Spent hops vs foxes

[sparrow100]

evenin' all,

Courtesy of a lovely local micro-brewery I've got a steady supply of spent hops and/or grain. I plan on using the hops in compost bins, but also as a thick mulch under fruit bushes, some of which are netted.

I know hops are toxic to dogs - does anyone know if that at all extends to foxes? We have 3-4 foxes living on site and I don't want to kill 'em. Particularly if they have the same reaction to hops as dogs do, it sounds a miserable way to go.

I've tried googling, but can't find anything. Help!

[sparrow100]

Just in case anyone else ever comes across this, the answer is yes, they probably are toxic to foxes.

Phoned a wildlife hospital this morning and they advised keeping it inaccessible till it was rotted down and no longer attractive to foxes because it probably would kill them.

So no mulch for me till it's rotted down. I can at least mix it into my netted leafmould sacks and into the daleks.

[veggiechicken]

Thanks for letting us know, sparrow.
I didn't even know that it was toxic to dogs. Don't have access to any spent hops so never really thought about them before.

[sparrow100]

It's a nasty way for dogs to die, but I can understand why they would eat spent hops, they smell lovely.

Foxes are in the dog family so while they couldn't say for certain, the hospital said it was highly likely they would have the same reaction - ie death in as little as 6 hours and a poor prognosis even if you get the animal to a vet.

There is a micro-brewery locally which has offered us all their spent grain and hops. Spent hops make great mulch or compost and will heat a bin really well given they are still fermenting.

Unfortunately I won't be able to take as many bags as I wanted. We have 3-4 foxes living on our site and I don't want to be responsible for injuring or killing them.

[PyreneesPlot]

Thanks for the info about dogs and foxes - my spent hops and the grain goes onto the heap and really heats up, but i'll be covering the heap from now on. I guess the animals are attracted by the sweetness?

[WendyC]

Cocoa shell mulch is not good for dogs as well.

[Root66]

Did not know hops were a problem for dogs. Thanks!

[Penellype]

There are some surprising things that are toxic to dogs - chocolate (and cocoa shell as above) and grapes/raisins and things containing grape juice should not be given to dogs.

[sparrow100]

Those don't make it to my compost/allotment though