Reasons Why You Should Not Use Wood Chips for Kennel Flooring
Posted on August 25, 2010
Filed Under Dogs and Puppies | Leave a Comment
If you search online for dog kennel flooring ideas you will find that many people recommend laying down wood chips either inside or outside of the kennel. While this may be an acceptable practice for some dog owners, many have found that it really is not the best option when it comes to kennel flooring. If you are considering doing this, there are a few things to take into consideration before going ahead.
Colored wood chips: Some wood chips are actually colored and as such they are not at all suitable for kennel flooring. Your dog is probably likely to chew on them, and if they contain any sort of chemicals or coloring they can make your dog very sick. If you are planning on buying wood chips make sure that you buy those that do not contain any chemicals or dyes whatsoever.
Wood chips will disguise the smell of urine and other waste: This is also not really true at all. While they may at first, when they are brand new, because of the overwhelming smell of fresh wood chips, with time they will begin to smell quite a bit. It is very difficult to get rid of urine or feces from wood chips, it is bound to soak through into the chips and contaminate them. Not only does this cause problems with odor but it can also lead to a growth of bacteria. The obvious solution for this is to very regularly replace the wood chips so that they are always fresh. This can end up being a little costly and any repetitive task that needs to be performed is a time sink.
One other consideration is that mold can and will grow on damp wood chips. Just as mold is unhealthy for humans, it is for dogs as well.
If you are planning on laying down wood chips for your kennel floor make sure you know exactly what type you are buying, avoid any that have been treated with chemicals or have had dyes added and prepare to change them on a very regular basis.
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