many threats to a cat being outdoors like cars and predators. I've had my Kat for 9 years and never let her outside because I've been too afraid of what could happen to her. Luckily, she's enjoyed living as an indoor cat and has plenty of favorite spots to hang out.


• Act Aggresively!

Attempt to frighten away coyotes by making loud noises (e.g., shouting, air horn) and acting aggressively (e.g., waving your arms, throwing sticks, spraying with a hose).


• Don't Give Them A Hiding Place!

Close off crawl spaces under porches and sheds that coyotes or other animals may use.

These are just a few tips for you all. If you would like to read some more please visit this site.

Lastly, thanks for all stopping by. If you have any coyote stories you'd like to share, please don't be shy about leaving a comment. I'll be back with more posts this weekend.