Welcome to Spring! And for many, that means ambitious gardening projects are underway. Before going to the garden store, prioritize your dog's health and safety.

Ensuring your yard is dog-safe starts with the mulch you select for your garden beds. All mulch is not the same. Some can be downright dangerous – even deadly – if swallowed by a curious dog.

Top 2 Most Dangerous Mulches for Dogs

Cocoa Mulch
Rubber Mulch

Cocoa Mulch Concerns

Let’s take a closer look at each of these doggone dangerous mulches if you have dogs. Cocoa mulch contains high levels of theobromine. Yep, that’s the same toxin found in chocolate, especially dark chocolate. This chocolate-aroma mulch can attract curious dogs to paw and swallow pieces in your gardens.

Dogs eating cocoa mulch can suffer from these symptoms:

Vomiting
Rapid heart rate
Seizures
And, yes, even death

Action plan: If your dog ate cocoa mulch, you need to get him to the veterinary clinic pronto.

Rubber Mulch Concerns

For some gardeners, the appeal of rubber mulch is that it lasts a very long time because it doesn’t decompose and it doesn’t have any splinters. But it is pricier than conventional types of garden mulches.

But here are the doggy dangers associated with rubber mulch:

Rubber mulch can get hot in the sun and cause burns to the paws.
It also contains harmful chemicals if swallowed by your dog.
And, if your dog swallows rubber mulch, the rubber mulch chunks can cause intestinal blockage.

Again, alert your veterinarian and bring your dog immediately to be treated.

Dog-Safe Mulch Options

Prioritize your dog’s safety by opting for these safer mulch choices:

Cedar mulch
Pine bark mulch
Pine needle mulch

All of these mulches are natural and contain no toxic materials that are found in cocoa and rubber mulches.

Dog-Safe Mulch Option Benefits

Cedar mulch acts as a natural insect repellent, especially fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Plus, there is little to no risk of this mulch developing harmful mold.

Pine bark mulch comes in bigger chunks than other mulches so there is less risk of your dog choking and swallowing pieces.

Pine needle mulch is spiky, making it not very appealing for most dogs to try to eat. Be aware, for those few dogs who do eat this type of mulch, it can cause mild stomach irritation.

Treat your dog who loves to dig with a canine sandbox that you can stash treats and safe toys for him to sniff out. Supervise your dog when you give him time in your fenced backyard to keep him from garden dangers like mulch chips.

Remember that April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month. There are a lot of hidden dangers out there – including some types of mulch - so be vigilant.

Final Tip

Show your cat and dog how much you care for them by enrolling in one of our Pet First Aid 4U classes. We offer three options for you to earn veterinarian-approved two-year certificates in our pet first aid/CPR programs:

• In-person classes primarily aimed at pet professionals and first responders.

• Interactive via ZOOM classes offered monthly and on demand

• Self-paced online classes for those wishing to learn anytime, anywhere.

Pick the best option for you and sign up today!

About the Author:

Arden Moore, founder of Pet First Aid 4 U, is a Master Pet First Aid/CPR Instructor who teaches veterinarian-approved, hands-on safety courses alongside her teaching team of Kona (dog) and Casey (cat). Known as “The Pet First Aid & Safety Coach,” Arden is also a nationally recognized behavior consultant, bestselling author of over 25 pet books, and the award-winning host of the “Oh Behave!” podcast. A Fear Free Certified Professional, she brings decades of pet expertise to all her endeavors — with a mission to help pets live safer, longer and healthier lives.

Wait! Is That Garden Mulch Dog-Safe?