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. Theobromine is in all chocolate, especially dark or baker's chocolate which is toxic to dogs. 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.
Additional information can be found at www.Snopes.com
1 comment:
The best defense is to become informed about issues of pet health and what can kill them when ingested. This includes other "people food" than chocolate. Onions, garlic, grapes can all kill dogs.
For the pet owner, if you let your dog loose in your yard, don't purchase and use those mulches. While walking your dog, make sure the dog does not eat mulch, nor anything else encountered on the walk. Spread the word. Ask the store to post warning notices on the products known to be dangerous to pets.
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