If your dog happens to eat straw, it can cause a number of ailments. These ailments include reactions of hypersensitivity, such as difficulty breathing, lethargy, coughing, nosebleeds, wheezing, sneezing, and lowered appetite. If you are a dog owner with an outdoor kennel, you are probably concerned about keeping your pooch warm. For several centuries, straw has been used as animal bedding, of which it is still being used. Straw is also an excellent way to keep the doghouse insulated and warm during the winter months. This article will take an in-depth look at any potential health risks to using straw for insulating a doghouse.
Can Dogs Eat Straw?
Straw ingested in small amounts will not cause significant harm to your pet. It is common knowledge that dogs love to chew on anything and everything. This includes the straw put in their doghouse as bedding. As they chew the straw, they are going to ingest a few strands. Ingested in small amounts will not have any adverse effects on your pet. However, if he or she is eating a lot of silage, gastrointestinal anguish, or even an intestinal or gastric blockage.
To keep your pet from munching on his bedding, ensure there are plenty of other items to catch his eye. Such as rawhide bones, toys, balls, even throw him a few doggie biscuits to chew on. In addition, dogs often chew out of boredom. Therefore, make sure he has plenty of physical activities to engage in, as well as frequent walks.
Will Pine Needle Mulch Poison a Dog?
Pine needle mulch,if your dog ingests it, can puncture the lining of his stomach. Additionally, cats and dogs that eat pine needles may show signs of hypersensitivity as a reaction to certain mulch types.
Is Garden Mulch Bad for Dogs?
Although garden mulch serves many purposes, it has other issues regarding its application. One of these issues is how it may be toxic to your pup. This toxicity should be addressed to ensure your pet’s safety.
Because dogs like to chew, certain kinds of garden mulch can be hazardous to your pooches’ health. Therefore, you must keep your dog safely contained in an area of the yard that doesn’t have mulch. Additionally, when taking your pup for walks, ensure to avoid areas in which there might be mulch present.
What happens if a dog eats straw?
If your dog happens to eat some of the straw in his bedding, the only real hazard is possible choking. However, if the straw has mold growing on it, other issues can arise. Moldy straw can create a variety of hypersensitivity symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, sneezing, coughing, and wheezing. In addition, some other signs your dog has been exposed to moldy straw are nosebleeds, loss of appetite, and lethargy.
When straw is cut while it is still moist, mold will start to form. Another alternative, if your pup keeps eating straw, is to use pine straw. Dog’s normally will not eat this type of straw.
What if My Dog Eats Moldy Straw?
There are mycotoxins contained in the mold that grows on food and straw which is poisonous to your fur baby. If eaten it can create a syndrome referred to as mycotoxin toxicosis of mycotoxin intoxication. Either syndrome can be deadly if treatment is not sought immediately.
Will Mold Have an Adverse Effect on My Dog?
Similar to humans, mold can also affect your dog in an adverse manner. Because canines have a fragile structure of their immunities, they are more likely to develop illnesses related to mold. Some breeds of dogs are more prone to mold-related allergies than other breeds.
What are Signs of Mold Poisoning?
Symptoms of mold poisoning normally are not much worse than the symptoms of the common cold. In people, mold can bring about symptoms of asthma, nasal congestions, sinuses and even asthma. Below are some symptoms of mold poisoning that can also show up in canines as well:
- Watery, itchy eyes
- Irritation of the nasal passages
- Reddish eyes
- Blurred vision
- Difficulty breathing
- Wheezing
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Sore throat
- Nosebleeds
- Hives, rash, or other skin irritations
- Headache
- Asthma attacks for those who suffer from asthma
How to Prevent Mold Growth on Your Pet’s Bed
Placing some wood chips in a thin layer under the straw will allow a defined amount of drainage. This averts the growth of mold on the straw prior to its replacement. For senior-aged or injured pooches, use extra blankets or foam rubber to create soft, warmer bedding. This type of bedding can be more supportive and softer, all the while averting mold growth.
How Do You Treat Mold Poisoning In Your Canine?
Veterinarians treat dogs that have accidentally ingested or inhaled mold with a focus on supportive care. This care includes managing symptoms such as vomiting and the respiratory system. It might even involve administering fluids via IV to treat gastric distress and dehydration.
What happens if a dog eats a straw wrapper?
If your fur baby should eat the wrapper to straw, a lot of factors determine the damage, if any. The major factor is the size of your pet, and how big the wrapper was. The ingesting of a straw wrapper may result in an obstruction or blockage that causes persistent vomiting.
What if My Dog Eats A Wrapper?
