Cocoa mulch is poisenous to dogs - please read

[Shazza4505]

From RWAF FirstAlert:

We are, of course, a rabbit charity, but know that many of our members
also own dogs. If you do have a dog, please note the information
below about a product that can be harmful to dogs which came from the
Head of Welfare at Battersea Dogs Home:

Yesterday one of our dog agility friends experienced a tragedy and
wanted me to pass a special message along to all of my dog loving
friends and family. Please tell every dog owner you know.

Over the weekend the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased
Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. They loved the way it
smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden.

Their dog Calypso decided that the mulch smelled good enough to eat
and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was
typical when she eats something new but wasn't acting lethargic in any
way. The next day, Mum woke up and took Calypso out for her morning
walk. Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly.

Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further
investigation on the company's website, this product is HIGHLY toxic
to dogs and cats.

Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey's, and they claim that "It is
true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch
can
suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each
individual dog). However, 98% of all dogs won't eat it."

Also included was the following information -

Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman's Garden Supply and
other Garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called
"Theobromine". It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate
and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die.

Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks. Just a word of
caution, check what you are using in your gardens and be aware of what
your gardeners are using in your gardens.

Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine,
a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A
dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao
bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later.
Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells
revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.

PLEASE GIVE THIS THE WIDEST DISTRIBUTION! !!

[linda]

such a sad thing to happen

i think parents of young curious children should also be very wary of this product

[kimmerz]

how awful it REALLY should have a warning, and the shop assistants should be made aware of this so they can ask the customer at the till if they have a dog or a cat and tell them the dangers that come with the product.
it must have been awful just going out for a normal walk and having your what you thought was a healthy dog die there and then infront of you.

[Zen]

This is dreadful, i feel for the family.

Chocolate is also very bad for dogs, i have seen so many cases over the years (when i was in practice) where a dog has got hold of chocolate and died! it does vary though, a yorkie for instance could eat a whole big bar of chocolate and be fine, except bad d++++ and then a great dane could have a few chocs and die very quickly.

A family friend lost their dog (labrador) in this way after eating a box of dairy milk it's so sad and somthing people really should be aware of!!!

[kate w.j]

awwwww so sad

[spiderbaitwebs]

thank you for the warning as a avid gardener I wanted to get some for the smell but want my pippa to live!

[EquestrianBabe]

Ooh, thanks for the info. There was a dog who ate a whole thing of it and died straight away

[Nut]

aww thats a terrible shame

[TortBabe]

Heard of a dog that that managed to get the lid of drinking chocolate, scoffed the lot and died x

[EquestrianBabe]

I did too. It was me and my mums (ClareN) dog groomer who told us the story. Though, its good that your warning everybody and maybe saving dogs from danger. Also, any contact with snails or slugs can kill a dog. (No licking, or eating a bone which they have slimed on). I just thought I would let you know. It was in a newspaper 2008 or 2009 early summer.