Pet Poison Q & A: Is Mulch Too Much?
Is it unhealthy for dogs to eat cocoa bean shell mulch? My dog likes it, and while I try to stop her, if it won’t hurt, I’d rather let her eat it.
― Barbara B.
Mulch, in general, is not a good substance for pets to ingest, Barbara. Dogs consuming enough cocoa bean shell mulch could potentially develop signs similar to that of chocolate poisoning, including vomiting and diarrhea. In cases where very large amounts of mulch have been consumed, muscle tremors and other more serious neurological signs could occur. To date, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has not received any cases involving animal deaths due to cocoa mulch ingestion. One key point to remember is that some dogs, particularly those with indiscriminate eating habits, can be attracted to any organic matter. Therefore, if you have a dog with such eating habits, it is important you do not leave him unsupervised or allow him into areas where such materials are being used.
In case you have not already seen it, please read this article on our website that provides additional information on cocoa bean shell mulch.
More new questions this week:
- Every now and then I give my Maltese a mashed, hard-boiled egg. Is it safe to continue doing this?
- My family would like to give our shepherd/husky mix a bit of fresh cooked shrimp. Is this okay?
― Barbara B.
Mulch, in general, is not a good substance for pets to ingest, Barbara. Dogs consuming enough cocoa bean shell mulch could potentially develop signs similar to that of chocolate poisoning, including vomiting and diarrhea. In cases where very large amounts of mulch have been consumed, muscle tremors and other more serious neurological signs could occur. To date, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center has not received any cases involving animal deaths due to cocoa mulch ingestion. One key point to remember is that some dogs, particularly those with indiscriminate eating habits, can be attracted to any organic matter. Therefore, if you have a dog with such eating habits, it is important you do not leave him unsupervised or allow him into areas where such materials are being used.
In case you have not already seen it, please read this article on our website that provides additional information on cocoa bean shell mulch.
More new questions this week:
- Every now and then I give my Maltese a mashed, hard-boiled egg. Is it safe to continue doing this?
- My family would like to give our shepherd/husky mix a bit of fresh cooked shrimp. Is this okay?
posted by ASPCA at 8:38 AM PERMALINK
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