Unfortunately, when a dog eats something in a wrapper, they neglect to unwrap it first. This results in the animal ingesting the contents, wrapper and all. The cellophane and foil these wrappers are made of can create a bowel obstruction that may be life-threatening.
A bowel obstruction may need surgery to remedy the situation. Signs of an obstructed bowel include vomiting, difficulty defecating, lethargy, and a decrease in appetite.
How Long Before My Pooch Passes a Wrapper?
Of course, there is a chance your pup may be able to naturally pass the swallowed wrapper. Should he ingest a plastic bag, spoon, or some other foreign object, he will need to eliminate it in one way or another. Sometimes he will vomit to get it out of his stomach.
You will need to wait a couple of hours and inspect his feces for the objects. In some cases though, your pooch may require surgery to get rid of anything he has eaten that is indigestible and cannot be eliminated. The process usually takes between forty-eight to seventy-two hours.
Will My Pup Defecate the Plastic Straw?
Unfortunately, due to the material, it is made of, the acid in your dog’s stomach cannot dissolve it to be defecated naturally. However, in some cases, the plastic wrapping will navigate its way along the dog’s internal passages and exit via the dog’s feces. Yet, there is still the chance it may become hung up on the animal’s insides and create blockages. This normally requires the assistance of a veterinarian to remove it by a surgical procedure.
Is Straw OK For Dog Bedding?
When you use straw as a dog’s bedding, it breaks down rapidly, becoming a heap of straw dust. Using straw for a dog’s bedding is better than not using anything, however, it should be changed out often. On the other hand, using grass hay is better as it creates less dust and is longer lasting.
Straw and hay make excellent bedding for livestock, yet not the best choice for dogs to sleep in. The reason is that straw and hay make a great home for fleas and other bugs to live. One of these bugs is the mites that cause mange.
What Are Some Other Dog Bedding Options?
There are other options for dog beds that prevent chewing, such as canvas, PVC, and Cordura. One of the most common options for a dog bed is canvas, this material is practically indestructible. Canvas is resistant to tearing, has extreme durability, and when your dog tries to chew it will not break.
What Kind Of Bedding Is The Warmest For Your Dog?
Some better options of warm bedding for your pup are cedar or pine shavings. Using wood shavings creates a bed that is comfortable as well as soft to lay in. Shavings are great for moisture absorption as well as controlling bad scents. In addition, wood shavings are safe in the environment and a natural repellent against insects and fleas. As well as being easy to get rid of when it’s time to change out the old for the new.
*Note: Wood shavings should not be used if your dog is pregnant or has newborn puppies.
What Is Straw?
For centuries, straw has been used to keep animals warm, as you may be aware, it’s still being used today.
Straw is a part of a grain crop’s dry stalk. Although there are several varieties of straw available, many of them are not safe for canines. When you go shopping for your dog’s winter bedding, ensure you find the straw that is the safest type.
What Are The Types Of Straw?
Cereal plants, like rice, rye, oat sorghum, barley, wheat, and etcetera have a dry stalk we refer to as straw. Dependent on what cereal crop it is what type of straw will be produced. Not all straw is recommendable for usage as animal bedding. Below are the four most common options for straw bedding.
Wheat Straw
This type of straw is commonly utilized for outdoor dog kennels as well as for livestock. This is also one of the dustiest types of straw, also doesn’t flatten easily, and tends to retain warmth well. Although it is not very absorbent it is pretty simple to maintain and control.
Barley Straw
This is one of the lowest-costing straw types available; yet, it doesn’t make that good of a bed for dogs. Barley straw is known to irritate the skin due to the awns of the barley’s ear being long and prickly. Barley straw is also not the best to use as livestock bedding either.
Oat Straw
If you are seeking high-quality livestock bedding, oat straw is the one. This straw type is more absorbent and softer than wheat straw. However, for dogs, this isn’t the best option because it tends to cause canines to be itchy. On the other hand, this type of straw is a little pricey due to its use as fodder for cattle and horses.
Pine Straw
When it comes to an outdoor dog kennel, pine straw is the most recommended type to use. This straw is comfortable to lie in and safe. One downside is its poor ability to absorb liquid, therefore, it must be changed frequently.
What To Do If My Dog Eats Straw?
As the temperatures begin to plummet during the winter months, it becomes a challenge to keep outdoor family members warm. Many choose straw or hay as an inexpensive option for maintaining warmth in a dog kennel.
Dogs love to play and chew on everything. This includes his bedding. Although the straw he eats will not kill him, he might choke on it or develop a blockage (which could be fatal). If your dog keeps eating the straw in his bed, ensure you provide him with other things to chew on. You should be able to avert his straw eating/chewing with rubber toys, balls, and even dog biscuits.