Is pressure treated wood safe for dogs?
CCA Dangers
CCA is dangerous because it contain arsenic, a known human carcinogen. Over time, the arsenic can leak out from inside the wood into the surrounding soil and onto the surface of the wood. From the surface, the arsenic can be picked up on the paws of passing pets, who later ingest it.
Chemical Poisoning
Pieces of treated lumber can contain toxic arsenic compounds, which are poisonous to dogs and humans. Chewing the wood is certainly dangerous, but your dog can become ill by eating food or drinking water from the surface, according to Partnership for Animal Welfare.
Since 2003, pressure-treated lumbers such as ACQ cannot be considered a health hazard. Ultimately, this lumber is a good choice for cat owners who prefer a wood that is cost-effective while also durable and long lasting. This type of wood allows for many finishes such as paint, and staining.
More than 90 percent of all outdoor wooden structures in the United States are made with arsenic-treated lumber. Using wipe tests from 263 decks, playsets, picnic tables and sandboxes in 45 states, researchers found that arsenic levels on wood surfaces remain high for 20 years -- the entire useful life of the wood.
Most pine that is grown for landscaping or Christmas tree decoration purposes is the Norfolk pine. This tree is toxic to dogs and might upset their stomachs if they eat the wood from the pine. While the poison isn't fatal for dogs, the pine toxics do cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy.
The amount of leached chemicals generally drops quickly within a short distance from where soil is in contact with the treated wood. If you follow safety precautions around treated wood, you should not have any health effects as a result. However, you should avoid exposure to the smoke or ash from burning treated wood.
Dogs who've digested wood often vomit and have abdominal pain. Getting rid of it before it passes into his small intestines is crucial. The best thing you can do for your dog if he's eaten wood is to take him to the vet where he can be checked out.
No, a dog's stomach acid cannot dissolve wood.
Why Is Wood Bad For My Dog? The problem with your dog eating wood is two-fold. Small pieces of wood can lodge splinters in the mouth and esophagus, causing damage. Large pieces of wood can cause even more significant problems, including perforated intestines or stomach lining and obstruction of your dog's bowels.
Wood Bedding
If you still want to use wood, Aspen shavings are the safest of the wood shavings available at pet stores, and you should avoid pine shavings.
Is sawdust from pressure-treated wood toxic?
Sawdust produced by cutting or machining pressure-treated wood is not hazardous to people, plants or pets. When sawing or machining treated wood, wear eye protection, a dust mask and gloves.
There are four main types of wood that are generally used to build chicken coops. These include softwood, hardwood, pressure-treated lumber, and plywood.
Most pressure-treated lumber no longer contains arsenic.
Arsenic in Old Pressure-Treated Wood
Manufacture of CCA-treated wood for residential use was halted December 31, 2003, through an agreement between manufacturers and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Manufacturers of pressure-treated wood with micronized copper quaternary claim that their lumber won't leach any copper into the soil and therefore, it's safe for all uses, including making garden beds.
Use treated wood for the base and floor in your dog house plans. It resists moisture and lasts longer.
Chewing trees can damage your dog's teeth, and small splinters of wood can dislodge and become stuck in your dog's mouth and esophagus. Larger splinters can cause even more health issues in the intestinal tract.
Why Dogs Chew Things. Chewing is a normal behavior for a dog. Their need to chew goes back to their primal instincts, and their own unique way of keeping their teeth healthy. While our furry companion is no wild dog, their domestication has not removed their desire to chew and bite the objects in their presence.
Wood preservatives containing chromated arsenicals include preservatives containing chromium, copper and arsenic. Since the 1940s, wood has been pressure treated with chromated arsenicals to protect wood from rotting due to insect and microbial agent attack and wood-boring marine invertebrates.
So, yes, pressure treated wood is safe to use for your outdoor furniture, including picnic tables and chairs, benches, and so forth. We recommend using ACQ (alkaline copper quaternary) treated wood as it's been found to be the safest.
What is pressure treated wood made of?
In the pressure-treating process, lumber is sealed in a tank, and air is extracted, creating a vacuum. Then a solution containing chromium, copper, and arsenic is added. Because of the vacuum, the chemicals are carried deep into the wood.
Sawdust produced by cutting or machining pressure-treated wood is not hazardous to people, plants or pets. When sawing or machining treated wood, wear eye protection, a dust mask and gloves.
Wood Bedding
If you still want to use wood, Aspen shavings are the safest of the wood shavings available at pet stores, and you should avoid pine shavings.
Is it safe to use that green-treated CCA-wood in children's playgrounds, or as fence posts around cattle and other animals? After all, the timber has been soaked in some moderately toxic chemicals, such as copper, chrome and arsenic. The short answer is that it's pretty safe, so long as you don't burn it.
All have shown that the treated timber does not pose a hazard to humans or livestock.
