Is Cedar Mulch Safe for Dogs?

Pet care experts have conflicting opinions regarding the safety of using cedar mulch in landscaping near pets or as pet bedding. While some experts warn of the potential health risks associated with using cedar mulch, others suggest cedar and other wood mulches are safe when used cautiously.

  1. Benefits

    • Applied to flower beds, gardens and around trees, cedar mulch provides a ground cover to prevent the growth of weeds and help soil retain moisture. As the cedar mulch decays on the garden it provides nutrients to the soil to produce healthier plants. Cedar chips used as pet bedding help absorb moisture and provide insulation to keep outside dogs dry and warm during cold weather. The strong odor of cedar pet bedding also helps control unpleasant pet odors while repelling ticks and fleas.

    Mild Reactions

    • Exposure to cedar pet bedding may cause skin irritation or redness in some dogs. If dogs consume large amounts of cedar and other wood mulches, essential oils and resins may cause vomiting and excessive drooling. Wood mulch may cause bowel and stomach obstructions while sharp pieces may also tear the bowels, esophagus or stomach lining. Excessive amounts may produce the same reactions as chocolate poisoning, causing diarrhea, increased heart rate and tremors. Stomach pumping may be necessary to remedy these intestinal problems.

    Severe Reactions

    • Wood shavings from pine, cedar and other trees may cause serious problems as pet bedding for pregnant dogs and newborn pups. Bacteria sometimes found in wood shavings may enter the mother's body through her vagina or uterus to cause mastitis, an infection of the mammary glands. In puppies, the bacteria may enter the body through the umbilical cord -- before it drops off -- causing septicemia, a blood infection. Though easy to treat with antibiotics, the problem often goes unnoticed, resulting in puppy death.

    Considerations

    • Avoid these severe reactions by removing cedar bedding or mulch from bedding areas of pregnant dogs and newborn puppies. Carefully monitor dogs' activity around mulched areas of your yard to prevent consumption of the materials. Check "outside dogs" daily to look for irritated skin and signs of vomit or diarrhea that indicate the need to remove cedar bedding from kennels and dog houses. Replace cedar bedding with old sheets or blankets and cedar mulch with pea gravel, other wood mulches or compost applied as mulch.