How much wood can a Frenchie chip?
..if a Frenchie could chip wood?
For the past few months, one of our out-of-state Frenchies has experienced mysterious hot spots and allergy issues he didn’t here in Texas. (A big surprise as we live in the area not-so-jokingly called “Allergy Capital of the World.”)
He was breaking out on his face and back, and his strange maladies had his owners, his new vet, and us puzzled. Then one day his family mentioned the landscaping wood chips in the backyard. Light bulbs went off! Could it be the wood chips? Wood chips can contain dyes, bug repellents, or anti-fungal agents. The wood chips were cleared out and once they were gone, the strange breakouts and hot spots were gone within a couple of weeks.
Wood chips must have been popular with the builder for landscaping, because other neighbor’s dogs who ate the chips, were getting sick from them, as well.
The amateur sleuth conclusion: there must be a chemical or preservative in those chips which was making all these dogs sick.
Did a little wood chip research:
• Wood chips with Black Walnut can be toxic to horses, plants, and humans.
• Some dogs can have allergies to cedar chips, which is often used in pet bedding.
• Stachybotrys mold can grow in wood chips.
• And of course, avoid Cocoa Mulch. (The same dog-dangerous chemicals found in chocolate, theobromine and caffeine, is in Cocoa Mulch.)
So if you use wood chips in your landscaping, check carefully for wood chips which aren’t treated or dyed. Could save some head scratching for both you and your dog. (And some vet bills, too!)
posted in Dog Community, Dog Safety | 0 Comments
